To Thomas Jefferson from William Linen, 15 June 1806
Charleston, (So: Carolina) June, 15th. 1806.
Honored Sir,
I take the liberty of addressing you on a subject, which is of great importance to the Citizens of these United States.—Altho a stranger to you personnally, but as I conceive that you are a lover of Public Justice as well as myself, emboldens me to relate the following.—
I am sorry to inform you, that I had several actions in our State Courts, and after several Years trouble in attending on them, I coud’ get no satisfaction but that of defraud, in the room of protecting Justice: and the rights and priviledges of the Juries are infring’d upon.— Inclos’d you will please accept of a Pamphlet of my production, where you will more clearly see how I have been treated.—I some Months ago read in a News Paper, a production of Tho: Paine esqe. mentioning the corruptions practised in several Courts; and as my case is similar to what he has wrote, I have taken the Liberty of writing to him, and enclosing a Pamphlet for his perusal.
As these are facts that cannot be controverted, I hope that the Pamphlet will be of that utillity to the community in general; so as to bring about a reform in the Courts, a subject of such serious magnitude in a free Government as we style ourselves.—
I remain, Honored Sir, your Obedient Humble Servt.
Wm. Linen.
DLC: Papers of Thomas Jefferson.