Petition to William H. Bissell1Jump to section
To His Excellency, the Governor of the State of Illinois
We, the undersigned citizens of Logan county, respectfully represent, that at the March term 1856 of the Sangamon circuit court, John Hibbs was found guilty of manslaughter, and sentenced to the Penitentiary for the term of two years; that the deceased came to his death in Logan county, and the case was taken to Sangamon by change of venue; that it was never certain that he came to his death by the hand of Hibbs; and yet it is certain that if he did, it was without any premeditation or malice whatever. He has now served in the Penitentiary one year; his family are in great need of the support he should give them; and we would be much gratified, if he should be pardoned for the remainder of his term.
Annotation
[1] AD, I-Ar. The petition written by Lincoln is signed by forty citizens of Logan County, Illinois. See Lincoln's endorsement infra.