Samwise the Strong

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by Iris Alantiel

However, Frodo was willing to give Gollum the benefit of the doubt, and Sam would almost certainly not have done so: he would have either killed Gollum or sent him away.

There seems to be a general consensus that Sam as Ringbearer would have been less sympathetic towards Gollum than Frodo was. But surely at least part of Frodo's sympathy towards Gollum comes from his own association with the Ring and therefore his insight into how it affected Gollum. Frodo is also influenced by Gandalf's words concerning mercy, which Sam would have had the benefit of, had he been the Ringbearer from the outset.

As Ringbearer, Sam would also have been less concerned with protecting Frodo, since it would not have been his primary role. It is as Ringbearer Frodo's companion and "protector" that Sam is mistrustful of Gollum.

So I think that it is at least arguable that Sam as Ringbearer would have been as sympathetic towards Gollum as Frodo was and that he would have shown the same mercy.