PRESIDENT RUTHERFORD B. HAYES - PRESIDENTIAL WARRANT SIGNED 03/22/1879 - HFSID 3995

RUTHERFORD B. HAYES
Rutherford B. Hayes signed this presidential pardon for David W. Young in 1879.
Partially printed warrant signed "R. B. Hayes" as President in blue ink. With pencil notation near upper right corner. 1 page, 7¾x6½. Washington, March 22, 1879. In full: "I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of State [William M. Evarts] to cause the Seal of the United States to be affixed to a Warrant for the pardon of David W. Young, dated this day, and signed by me, and for so doing this shall be his warrant." Article II Section 2 of the United States Constitution gives the President the "power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States". Prisoners must wait at least five years after conviction to apply for a pardon, which clears a person's name. Since a presidential pardon is an official U.S. government document, the President granting the pardon must order the Secretary of State to affix the seal of the U.S. to it. President Hayes issued 893 pardons during his one four-year term, averaging about 223 pardons a year, a presidential record. At that time, only his predecessor, U.S. Grant, pardoned more people, 1,332 in eight years, or about 166 per year. Hayes (1822-1893, born in Delaware, Ohio) was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives while serving in the Civil War as a brevet Major General. Governor of Ohio (1868-1872, 1876-1877), he was elected President by a single Electoral Vote and with fewer popular votes than his opponent (Tilden), only after protracted Congressional debate and appointment of a special electoral commission. A moderate reformer, Hayes withdrew federal troops from the South and honored his promise to serve only one term. Alcoholic beverages were banned from the White House during his tenure. Lightlytoned and creased. Irregular edges. Lightly discolored along top, left and right edge. Sheet was torn neatly from a pad or notebook at left edge. Folded twice and unfolded. Light discoloration along bottom fold. Otherwise in fine condition.