Unidentified to Gov. William Owsley, September 2, 1848

       Brooksville Ky Sept 2nd 1848

       Dr Sir

I feel some delicacy in in [sic] addressing you without a personal acquaintance but suppose the family are known to you by reputation, and the urgency of the matter bid me to lay aside all personal feelings and petition for the Pardon of the slaves, Slaughter, Shadrack & Presley, who have been condemned by our court. I was not engaged in the case, but took down all the evidence and reported the speeches & I am satisfied that the negroes were deceived in the matter & know only of a few who intend[ed] running off. I do not wish to see them hanged as the public feeling does not require it. The county will be more injured by the execution than the commonwealth benefited by it. We want no blood shed here, because of the demoralizing effects for the rising generation, I could see Doyle suffer death even, but who of us would not have ran away to taste the sweets of Liberty & who would not [illegible] influenced to shoot by a demon standing beside us with a revolver, everything to lose if taken & nothing to gain. When he swore to shoot us unless we fought, I think the law was violated & the verdict just, but I look more to the abolitionist than the victims ten of the Jury signed this a petition one only refused the other had started home before the masters saw him, I plead the cause of mercy & hop you may go as duty prompts             Yours with the highest respect [not signed]