I have been hitherto unyielding to the many sollicitations for a pardon to Jacob Ray, who has been for some years confined in the jail of this district under a sentence for forging bank notes. these sollicitations appeared to be founded only on the benevolent feelings of those who brought them forward, which can never be acted on as a proper measure of public punishment. but I now recieve applications entitled to due respect. the laws, apprehensive that their general provisions might sometimes reach cases which they had not in view, or inflict a measure of punishment which might be excessive in particular cases, have confided to the Executive a power of relieving individuals from what, tho’ unintentional in the law, would become oppression. with a view to this use of the power of pardon, I have supposed none could decide so correctly on every particular case as the judges presiding at it’s trial. in the case of Ray the judges have certified their opinion that the purposes of punishment have been answered. and in addition to this 11. of the jurors who tried & convicted him (the 12th. being dead) have declared it as their opinion that he has suffered sufficient punishment from his long and close confinement. altho’ I have never hesitated to pardon on the recommendation of the judges, yet as the banking institutions have a peculiar interest in this case, it is my wish to hear or recieve any objections which you might think reasonable in this case, & to give them a just consideration. I understand the wife of the Petitioner is come from Georgia and awaits this determination; a circumstance which, tho’ it must not deprive us of the time necessary for mature deliberation, would induce us not to interprose any unnecessary delay. Accept my friendly salutations and assurances of great esteem & respect.