REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE PARDONING POWER. RICHMOND, VA., January 16, 1868. To the Constitutional Convention, Richmond, Virginia : We, the Commiteee on the Pardoning Power, beg leave to submit the following report: We, the Committee, had under consideration the following resolution, offered by Mr. Allan in the Convention and referred : "Resolved, That the Committee on the Pardoning Power be instructed to inquire into the propriety of clothing the Executive with the authority to remove all political disability from any person who may become a subject of Executive clemency, when, in his opinion, the facts of the case warrant such a course." After due consideration of the foregoing resolution, your committee are of the opinion that it would be unsafe to grant this power to the Executive, inasmuch as the Executive could cause to be released, in times of heated political contests, criminals legally imprisoned, for the purpose of controlling elections, and thereby release them from punishment rightly imposed. Your Committee are further of the opinion, that it would be an excuse for crime. Although they have known of cases where men discharged from prison are since good citizens, and it would be safe to clothe them with the priviliges of the ballot, but know that laws must be general, and cannot meet individual cases. Your Committe further desire to offer the following as their report upon the Pardoning Power, and respectfully ask the Convention to adopt it as part of the Constitution of the State of Virginia, viz : “The Governor shall have power to remit fines and penalties in such cases and under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by law; and, except when the prosecution has been carried on by the House of Delegates, or the law shall otherwise particularly direct, to grant reprieves and pardons after conviction, and to commute capital punishment; but he shall communicate to the General Assembly, at each session, the particulars of every case of fine or penalty remitted, of reprieve or pardon granted, and of punishment commuted, with his reasons for remmitting, granting or commuting the same. Respectfully submitted. D. G. CARR, A. H. FLANAGAN, WM. H. ANDREWS, |