It is controversial because the President can pardon anyone! Take Nixon and Goldwater for example. Nixon was convicted of spying on th opposite party. Nixon stepped down, but was still charged. When Goldwater became president, he pardoned Nixon of all of his charges which caused a huge uproar. That's fair, right?
The Consitiutional Union Party candidate John Bell hoped to ease the tension between the North and South by promising to uphold the Union and enforce federal laws.
