Paducah Ky Aug 21/65.
His Excellency
Tho E. Bramlette
Frankfort Ky
Dear Sir

This will be handed you by Mr James C. Calhoun, at whose instance I write it — During the admⁿ Genl. Paine at this place, he caused the late Shff, G. W. Ratcliffe to resign, and the office remained vacant until May last, and all civil business was either suspended or taken in charge by the military, which produced mucn confusion, and litigation — feeling the great necessity of a Sheriff, and no one being willing to take the office for fear of the military, a large number of citizens, in Town and County, urged the acceptance of the office on Mr Calhoun, who reluctantly gratified them, and he was appointed Shff by the County Judge to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr Ratcliffe

he has been acting Since May last, to the entire Satisfaction of all — At the Aug election he was a candidate for the Same Office, and Saturday before the election he was arrested by the military authorities and placed in the guard house, for what Cause, he, nor his friends, have not found out — and was discharged from prison on tuesday, after the election, upon executing a bond to the Military authorities, in the penalty of $5,000, I think, not to leave the town &c — Now he is Sheriff by appointment and by election, and no one else can act, and he is the choice of 99 out of every 100 in the County; he is about 50 years old, an honorable and high toned Citizen, and popular with all — Our court commences in October & Summons & Subpoenas & executions must be Served, he has executed all the bonds req^d by the statute as Shff, and he is the Collector of all the taxes, and more efficient man, Cannot be found in the State — and you see at once, if he is

firmly bound by his military bond, what great confusion, loss and injury, will insue, not only to the State, County & town but the host of litigants in Court. Mr Calhoun is what was termed, a Southern Sympathiser, but never was engaged in the Service of the confederacy or any state thereof, in a civil or military capacity, nor gave them aid or Comfort; has remained all the time at home, except when private business Carried him elsewhere — He has been at all times a law abiding Citizen — and a man of incorruptible integrity — & he wishes your interposition, to enable him to perform freely the various duties of his office in town and County, without incurring the hazzard of a forfeited Military bond — & I hope your Excellency will exert yourself in his behalf —

Yours truly
John Q. A. King