1From Thomas Jefferson to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 12 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 3d. is recieved on the subject of a pardon to the Poulsons & Shad. it has been an invariable rule with me never to pardon but on the recommendation of the judges who sat on the trial or of one of them & the Attorney of the district. from this I have never departed in a single instance; and were it to be departed from, it would let loose the power of pardon to be exercised...