Letter from A. M. Gibson to James H. Weams
Item
Identifier
Q134437_Q134438
Title
Letter from A. M. Gibson to James H. Weams
Rights
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Type
text
Creator
Gibson, A. M.
Date
1859 April 3
Description
From the Alabama Department of Archives and History Governor A. B. Moore collection. Letter written by A. M. Gibson to James H. Weams requesting to be sent the petition and associated letters related to the commutation of George Russell's sentence. Russell had been convicted of murder in Blount County; the author and other citizens of Marshall County wished for Russell's execution sentence be carried out. Gibson threatens, on behalf of he and the citizens of Marshall County, to not re-elect Governor A. B. Moore lest Russell be executed for his crime.
Format
Letter
Language
English
Place
Blountsville (Ala.); Marshall County (Ala.); Blount County (Ala.)
Publisher
Alabama Department of Archives and History. (electronic version)
Contributor
AnnMarie Shields
transcription
[Blountsville (Ala.)|Blountsville]] Ala. April 3 1859
Honb Jas H. Weams etc. —
Dr Sir
A. E. Vanhoose the Solicitor of this (the 7<sup>th</sup>) [[Circuit courts|Circuit]] wrote to you a few days ago requesting a copy of the petition for the [[Commuting--Law and legislation|Commutation]] of the sentence of [[Russell, George|George Russell]] etc. to be sent to me and others—I also further request that a <u>copy</u> <u>of</u> <u>any</u> <u>letters</u> which may have been <u>recd.</u> by his Excelency in reference to that matter or at <u>least</u> a <u>Statement</u> of their <u>contents</u> and the <u>names</u> of their <u>authors</u> be also sent to me. I make this request for the following reasons—the people of this [[Marshall County (Ala.)|county of Marshal]], and indeed of all the adjoining Counties have been very much incensed at the action of [[Moore, Andrew B. (Andrew Barry), 1807-1873|Govr Moore]] in that case—is is understood that the only evidence he had before him, was the petition, which when it left this County, had as <u>we</u> are informed, but 116 signers, and <u>those</u> too, generally of a class that should have had but little influences—In the case of Russell there were no mitigating circumstances—he was a youth of desperate character—young in years but old in crime—At least 19/20<sup>th</sup> of the people in this and adjoining Counties are settled in the belief that the public good required his [[Capital punishment|execution]]. Now in consequence <u>of</u> <u>the</u> <u>action</u> of His Excelency ^in the premises,^ Governor Moore has rendered himself exceedingly unpopular in this region of the State—unless satisfactory reasons can be given, to justify his action in commuting Russell’s sentence, he will in the coming election loose 5,000 democratic votes in this and adjoining Counties. He is threatened with oppositions and his reelection would be by no means certain under the circumstances—
[page break]
Now as a friend to Governor Moore, I wish to be able to set him right in the public estimation. It is also due to the people, that they should know what influences where brought to bear, to induce the Governor to act. If improper means were used, or undue influences exercised, to bring about what is almost universally regarded as a very great outrage upon the law, and the good of the Community, it is right that the blame should rest where it rightfully belongs. Please answer soon—
Yours very truly
A. M. Gibson
[CA Ala. Dept. Archives & History stamp]
P. S. You need not copy [[Mudd, W. S. (William Swearingen), 1816-1884|Judge Mudd’s]] letter, as from a coversation had with Judge M. that letter was not <u>mailed</u> untill <u>after</u> the Governor had commuted the sentence.
—Gibson
Honb Jas H. Weams etc. —
Dr Sir
A. E. Vanhoose the Solicitor of this (the 7<sup>th</sup>) [[Circuit courts|Circuit]] wrote to you a few days ago requesting a copy of the petition for the [[Commuting--Law and legislation|Commutation]] of the sentence of [[Russell, George|George Russell]] etc. to be sent to me and others—I also further request that a <u>copy</u> <u>of</u> <u>any</u> <u>letters</u> which may have been <u>recd.</u> by his Excelency in reference to that matter or at <u>least</u> a <u>Statement</u> of their <u>contents</u> and the <u>names</u> of their <u>authors</u> be also sent to me. I make this request for the following reasons—the people of this [[Marshall County (Ala.)|county of Marshal]], and indeed of all the adjoining Counties have been very much incensed at the action of [[Moore, Andrew B. (Andrew Barry), 1807-1873|Govr Moore]] in that case—is is understood that the only evidence he had before him, was the petition, which when it left this County, had as <u>we</u> are informed, but 116 signers, and <u>those</u> too, generally of a class that should have had but little influences—In the case of Russell there were no mitigating circumstances—he was a youth of desperate character—young in years but old in crime—At least 19/20<sup>th</sup> of the people in this and adjoining Counties are settled in the belief that the public good required his [[Capital punishment|execution]]. Now in consequence <u>of</u> <u>the</u> <u>action</u> of His Excelency ^in the premises,^ Governor Moore has rendered himself exceedingly unpopular in this region of the State—unless satisfactory reasons can be given, to justify his action in commuting Russell’s sentence, he will in the coming election loose 5,000 democratic votes in this and adjoining Counties. He is threatened with oppositions and his reelection would be by no means certain under the circumstances—
[page break]
Now as a friend to Governor Moore, I wish to be able to set him right in the public estimation. It is also due to the people, that they should know what influences where brought to bear, to induce the Governor to act. If improper means were used, or undue influences exercised, to bring about what is almost universally regarded as a very great outrage upon the law, and the good of the Community, it is right that the blame should rest where it rightfully belongs. Please answer soon—
Yours very truly
A. M. Gibson
[CA Ala. Dept. Archives & History stamp]
P. S. You need not copy [[Mudd, W. S. (William Swearingen), 1816-1884|Judge Mudd’s]] letter, as from a coversation had with Judge M. that letter was not <u>mailed</u> untill <u>after</u> the Governor had commuted the sentence.
—Gibson
Subject
Moore, Andrew B. (Andrew Barry); 1807-1873; Alabama--History--19th Century; Petitons; Crime--Alabama--History; Blount County (Ala.); Blount County (Ala.)--History.