Rufus Ogden to Richard Yates

Cameron Oct 28th 1864

To his Excellency Gov Yates

I wish to call your attention to a matter that has no doubt rec'd some notice from yourself long ere this. We have a large number of unfortunate men in our State prison, many of whom have been as much sinned against as sinners, & who doubtless burn with a desire to serve this country & also to wipe out by such an honorable service the stains of crime on their record.

Now your Excellency, I am not an advocate for the very general exercise by the Executive, of the pardoning power, believing its general tendency to be disastrous, but at the present time I take the liberty of calling your attention to it. Would not a general offer of pardon to all prisoners at Joliet who were convicted of the lower grades of crimes & who should enlist, serve in & be honorably discharged from their Country's service be hailed with joy by those unfortunate men & would not such an honorable service have an elevating influence on them & be their surest passport to public confidence and favor? An as our country is now

making sacrafices of its noblest & bravest, & must still, can we do better for any class & all classes than to accept the service of those unfortunates?

Some may say it will insult our noble soldiers by placing them on equal terms in the army, so will your pardon place them on equal terms at home, at the ballot box, the jury room & all other public places. And will not a brave man once convicted of crime burn with a noble desire to emulate the deeds of noble daring now practiced by our brave boys in the field?

And while our noble President has generously offered a free pardon to so many new guilty of the highest crime known to our criminal code upon the simple condition that in future they desist from their crime without making any atonement at all for the past, may you not reasonably pardon so may as shall honorably enter the most dangerous service their country can call them to. I have none of that morbid sympathy for criminals as such, that is now so prevalent, do not believe the pardoning power now known to our land to be either just, or discreet, but finding it in use I would like to see it used wisely. I am no sympathiser with those who would lower moral standing of our army. I have no personal interest in politics

or any man's elevation to place. I am a simple farmer & Stock trader, am not subject to draft, have never been in regular service. I spent one month with your corps of Surgens & nurses sent to Vicksburg & have seen something of suffering consequent on a state of war in the field & at home. I have given very generously of my friends, twenty four men have left my fireside for the field, eight fill soldiers graves, more are cripples for life and the list is not yet full, the cup of bitterness is not drained.

Your Excellency more of these things make me hesitate, I do not count the cost of a war for the preservation of a Government like our-- I would however use an economy that shall ease it at the least cost & in the best manner, we must raise more men soon, should not all classes be called upon to stand shoulder to shoulder in this trying hour. I thank you from the depth of my loyal heart for your faithful administration of our affairs, your indefatigable attentions to Illinois' brave soldiers for the skill & promptness with which you defeated the machinations of a venal legislature, but more than all for the aid you have given our nation by your patriotic prompt actions in her behalf & now as you are soon to return to private life, may not a wise act of Executive clemency help to fill

swell the ranks of our victorious army, open a door for an unfortunate class of men to redeem their fair name, gladden the hearts of their friends who must suffer with them; how many sons & daughters of such men may by this course be allowed to say, my Father fell in defense of his country, & as we are now as a nation in a transition state & as I hope are taking a higher & nobler stand, may we not more safely than at any past time in the history of our country call upon all these men to serve & finally rejoice with us

The world & our enemies cannot call it an evidence of exhaustion for as a nation we have never been so strong or prosperous, or so united. Another reason for this course may be found in the painful fact that state criminals are very rapidly increasing, all consequent on a state of war, & our position as a border state will make disbanded guerrillas flee hither to escape the wrath to come. I may here be allowed to state that such an act of clemency cannot be to me a personal favor. I have no friend or even an acquaintance in prison for which I am devoutful thankfull. I have thought much on this subject but have written hastily. I should like to see or hear from you.

With very high respect

I subscribe myself your friend

Rufus Ogden

Ogden Rufus.

Cameron Oct 28/64

Advocates the policy of releasing prisoners - convicted of lower grades of crime from Penitiary to serve in the army

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State of Illinois Executive Department Springfield_____________186___