Louisville, May 15^th 1863 —
Sir,

There is a man in the Penetentiarynamed Calvin Fairbanks- He was sent from this city ten or twelve years ago for stealing negroes — I witnessed a part of his trial, and am satisfied that he was a fanatic, his stealing was not from a love of gain or revenge, but from a mistaken sense of his duty as a philanthropist. The punishment he has already suffered is a sufficient warning to others not to be guilty of a like mistake. If his fault was a grievous one, grievously has he answered it —

I trust sir, that you may find it consistent with your sense of duty to pardon the poor fellow, that he may have some chance to do good for the remainder of his days —

I am Sir, most
respectfully your
obt servt
James Speed

Gov James F, Robinson,
Frankfort,
Ky —

Gov^r James F Robinson,
Frankfort,
Ky —