<title type="main">H. S. Withers to Thomas E. Bramlette Edition created from new transcripts of this manuscript. Initial upload of this work's facsimile images and metadata to FromThePage for editing Kentucky Historical Society Digital Collections Administrator of the CWGK Migration transcription project on FromThePage Kentucky Historical Society Digital Collections Kentucky Historical Society Digital Collections made 2 edits between June 21, 2025 and June 21, 2025. Dynamic TEI export from FromThePage (version 22.10)

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 November 11, 2025 Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's official correspondence file, petitions for pardons, remissions, and respites 1863-1867 KYR-0001-004-2077 BR14-274

Stanford, Lincoln County, Kentucky Stanford, Lincoln County, Kentucky 1865-07-27 Correspondence English Version 1 of page "2": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "2": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "1": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "1": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile.
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Stanford July 27. 1865 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.

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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,