To George Washington from Edward Tilghman and Joseph Thomas, 13 June 1795
From Edward Tilghman and Joseph Thomas
June 13. 1795.
Sir
As the Counsel assigned by the Circuit Court of the United States for Jno. Mitchell on a Charge of Treason we consider ourselves obliged to transmit to you the enclosed Recommendation of the Jury1—We have only to observe that this was the unsolicited Act of the Jurors. We are with great Respect Sir Yr Obt and Hble Servts
Edwd Tilghman
Jos. Thomas
LS, DLC: Pennsylvania Whiskey Rebellion Collection.
Edward Tilghman (1750/51–1815) was born in Maryland and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1767. He studied at Middle Temple in London from 1772 to 1774, when he obtained admission to the bar. Running as a Federalist, Tilghman lost a Pennsylvania congressional election in 1796 to Republican incumbent John Swanwick.
Joseph Thomas (b. 1765) of Philadelphia served in the Pennsylvania Senate during the 1794–95 and 1795–96 sessions. He fled in 1798 under accusations of swindling and forgery.
1. Twelve jurors signed the enclosed petition, which recommended John Mitchell as “a proper Object of Mercy” (DS, DLC: Pennsylvania Whiskey Rebellion Collection). The petition likely was composed sometime between 25 May, the day Mitchell’s trial ended, and 5 June, the last day of the circuit court session.