"The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment."
U.S. Constitution Article II, Section 2, Clause 1
Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution gives the president the power to grant a full pardon, commute a sentence or rescind a fine. Approximately 20,000 pardons and clemancies have been issued by U.S. presidents in the 20th century alone. George Washington was the first to use this power; As president, he granted pardon to three individuals. The first two were individuals John Mitchell and Philip Weigel who took part in the Whiskey Rebellion. Out of the 150 people arrested, Mitchel and Weigel were the only two who were found guilty of treason. George Washington was not one to go soft on the laws of our Constitution, and he understood that it was his duty to execute the laws of this country firmly, but he also understood that justice must be fair and done with tenderness.
In his 1795 state of the union, Washington wrote that the insurrection was over and tranquility had returned to the nation. But what of those who committed the treason? Washington also took this opportunity to explain why had granted them a full pardon. Washington stated that, since they had abandoned their errors an pay the respect to our constitution", the right thing to do was to show moderation and tenderness to them. Washington understood, that justice is much more than just enforcing the laws, and punishing the transgressors. Justice require treating individuals fairly. It was in the best interest of the country to treat them with "every degree of moderation and tenderness which the national justice, dignity, and safety may permit."
"It is a valuable ingredient in the general estimate of our welfare that the part of our country which was lately the scene of disorder and insurrection now enjoys the blessings of quiet and order. The misled have abandoned their errors, and pay the respect to our Constitution and laws which is due from good citizens to the public authorities of the society. These circumstances have induced me to pardon generally the offenders here referred to, and to extend forgiveness to those who had been adjudged to capital punishment. For though I shall always think it a sacred duty to exercise with firmness and energy the constitutional powers with which I am vested, yet it appears to me no less consistent with the public good than it is with my personal feelings to mingle in the operations of Government every degree of moderation and tenderness which the national justice, dignity, and safety may permit."http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29437
http://www.mountvernon.org/research-collections/digital-encyclopedia/article/whiskey-rebellion/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_pardoned_or_granted_clemency_by_the_President_of_the_United_States
https://wilsonncteaparty.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/lady-justice.jpg
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