J. A. Brents to Thomas E. Bramlette

Accession Number

KYR-0001-004-2930

Document Genre

Correspondence

Repository

Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

Collection

Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's official correspondence file, petitions for pardons, remissions, and respites 1863-1867

Item Location

BR17-262 to BR17-263

Place of Creation

Albany, Clinton County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

23 December 1865

Dates Mentioned

1865-12-23

Albany, Ky.
Decr 23 1865.
Tho^s E. Bramlette,
Governor of Kentucky
Frankfort, Ky.
Sir;

Enclosed I send you a petition in behalf of James M Smith, who is now confined in the State Penetentiary.

It is signed only by Citizens of Clirton County and mainly by his neighbors. It was not taken to ~~Wayne~~Russell County His Mother informs me that she could get a very large number of names to it there which I believe; but I did not think it necessary to delay for that purpose, for the young man and his mother are made miserable by his present position and I desire to hasten his liberation if it is compatable with your feelings and official duties.

It was returned to me this evening with the names signed except those on the 3^d page; which I procured my self. I thought it best to get some names that you knew. I could have procured others.

I, also, enclose the statements of two of Smiths officers, honorable young men, proving clearly that Smith was in the
line of his duty as a Soldier doing battle for his country and not robbing. Perdue & Huff were his officers in the 7^th Tenn. Col. Morrison in the 13^th Ky. and Capt Stephenson & Lt J. C. Story in the South Cumberland Battalion (State Trops.) What better could he do than obtain the names of his neighbors and ~~the~~ officers in three Regiments of loyal troops under whom he served?

Governor I will add one other remark. Smith proves an alibi that he was at another place at the time of the Robbery, but if it was true that he was present and guilty, yet the crime might not be so great as it would be now, for then officers often taught there men that it was not wrong to take from a Rebel, that rebels forfeited all rights, &c. I do not plead for violators of law for the sake of plunder & money, but I do think that many young men ought to be forgiven for violations under the excitement & stimulation of the war and lessons taught to them by their officers! I do not believe Smith was there, but admit that he was he might have thought it no wrong to take from one who had the name of being a Rebel.

If from the facts and circumstances, it is compatible with your duties and agreeble to your feelings to grant a pardon to young
Smith I believe it will result in great good to the family and work no injury to the community.

Yours truly
J. A. Brents.

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