H. S. Withers to Thomas E. Bramlette
1865-07-27
- Date of Creation
- July 27, 1865
- Place of Creation
- Stanford, Lincoln County, Kentucky
- 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
- Box / Folder
- BR14-274
- CWGK Accession Number
- KYR-0001-004-2077
- Rights
- This image and its transcription are freely available to the public. Images appear courtesy of Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Transcriptions and annotations were created by Kentucky Historical Society staff, volunteers, and interns. When referencing this document, please use our preferred citation.; The use of transcriptions, images, or annotations from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce any material on CWGK is required.
- FTP Identifier
- 32204962
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- Dates
- 1865-07-27
Citation
H. S. Withers to Thomas E. Bramlette, 1865-07-27, Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's official correspondence file, petitions for pardons, remissions, and respites 1863-1867, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, https://discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-004-2077 (November 14, 2026).
Stanford
To his Excellency Tho E Bramlette
Governor of Kentucky.
Sir, I have been called upon by W. C. Stoughton of Detroit Michigan a Brother of Oliver Stoughton now a convict in the Kentucky Penitentiary from this County to sign a Petition to your Excellency, granting an unconditional pardon to his unfortunate Brother. The appeal has been made to me from the fact that I was one of the Jury that convicted him.
From motives of public policy and the [...] with which criminal Law is executed it is very rare that I ever sign a petition on behalf of any of the few who are convicted of the many violators of Law, Yet I think there is mitigating circumstances in this case that calls for Executive Clemency Stroughton was not the principal, merely an accomplice, I do not think he had an idea of the magnitude of his offence, but like many other Northern Soldiers disregarded the rights of property with the people of Kentucky. He has now served seventeen months which I think is sufficient punishment and that the majesty of the Law has been fully vindicated.
Under all the circumstances I would be pleased your Excellency would grant the unfortunate man a pardon, I think his helpless sisters have a greater claim for his services than our state I am with great respect
Your Excellency's
Obt Servant;
H. S. Withers,