Pardons Quotes
In 1862 after a Sioux uprising, a U. S. military commission condemned 303 Indians to death. The President personally reviewed the records of each case and pardoned most. On December 26, 1862 the largest public execution in American history took place with 38 Indians hanged. Lincoln's decision to commute most of the sentences was not politically popular and in the 1864 election the Republican vote margin in Minnesota was smaller than before. Minnesota Senator Alexander Ramsey told Lincoln that he should have hanged more Indians and obtained a bigger majority.
Massachusetts rioters who had distressed Abigail Adams and others were pardoned for their crimes. Jefferson was responding to her concerns {592539} and providing her with the pardon news.
These laws promulgated during the Adams administration were hated by Jefferson. When he assumed the Presidency he pardoned all who had been convicted under that law.
If there is no rule of law, the executive, king or strongman, may handle any case in any way he wants. He can convict a poor man but let a powerful friend off. However, with the rule of law, it is the facts of the case that control, and not the identity of the law breaker. Hence the ancient Romans were somewhat suspicious of the rule of law in that it could tie the hands of the executive or magistrate and limit his discretion. To a certain extent, even modern America does not follow a completely rule of law system. The “out” is prosecutorial discretion. The prosecutors can charge one party and not bother to do so with others. An example was in 2010 when there were many bank foreclosures on home mortgages, the major banks of America were commonly committing fraud and perjury by executing legal documents allowing the forclosure, claiming that the had required documents and had done required procedure when the officers who signed the official documents had no idea what they had and just lied. The Banks had large lobbying resources, and despite the fact that felonies were committed by the tens of thousands, none of the felons was ever charged with a crime, for if they were, they were clearly guilty and there would be severe consequences. The banks promised never to do it again, and got off with none of the many guilty people ever convicted.
He was convicted for treason for passing secrets to the Germans and sentenced to life imprisonment on Devil’s Island. However, he had been the victim of an anti-Semitic plot to cover up for the real traitor—a Christian. However the ”Dreyfus Affair” brought out the virulent anti-Semitism in France. When the truth was exposed, Dreyfus was pardoned, and reinstated in the military, but 11 years in Devils Island had taken its toll on his heath, and he was retired as a result of his disability.
The King had earlier replaced the Pope as the head of the English church. The references to money referred to a then common corruption of the Church whereby people could buy indulgences—religious papal pardons of past or future sins. This was a major revenue source for the Vatican and a major issue for Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformers some of who saw the pope as the Devil incarnate See {623153}. For Martin Luther’s view pf the practice and {626720}, {595195}, and {639436} for other contemporary views.
At the time this was a very unpopular act.
President Reagan had asked Ford, Nixon and Jimmy Carter to attend the funeral of assassinated Egyptian President Anwar Sedat. In the plane flying to Egypt, Nixon was trying to play off the ex-presidents against each other, and making nasty remarks about various political figures. The others including Ford were offended.
Most of the factual accusations against Johnson were accurate. To this day it is argued whether the actions were impeachable offences or within the prerogatives and powers of the Presidency,
The debate was about the unlimited pardon power of the President. Madison argued that the check was the impeachment power. However, Presidents had tended to make large numbers of pardons just before they leave office so the impeachment power works only as a check for the beginning and middle part of their term.
There had been a coup in Fiji which had been put down after a few weeks. There was thought of not reopening the fissures of the society by identifying and trying the plotters and participants in the coup. The Senator did not agree.
The Czar did not take the advice. The assassins were hanged.
Francis of Assisi
The Prophet Muhammad when he was the spiritual and civil leader never called for the death of anyone who insulted him. This is strictly a mania of extremist followers of Islam. However, it should be kept in mind that the Roman Catholic Church in its history murdered people for insulting the Pope or Jesus. It all stems from the Old Testament call for the execution of heretics and blasphemers.
Arguing for the Constitution's granting the unfettered Pardoning Power to the President.
