Thursday, July 31, 2014

Governor Henry A. Wise to Robert Tyler, November 6, 1859

Richmond, Va., November 6, 1859.

My Dear Sir: Thank you for yours. Please cause this provision of our laws to be published generally in your papers: Code of Virginia, chapter 17, title 10, section 18, — “The governor shall not grant a pardon in any case before conviction, nor to any person convicted of treason against the Commonwealth, except with the consent of the General Assembly, declared by joint resolution. Neither shall he grant a reprieve to any person convicted of treason for a longer period than until the end of the session of the General Assembly during which it may be granted, or until the end of the succeeding session when it is granted during the recess.”

Brown is convicted of treason and sentenced for 2d of December, and General Assembly meets the 5th. I could reprieve only for ninety days, as session of General Assembly is limited for that time only.

Yours truly,
Henry A. Wise.

SOURCE: Lyon Gardiner Tyler, The Letters and Times of the Tylers, Volume 2, p. 554

No comments: