Sir:

Your letter of the 28th of last month to Colonel Martin, speaker of the Senate, announces your intention of surrendering yourself as a Citizen of the State, to the Civil Power thereof, to answer for any offences you may have committed against the Laws.

As you have come into this State under protection of a Flag of Truce, although I do not admit that Flags can protect citizens who may be obnoxious to the Laws, yet I do not choose to give occasion for discussing such a question. You are therefore to consider yourself as at liberty to depart under the protection of the Flag. But if you choose to persist in your purpose, it is to be considered entirely with your own consent and in that case you will be escorted to Mr. Justice Ashe, who will proceed agreeably to the Laws of the Land.

I wish you may be able to prove the innocence of all your intentions to your Country and that you may receive all the consideration which your humane attention to our unfortunate Countrymen, prisoners with the Enemy, merits, and I am, Sir,