The Power to Pardon

Wow... this is a really difficult question to answer. I understand that if I were the president the power of pardon would be bestowed upon me, but I would have a tough time using that power. Its sad to say but the prisons scattered across our country are filled the brim with convicts... giving me and me alone the ability to release one particular prisoner just seems like too much of a responsibility for me. This country's government focuses on the idea of never giving too much power to one person, or one branch for that matter. I understand the President of the United States as at the top of the food chain, but the whole concept still just seems out of place. The whole thing also seems kind of barbaric and old-fashioned as well. I mean, when I think about the President's power to pardon, I can't help but imagine the way things were centuries ago. For example, when a Roman emperor would give a thumbs-up or thumbs-down to determine whether or not a gladiator would live or not... it just doesn't fit with what our government stands for...