The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1910-04-29
ANENT COOPER PARDON
Governor Patterson, Of Tennes-
see, Answers His Critics.
Announces FOR GOVERNOR
Tennessee's Governor Says the Press Of the
Country Has Inilamed People Against Act
He Had Right to Perform.

Nashville, Tenn. - Governor NAL
colin R. Patterson, announcing his
candidacy to succeed himself FOR
third term, subject to the democratic
primary of June 4, denounces prohi-
bition and the action of the lnsurg-
ent. wing of the democratic party ana
offers frank, open defense oil MS
pardoning Duncan B. Cooper, convict
ed together with his son, RoDln o.
Cooper, of the murder Of former Unit
ed States Senator Edward w. Car
mack He also denounces the press
for criticisng the pardonlng OF
Cooper
In opening his defense of the par
doning of Cooper, Patterson says:
my reasons for pardoning Colonel
Cooper have already been given, ana
need no iteration 1t may not DC
amiss, however, to present certain
other facts which may have escaped
the public in the din and clamor
which nave been raised. OUTSIDE
newspapers might be excused Tor mis-
statements, for their information IS
partial: but there is no palllauon LOT
those in our own state VINO nave
sought to stigmatiZe me and lnDane
| the passions of men against an acI
which | had the right to perform.
! Those have said that Colonel cooper
was my friend and one OF my cnler
counselors 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 ever been made to deny or con-
ceal that fact. At one time SO were
the relations between Colonel cooper
and Senator Carmack."
IN closing his defense of the Cooper
pardoning, Patterson says:
But | am condemned because II is
said | acted hastily and without prop
er decorum but is it true? This case
was different from any other which
had ever come before me- had
read evry line of the evidence, was
Just as familiar with the record as
any member of the supreme court;
had testified at the trial, and my
mind was fully made up, not only
that Colonel Cooper was not guilty,
but that he was in some degree the
victim of his association with me.
Those who are fiercest in their de-
| nunc1dIlOU are lllOSc WIZ NahbCo him
convicted because of our close friend
t ship. If | delayed action, waited for
petitions, and involved the state in
further uncertainty and unrest, these
same men would have been the iirst
to denounce me for cowardice and to
attribute delay to fear and weakness
There is not man in tennessee
who knew me but believed | would
pardon Colonel Cooper if he Was con
victed, and | knew it. Then why de
: lay? Why act a part? Why not as
;, sumo the responsibility and end it
| When | say this, | do not want any
: one to suppose | did not then and dc
not now realize the gravity of my act
! for of this | am deeply and keenly
: conscious. l did not want the re
, sponsibility. l had hoped it nigh
u never come, but when it did | met it
= Right or wrong, | have acted, ant
y men may differ about it as they
please. My own conception of dut.
Il is fulfilled But | am willing tt
II stand or fall, to be judged here O
hereafter"