The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1910-06-30

instances where only a brief period OF
confinement had been left. In my dis
cretion l have tried to put in effect
the humanity of the parole and indie
terminate systems of other States, and
to treat unfortunates with that con-
sideration which is the due of every
man, and especially the due of those
who have no power to aid themselves
There have been many prisoners
hurt in the coal mines Of the State
and in the workshops; others have
suffered with consumption and other
incurable diseases; some, in my opin-
ion, have been wrongfully convicted
very many whose sentences were out
of proportion to their offenses-a few
boys have been incarcerated and
have not hesitated to pardon them,
and shall continue to do so in every
case which / think is warranted In
misdemeanor cases l have observed a
strange condition. Some courts will
fine and imprison for an offense, 9th
ers will fine and not imprison for the
same offense, while in other jurisdic-
tons no indictments whatever are
found.
AS a fact the vast majority of men
who violate the misdemeanor laws
are never indicted, and punishment for
this class of offenders is extremely
partial-almost universally admins
tered to the poor and wretched, and
not only involves them, but often
their helpless and dependent families.
In nine cases out of ten violators OF
the misdemeanor laws are not Grim
inals in the ordinary acceptation of
that term, nor are they one whit
worse than others who seem to violate
them with impunity. In dealing with
this class of offenders / have acted
upon the principle, and believe it to
be true, especially in view of our
loose and uncertain administration of
the criminal laws, that excessive pun
ishment only makes a real out of a
technical criminal. 1t has appeared
in SO many instances that fine of $50
and sentence Of six months in the
county Jail would mean ruin to the Of
fender and restitution to his family
without any good whatever to society,"
that / have not hesitated to relieve
the sentence and sometimes the fine.
In all such cases, however, the Of
fender must always pay, secure or
work out the costs of the court, and
these amount, usually, from $25 to
500, which in many instances consti-
tutes sufficient punishment for the
offense, and in some instances an
even greater punishment to the very
poor man, than the offense warrants.
Knew the Ground.
In dealing with pardon cases have
had the advantage of more or less IA
military with the criminal laws of
our own State and of the other States
of the Union, and have given much
study to these and cognate questions,
such as reformatories and prison rules
and discipline, and my course has met
my own approval, and believe that
of majority of my fellow-citizens. 1t
has been humane rather than hard,
and in keeping with enlightened, pro
gressive thought.
I have never been disturbed by any
minister who has Illuminated against
me, for knew he was either ignorant
or not genuine disciple of the Mas
ter, and / have never needed the IL
belous scribblers with their Grass
prejudices and lean abilities, who are
competent for nothing except their
capacity to embroil the State, and
whose only distinction is the cheap
and cowardly malignancy with which
they assail and pursue defenseless
public servants. I have pardoned
many better men than these libelers,
and their superiors can yet be found
within the walls of the prison.
My reasons for pardoning Colonel
Cooper have already been given and
need no iteration. 1t may not be
amiss, however, to present certain
other facts which have escaped the
public in the din and clamor which
has been raised. Outside news
papers may be excused for misstate-
ments, for their information is par
tial, but there is no palliation for
those in our own State who have
sought to stigmatize me and infame
the passions of men against an act
which l had the right to perform.
They have said that Colonel Cooper
was my friend, and one of my chief
counsellors. This is true, and it was
true long before Senator Carmack be-
came a candidate for Governor. My
relations with Colonel Cooper were
close and intimate, and no attempt
has been made to deny or conceal
that fact. At one time so were the re-
lations between Colonel Cooper and
Senator Carmack. was in no way
at fault in bringing about rupture
between them. When I learned OF
probable trouble tried in every way
to avoid 1t, and believed that my eff
forts and those of others had sue
ceeded., When the killing Of Senator
Carmack occurred was in no sense
responsible for it, and have keenly re-
GREETED it from that hour to this, not
only on his own account, but because
1t involved my friends and gave IL
cense to certain men whose names
should be infamous, to manufacture
political capital and to excite the peo-
pie at a time when the State was al
ready disturbed and distressed.