Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-03-12


ceived as careful attention as a vol
luminous petition drawn by the most
competent lawyer and signed by hun
dreds of citizens Of the community.
The state house grounds were kept
up by convict labor-"squads" sent
from the state penitentiary. In sever
al instances, when these convicts
would be working on the grounds, or
when they would be securing the
floors Of the State House. they had
come to me and stated their case.
After investigation, some Of them were
pardoned or paroled. The grounds at
the governors mansion were also
kept up by convict labor. and fire.
quently convicts there would have an
opportunity to state their case to me.
and some Of them received clemency.
The parole system which I inaugu-
rated was entirely successful. Out Of
the hundreds Of paroles granted, very
few Of those receiving this clemency
failed to lead good lives. They were
given another chance in life, and they
took advantage Of their opportunity.
I firmly believe that this parole sys-
tenn will eventually be adopted by ev-
cry state in the Union.
In each case in which I exercised
clemency. report Of my reasons was
sent to the state senate. as a matter
Of record. In my first letter Of trans
initial Of these reasons, I stated to
the senate: Nothing has given me
more genuine pleasure than the privi-
lege Of exercising the power Of for
giveness and Of saying to down-trod-
den humanity, Arise, cast of your
shackles, look up, remember that there
Is a God. and that there Is a future;
remember that you are made In the
image Of that God; remember that you
have a soul to save which was given
you by that God: propose to give
you another chance in life; I propose
to give you another opportunity to
make a man Of yourself, to make q
good citizen for your state, and, above
all, the opportunity to save the soul
which your God has given you.'"
That stated my position then, and
outlined the course which I followed
during the four years had the honor
to serve my state as governor.
The constitution required that I
report to the general assembly only
my reasons for pardons; but wanted
the record complete, and the reports
included pardons, combinations, pa
roles, reprieves and all executive Glenn
ency exercised by me.
In this connection it Is but justice
to myself to state that, while I am
proud Of my record Of having exer-
cised clemency in more cases than any
other governor South Carolina has
ever had, and probably more cases
than any other governor in the Union.
I have been misrepresented by the
press in regard to this matter The
reprieve Of a man under sentence OF
death, in order to give me time to In
vestigate his case, was heralded to the
world as a pardon. It was 80 with
combinations Of sentences, paroles
and every other act Of clemency. AS
matter Of fact, q large number Of
cases in which took action involved
only the transferring Of the prisoners
from the state penitentiary to their
county chaingangs, where they could
be placed at work on the public roads
improvement Of the public roads OF
South Carolina being one Of the most
important questions which confronts
US at this time. The law formerly In
South Carolina was that a prisoner re-
ceiving a sentence Of more than ten
years must serve his sentence In the
state penitentiary-that he could not
be held on the county chaingang, used
for the purpose of keeping up the
roads Of the county. This law was
subsequently repealed, and 1t was
made optional with the county authori-
ties as to whether long term prison.
er should serve in the penitentiary or
be held by the county. However, there
were many prisoners in the peniten-
tiary, sentenced under the former law.
who had terms Of more than ten years,
and when the counties desired the re-
turn Of these prisoners, I commuted
their sentences to serve on their re-
spective chaingangs. Each time 1t was
heralded by the newspapers that had
pardoned somebody. That, however,
did not worry me. I wish had had
more deserving cases in which could
have exercised clemency. The legis-
lature finally took the view that was
right In committing these prisoners
from the penitentiary to the chain
gang, and they enacted law allow
ing the supervisor Of the county to
make requisition upon the penitentiary
for the return Of prisoners from that
county held by the penitentiary.
A few days before retired from the
governors Office, I stated, In a mes
sage to the senate: Il may have
erred, but If have, 1t has been upon
the side Of mercy, and I thank God
for It,"
Hundreds Of prisoners were released
from bondage by me. I told the peo-
pie of South Carolina that I had no
apologies for my actions. was doing
what l thought was right, and have
only thanks to God that had the OPP
portunity and the privilege.
The impression has been created by
the press that I granted pardons and
paroles promiscuously, without investi-
cation.
In hundreds Of cases In which petit
tions were presented to me, felt 1t my
duty to refuse clemency. and l did re-
fuse. Time after time when a woman
was pleading for her husband, and
could not see my way clear to give
him back to her, and at the same time
be true to my oath Of office, have
felt that the responsibility was too
great for any man to bear. Human
suffering and human misery were be-
fore my eyes every hour Of every day.
and frequently a good many hours OF
the night. l am proud that have a