The Stron ge Case of

George

\t/ilson
ft is rore for a person under
sentence of death to refuse a
pordon. Yel there is one case on record, in the annols of thz United
States Supreme court, in which a mon sentenced to die octuolly did refuse
to occept o pordon.
The court record shows thot two men, wilson ond porter, were convicted
and sentenced to be honged for robbery of the u s moils in 1829. porter
wss execufed on July 2, 1830. Threeweeksbeforethe time set for
wilson's execution he wos gronted c pardon by president Andrew Jackson. The
people resented this clemency immensely. However, insteod of accepting the pordon
Wilson chonged his plea from
'not guilty'
,- 'guilty'.
r to
J-,,,t. He was given the opportunity to plead the pordon, but he ref used to do so. The Supreme
Court, ofter consideritng the guestion, handed down the following decision.

Ileath Rowo Sing Sing Frison

uA

a crime he has

grace, , which exenpts the individual... fron

connitted"

'..., delivery is

nof conplefe without accepfance.

pardon is an act of

tendered; and if rejecfed, we have found

no

ft

the punishnent the law inf/icts

for

nay be rejected then by the person fo whon it is

power in a courf fo force

if

upon him.o

This wos unique, ond most people would consider Wilson o fool for refusing to accept o
pordon. Yet these some people reject every day the pordon which 6od hos provided
for them through the Lord Jesus Christ. Such people would tremble ot the thought of
impending death, and would snatch at areprievefor af ew extra years af lif e,yir
deliberately ond corelessly refuse 6od's pordon from eternol deoth.

6od's pcrdon ist'on acf of gracd'. rt connot be earned,or bought. rt is not reserved
for those with personolity, or those with influence. 6od's porJon is olso one whose
" de/ivery is not complete without acceplancau.
To sotisfy justice, sin must be punishad. But to reconcilejustice
with mercy, God gave
His own Son os our substitute. The Bible pufs if this woyr ith" LoBD has
loid o,., Him the iniquity of us oll,,.
Through the death of christ, pordon is off ered,but it must be occepted.
wilson,s
Presidentinl parrlon
pordon cost the scrotch of thePresident's pen. A pardon for you
would cost the
blood of 6od's Son.

life-

Wilson's pardon meont only af ew years odded to the sordid lif e of o common criminol. your
pordon is a reprieve
from hell and o deed to heaven. But, never forgel; accepfance is essential fo delivery.
Wilson most certoinly believed

thot his pordon hod been granted if he wanted it, but refused to avoil himself of
it. Wilson's wos a strong e case. But then, Wilson was o fool.
Todoy, you could obtoin what so many want, the forgiveness of their sins.
As you turn in repentonce from your
sin, take thot offer of pardon from the hand of ihe 6od who offers eternal
life to those deserving eternai deoth,