Forgiveness, Pardon, Acceptance...
In Pennsylvania, during 1829, George Wilson was convicted of mail robbery and murder, then sentenced to death. On June 14, 1830, Wilson was pardoned by President Andrew Jackson. However Wilson refused the pardon! What was to be done with a man who refused a pardon and chose to die on the gallows instead?Here are the words of the Chief Supreme Court Justice, John Marshall, who delivered the opinion of the court:
U.S. Supreme Court
U S v. WILSON, 32 U.S. 150 (1833)
32 U.S. 150 (Pet.)
UNITED STATES v. GEORGE WILSON.
January Term, 1833
"...A pardon is an act of grace, proceeding from the power intrusted with the execution of the laws, which exempts the individual, on whom it is bestowed, from the punishment the law inflicts for a crime he has committed...
"...A pardon is a deed, to the validity of which, delivery is essential, and delivery is not complete, without acceptance. It may then be rejected by the person to whom it is tendered; and if it be rejected, we have discovered no power in a court to force it on him."
In other words, one can be offered a pardon, but that pardon remains invalid unless it is ACCEPTED! An "act of grace" may be "rejected by the person to whom it is tendered."
Somehow, this story gave me pause for reflection... Anyone else?
posted by AdamK | 7:10 PM
1 Comments:
I have a $5 gift certificate to the Bagel Cafe that was given to me three years ago. I still have it in my wallet even though it expired within that year, before I had a chance to use it. I guess it's a reminder--of what? Well, I remember watching a news segment on the holiday craze over gift cards to Wal-Mart, TJMaxx, Gap, etc. The reporter stated that, though bought at a price by the giver, the cards themselves only gain actual value AT THE MOMENT THEY ARE REDEEMED....
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