Early Governors' Papers

To the honourable Sam Houston Govwernor of the State of Tennessee.

We the undersigned Petitioners would represent that at the last session of the Circuit Court for Wilson , that James Villums a citizen thereof was indicted and convicted for stealing and carrying some or three negroes of Thomas P. Holeman, and adjudged to die therefor. Now in consideration of the severe and rigorous punishment annexed to the offense the compassion of your Petitioners is aroused, but being well aware that this would be but afford but a feeble ground to call upon you for your interposition, your Petitioners would show that there is good reason to believe, and your Petitioners do sincerely believe, that it was with the connivance and through the instrumentality of one Noah Walker who had a good colour of title to the said negroes that said Villums took and carried them away. This then was circumstantial evidence intraduced to prove upon the trial, but it being clearly proven and indeed confessed that he did sell the negroes, and ^not being as clearly proven that it was through the instrumen =tality of Walker that they were taken, the jury contrary to their better feeings conceived themselves compelld to convict.

To his Excellency Samuel Houston Governor in and over the State of Tennessee -

Your petitioners the undersigned beg leave moast [sic] respectfully to represent to your Excellency, that at the present term of the Circuit court for Wilson County James Nelms was tried and convicted upon the charge of stealing and disposing of certain Negres [sic] Slaves- Many of the undersigned heard the evidence in the cause and all are acquainted with the prominent facts in the case and although it is common in applications of this kind to express opinions in favour of Executive Clemency they cannot forbear to say that if a case ever occured in any Country which loudly demand the merciful interposition of the pardoning Power of the Goverment this is one; the law under which he was convicted to say the least of it, is a most sangunary [sic] one we conceive that the [dispersing?] power vested in your Excellency could never be exercised with ^more obvious propriety than in the present case - It is litteraly true that the whole County of the prisoners residence desire most ardently his pardon -

The evidence ^in the cause together with circumstances which have come to the knowedge of Society since the trial have produced a setled [sic] conviction that he took the Negros to Murray where he sold them as the agent of one Noah Walker who has for years asserted and still asserts a cliam [sic] to them -

He left home about 4 oclock in the evening traveled openly on the publick [sic] road he sold them and returned home in the same way evidencing ^his inocence in his own opinion & his agency for Walker- we therefore pray that your Excellency will Graciously interpose ^by pardoning the said Nelms-

and as in duty bound we will ever pray &c-

1 Nicholas Edwards 2 Archer Clay 3 John Mitchell 4 Zadok Mitchell 5 Anderson Lambeth 6 Jesse Johnson

7 Jacob May 8 Israel Moore 9 Butler Arnold Capt 10 John L miller 11 James Cook 12 J S [phowes?] 13 M. [Offork? O Hank?]

To The Hon^l Samuel Houston governor of the State of Tennessee

We the undersigned petitioners would represent that at the last session of the Circuit Court for Wilson County James Aclins a Citizen of the County aforsaid Was indicted and convicted for Negro Stealing Under the act of assembly of 1779 [ch?] and carrying away other Negroes the property of Thomas P Holman to the County of Wilson Williamson & State of Tennessee aforsaid and for the [crowd?] aforsa^id it was adjudged & decreed that the said Ja^s Aclins be hanged the first Saturday after the fourth Monday in June next between the hours of 1 & 3 Oclock The Punishment annexed to the offence by the act aforsad The humanity & compassion of your petitioners arroused in the behalf of the sd Aclins but being aware that this woud afford but a feeble Ground to call upon your excellency for your humaneity interposition Your Petitioners would show that there is a good reason to believe from the proof deposed before the Court & Jury at the trial to raise the belief that one Noah Walker a man of bad moral character, Who had a good colour of title took sd Negroes did first deliver the said negroes to the sd Nelms to carry off and sell, To this point there was strong circumstantial evidence, to raise a belief of that fact, but it was Conclusively proven and in fact confessed by the said Aclins that he did sell the said negroes to one John Becks in the County aforsaid & made a Bill of sale in the name of the said Noah Walker and the defendant was unable to prove the agency of the said Walker in delivering the said negroes to the said Aclins Your petitioners will Conclude

To his Excellency the Governor of the State Tennessee

Your petitioners respectfully represent that at the April term 1828 of our Wilson Circuit Court James Nelms was prosecuted and convicted for the stealing of three negroes the property of Thomas P. Hollman many of us witnessed the trial and from the proof in the Case, we did believe that it was a doubtful Case and did expect that the defendant would have been acquitted of the charges.

Your petitioners further represent that it is the prevailing opinion of those living in the vicinity of the place from which the negroes were taken, that Noah Walker, who formerly owned the negroes, was concerned & in fact was the prime mover of the affair; It was clearly established by proof that said Noah Walker was much dissatisfied about the sale of those negroes & others, which it was proved were sold by executions upon attachments, in his absence to the State of Illinois. It was also proven that Walker had not long since been endeavouring to sell the negroes or induce others to sue under his title for one half of the amount - But the unfortunate defendant was unable to shew how he got the negroes into his possession- It was proved that Walker & the defen= dant had conversations together about before & after the negroes were taken,

Being well convinced that your Excellency will take into merciful consideration the case of an unfortunate individual, who has a family consisting of a wife & seven helpless children to who are dependant [sic] upon him for a

To his Excellency Samuel Houston, Governor in and over the State of Tennessee -

Your petitioners the undersigned, beg leave most respectfully to represent to your Excellency, that at the present term of the Circuit Court for Wilson County, James Nelms was tried and convicted, upon a charge of stealing and disposing of certain Negroe slaves- Many of the undersigned heard the evidence in the cause, and all are acquainted with the prominent facts in the case, and although it ^is common in applications of this kind, to express opinions in favour of executive clemency they can not forbear to say, that if a case ever occure [sic] in any country, which loudly demanded the merciful interposition of the pardoning power of the govern -ment, this is one; The law under which he was convicted, to say [illegible] most sangunary [sic] one; and we conceive that the dispensing power vested in your Excellency, could never be exercised with more obvious propriety than in the present case- It is litterally true, that the whole county of the prisoners residence, desire most ardently his pardon-

The evidence in the cause, together with circumstances which have come to the knowledge of society since the trial have produced a setled [sic] conviction that he took the negroes to Murray, ^where he sold them as the agent of one Noah Walker, who has for years asserted, and still asserts a claim to them- He left home about 4 o.clock in the evening, traveled openly on the publick [sic] road, untill [sic] he sold them, and returned home in the same way, evidencing his inocence [sic] in his own opinion, & his agency for Walker- We therefore pray that Your Excellency will graciously interpose by pardoning the said Nelms-

And as in duty bound we will ever pray &c