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Originally Posted by Rasczak  There are reasons the president is given this kind of power. Making sure people don't get railroaded by politically biased and motivated system is probably one of them. |
Actually, I think the only historical reason the President was given this power, was to offer pardons to dissenters in order to buy information, or to restore peace and unity after a difficult time.
For instance, after the Civil War Lincoln pardoned Confederate soldiers instead of executing them all for treason.
For another instance, after Vietnam, draft dodgers were pardoned, to restore harmony and reunite the nation after a difficult and controversial period.
As far as I can tell, Clinton's politically motivated pardons, and now Bush's, are a relatively new thing.