The Founding Fathers wrote Presidential pardons into the Constitution for a reason. Anyone know why?

Answer 1

Hamilton argued for it in Federalist 74:

"The laws of every country provide a process for forgiving individuals found to be victims of what Hamilton calls "unfortunate guilt."

Without such a process, argues Hamilton, "justice would wear a countenance too sanguinary (bloody, or blood thirsty) and cruel."

Hamilton felt certain that future presidents would be so humbled by the supreme importance of the power vested in them, and them alone, to grant pardons that they would never dare disrespect or abuse that power

Answer 2

The founding fathers wrote the Constitution to make this country run on a business basis. That's why we have presidents and secretaries instead of kings and ministers. However, royalty was the norm back then, and it had ALWAYS been the privilege of a king to pardon a person, even as far back as Christ if you recall. Besides, what if the person did something for this country that was secret and illegal but secured the welfare of the nation - something only the president knew about - how else could such a hero be saved?
Judges can sometimes do it too, setting aside a verdict of guilty and directing a verdict of not guilty if they feel the jury did not find according to the facts of the case. Governors can issue stay orders to executions.
There were so many injustices that linger even to today in Europe, where it's "guilty until found innocent", that our founding fathers "would rather let ten guilty men go free than put one innocent man in prison".

Answer 3

Executive pardons have a long history in English law.

Answer 4

so Bush can get all the Enron and world comp directors go free in 2008


you will see

Answer 5

so clinton could let his supporters go free when he left office

Answer 6

to cover themselves

Answer 7

one of them farted

Answer 8

No why?