United States v. Wilson
Encyclopedia
United States v. Wilson was a trial in the United States in which the defendant, George Wilson, was convicted of robbing the US Mail in Pennsylvania. Due to his friends' influence, Wilson was pardoned by Andrew Jackson
. Wilson, however, refused the pardon. Due to the incredibility of events, the Supreme Court was asked to rule. The decision was that if the prisoner does not accept the pardon, then it is not in effect. The court stated: "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 is rejected, we have discovered no power in this court to force it upon him." Therefore, Wilson was not released from prison early.
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
. Wilson, however, refused the pardon. Due to the incredibility of events, the Supreme Court was asked to rule. The decision was that if the prisoner does not accept the pardon, then it is not in effect. The court stated: "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 is rejected, we have discovered no power in this court to force it upon him." Therefore, Wilson was not released from prison early.