1

Nashville 30^th June 1816

Dear sir,

I have learned from Mr
Washington that your Excellency has
remitted the fine against John Bowden,
in whose behalf Mr Grundy & my-
self petitioned your excellency -

The grounds of our application were
simply these. That the fact being known
to your excellency that the prisoner
was a grey headed old man having
children & grand children male &
female in this town, the purposes of
the criminal justice of the country
could not be affected nor its objects
obtained by the corporal punishment
of such a man - For sure I am
that there is no person, who could
see a grey headed father receiving
the lash at the public whipping post
& stripped to nakedness, without ex
periencing sentiments of pity &
horror. Such an instance as this, with
thousands of them, establish more clearly
the necessity of your excellency's encourag-
ing by yr influence & recommendations
the establishment of a penitentiary under
legislative authority, an institution that
is the offspring at once of a sound, expanded
& mild philosophy