This image and transcription is publicly accessible. The image appears courtesy of the repository named in the Source Description. The transcription and annotation were undertaken by Kentucky Historical Society staff, volunteers, and interns. If referencing this document title, accession number, and permanent URL.
Frankfort.
Dear Sir.
I have learned, with some surprise recently, that a minister of the gospel named Fairbanks is still confined in the penitentiary, upon the charge of stealing a negro in Ky. He has been there for many years, having first been convicted in Fayette, for the same offence, in which Miss Webster was sentenced. He was afterwards pardoned, on the earnest intercession of his father, who lost his life in our midst, with cholera. -- He was again sent from Louisville on a similar charge some ten or twelve years ago, & has
several years yet to suffer, unless pardoned.
Now while high officials of the U. S. Government with the sanction of the president or by his orders, are doing the same thing or much worse, under the tyrants state plea of "Military necessity," -- without entertaining any such conscientious opinions as influenced Fairbanks, I think it a most cruel farce to keep him in penal confiement, & hope you will pardon him.
Very truly,
Yr f d &c,
Leslie Combs
To the Govenor of Kentucky --
Jefferson Cir Ct
vs
Pardoned for ordered on the score of humanity the mans health being extremely critical
Richard T. Jacob
Lt. & Act. Gov
Calvin Fairbanks
th Apl 1864