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PARDON
ASKED FOR.
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Margaret F. Buster,
wife to Wm. A. Buster, given notice that she will apply to the Governor for the
pardon of her husband, now an inmate of the State Prison, for the crime of
embezzlement of the county and school funds of Sonoma county, and for using and
loaning the funds of the State; also for using and loaning the funds of this
county. The aggregate term of imprisonment imposed by the Court for these
offences, is eight years. We learn that petitions to this effect are now in
circulation for signatures. |
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However deeply we
may, and do sympathize with the afflicted wife and children of the prisoner, we
cannot so far forget our duty to society, as to thus early lend our aid in
favor of the object prayed for. The character of the crime for which Mr. Buster
is now incarcerated within the prison walls, has been, and still is, one of too
frequent occurrence in California to permit this course on our part. Few indeed
have been the cases of either County or State officials retiring from posts of
trust, with an untarnished name. Many have been the evidences of peculaton or
defalcation, on the part of men placed in positions of honor and trust; but few
the convictions. Indeed, until within a few months past Justice has apparently
withheld her hand, and the criminal has escaped merited
punishment. |
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Though others
equally guilty, and may be much more culpable, have been allowed to escape
through the meshes of the law, and Mr. Buster alone occupies the prisoner's
cell, we cannot see that he should be thus early liberated. Scarce eight months
of the eight years have yet expired. For the Governor to pardon the prisoner,
under the circumstances, at this early day of his confinement, would, to say
the least, be setting a bad example. There can be little or no doubt that a too
free exercise of executive clemency, is pernicious in the extreme to the well
being of society. If to the difficulty of conviction is to be added a ready
pardon, we need not be surprised should crimes of every kind become of even
more frequent occurrence. It is not the severity of law, but the certainty of
its enforcement, that deters men from crime. While, therefore, humanity pleads
for the liberation of a devoted husband and a kind parent, justice and the
public good requires that the laws of our land be faithfully and impartially
administered. But while we thus stand for the supremacy of law, let me not
forget the demands of humanity, and if need be, let us all show our sympathy
for the bereaved family, by more convincing proofs than mere words, or scrawls
of pen and pencil. |
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