Letter from some Ladies of Yazoo, Mississippi to Mississippi Governor Benjamin G. Humphreys; 1866

Gov Humphreys,

We send you a duplicate of a letter, which we received from Judge Campbell, and we sincerely hope it may influence you to change your decision with regard to the unfortunate convict Nelson—Will you not call on your way down the river, and remain a day or night in Yazoo City?—You will be most warmly welcomed.

We are not like the author of the anonymous letter, which you received, ashamed of the cause we have espoused, but we are willing to respond to our names on the petition, one

[seal]

P. S.

Kosciusko Miss Aug 4, 1866

Ladies of Yazoo

Your beautiful and touching appeal for my aid in your merciful efforts to obtain a commutation of the punishment of the unfortunate convict Nelson, was read last evening and was forwarded to-day to Gov H, with my attestation that the evidence on his trial warranted the conclusion stated in your letter, as to the circumstances of his crimes. I did not go farther and join in your application, for the reason that I thought from my past experience with Gov. Humphreys that my name would probably prejudice the application, and I was unwilling to throw any obstacle in the way of your sucessful efforts.

I pity poor Nelson, I deeply deplore his sad fate: I am touched with admiration of your tender sympathies and zealous efforts to have his sentence commuted, and will perhaps share the joy you will feel, if you shall succeed in having his sentence commuted to imprisonment in the

penitentiary

I feel a tender sympathy for the woes of my fellow men, and often in the discharge of my judical duties, have to struggle with the sympathies of my heart, to follow the dictates of my judgement. In this case, moved by the eloquence of the "women of Yazoo my heart responds harmoniously to the appeal they make, while my judgement hardly approves the step you asked me to take: but anxious to oblige you and never willing as a man to be insensible to calls for mercy, I have done all that I could to serve you, and the end you seek and beg to subscribe myself

Most respectfully Your obedt S'v't

J. A. P. Campbell

July 18^th 1866

Yazoo County, Miss. July 1866

No interference by Exec. in this case except by way of reprieve of 28 days

Ladies of—

Send petition for the extension of Executive Clemency in the case of W. H. Nelson Convicted of Murder and sentenced for execution July 20^th 1866

—Reprieve until 17^th day of August granted July 19^th 1866—

J. F. M—

To His Excellency, B. G. Humphreys, Governor of the State of Mississippi,

Sir:—

We, the ladies of Yazoo, most respectfully represent, that W. B. Nelson was convicted at the last term of the Circuit Court, of Murder. There are sir in his case, many features which appeal to the pride of the patriot, the respect of the citizen and the clemency of the Executive. No charge of any character having heretofore been brought against him. His conduct as a Southern man, & patriotic Soldier, challenge the admiration of all who love lofty courage, chivalrous daring, stern fortitude & manly indepen-dence in time of war. Yet, alas, in his young manhood, he yielded to corrupt associates, who took ad-vantage of his every virtue, & turned them to his own destruction. They energised the bitterness he felt towards the Yankey oppressor, they actively stimulated his sense of wrongs against the invaders, they pointed to their heartless despoiliations,