Dear Sir:—
I have seen your letter to my son, and I participate in your grief and most sincerely sympathize with you in your extreme sorrows and earnestly wish I could relieve you from them. Was it in my power so to do, you may be assured it should not be delayed one moment. The Governor may respite the punishment till the sitting of the next Assembly, but cannot pardon, as the prosecution was by direction of the Assembly, who alone in this case, I think, can remit the offense. Everything I can with propriety do, I will most cheerfully, and am, dear sir,