Houston_Letter_132_48871

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

We your petitioners, citizens of Sumner County, fee^ling deep solicitude for the reserve of a fellow being; and not feeling it only, from that principle of our common nature; which is ever prompt & ready, to save the sinking, but from a thorough conviction that the punishment in reserve is widely disproportioned to the offence. And this we assert; not that we would wish your Excellency to depart from the line of duty, the shortest distance; to gratify our excited benevolence; but ^we assert it in the face of his condemnation; verily believing that there is a disproportion between the impending punishment and the alligated crime- in confirmation of facts, let circumstan=ces be submitted to your candid mind.

James Nellums; the object of our anxiety, & we hope of your Excellency's clemency, is convicted for the abduction of three negroes, the property of Thomas P. Holeman of Wilson county; for which offence; the 1^st Saturday after the 4^th Monday in June is set apart for his Execution

Now be it known, that a certain Noah Walker of Wilson County, having a claim to these slaves, and yet supposing himself not rightfully disseized of them used means and notorious means, to influence this unfortunate man to the commission of this offence against private rights. Said Nellums is an illiterate man, very poor man and one upon whom a suffering Wife & seven Children mainly depend for daily bread - hence it is a strong presumptive, negative proof rests upon the case; that he must have been furnished with money for the conveying away of these slaves- Now be it further known; that on the day preceding the abduction of sd negroes; Noah Walker and James Nellems were together the greater part of the day at a certain M^r Mahaffy'sThese facts we submit, not for the purpose of thw^arting public justice but because in hope it is not yet too late to set, right what we your petitioners; deem wrong - the pronouncing of this man principle & not accessary; in this reprehensible offence. The trial came on a short time after the offence; thereby preventing the

assistance of this light which has since sprung up.

We are fully apprised of the facility with which petitions can be gotten up; for the prevention of the action of public justice; Nevertheless we hope that this, with numerous others; ere this before; you will enable you not only to answer our prayers in compleat justification of your self but also in mercy. For which, we your petitionerswill feel our selves bound, in bonds of lasting gratitude

Enos Lassiter Robert Thomson Caleb Bymon Web Bloodworth Enok Lassiter Levi Allen W C May Richard [?] Benjamin W: Ireland Ja^s Towrey Ja^s W.Barn Isaac A Robinson Willey tilley John bosoman Jas T Saurey Saml M Can R Bridgers Tho^s May [Balce?] May Jonathan Wallace John A Lewis Orren Wallace William Wallace W^m May [Wilbert?] Wallace]] William Peyton Sam^l Brittan O Walkins James Strattan Richard Parker W^m B. Johnson George Cato Edw^d Shallon Stephen [yelan?] [?] Warner [?] Douglass

G. N. Douglass W^m M^cElwrath Thomas Withers Jacob Howdeskett Hilliary Oneal William J Douglass Stephen Forrest James Verison Allen W Daniel G. R. Morris W. B. Morris N S Morris John Wilson R. M. Bryers B. R. Howard Jo^s Robb Josiah Perry John Perry Jnr N Perry Martin Gardner Tho^s Lasall Edm^d Barrow

John Curry Matthew [Pilfe?] [Ertha?] Brooks George Andrew Roberson James Strattan Wimbeton Gregory Albert Poteet John Person Ja^s Nicholas W L Barry John Pamer John J Henby Dan^l Saffanaus Dan^l M Haley David [Ovenerd?] Richard Graham J Y Blythe L Watkins Joshua Pyle James Robb W^m H. Anderson F Watkins

John Wallace H C Douglass Ara Haskell W^m M^cCall Solomon Sholders Thomas Howell Orville P Cage John Strody William Strody Peyton T Roscoe Carson Dobbins Jessie Garrett S. H. Laceacedale James L [Cacohin?]|Jas L [Cacohin?] Baker Walsh John Cattin J A House Solⁿ R Vollintine James M^cMurry Thomas James William H Birton Alfred M. Baird Ja^s B. King

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Milton Shields [?] Kilgore Avery [?] Thos Davis John A. Brown H. W. Atkinson Grovener March Jn^o Goss Daniel [Olinger?] [Hould Hunteir?] A Patterson Clk County Ct M Payne D. C. C. C. Thomas M^cCord Joshua Rayston Isaac Harmon John Robinson Andrew Smily John Hoyal

David Kennedy Edw^d Y Russell Juror Thomas F Lee Jesse T Rives William Brooks John Alexander [?] E Cott Robt Hays Jurer Humphris Wells John Love David Farnsworth Jacob Dishe A. Rankin [Jr?] Sam^l Henderson Wm [?]