Auburn June 25 — 1846
My dear Son,
I received your letter last evening –
I have not ventured to send you any money before
on account of the prohibitory notice attached to
our monthly report – I enclose $5 – You have
probably heard the result of Wyatt's trial which
has occupied the whole of your fathers time for
the last three weeks – After as very strong charge
from the judge against the prisoner the jury
brought in a unanimous verdict of guilty —
He was sentenced yesterday to be hung the 18 day
of August – To me, who disapproving of capital
punishment at all, under any circumstances
it appears a very unjust sentence for a man
driven to desperation by the lash of his inhuman
keepers – but so long as legal murders are
tolerated by community little allowance
will be made for palliating circumstances —
I trust the time will come if not in my
generation when people will learn that such
barbarous punishments only increase the crimes
they are intended prevent – they will learn
from the teaching of the Son of God that
all revenge is sinful, and that no punishment

can be justifiable further than is necessary for the
reformation of the offender and the security of society —
The trial of Bill Freeman is now occupying
the court — the preliminary question of insanity
is not yet disposed of – the murder itself
without the slightest provocation or malice
would be a sufficent argument to prove
the insanity of the offender to a mind
unbiased by prejudice or passion – few such
minds are to be found in this excited com-
munity and I should not be surprised if the
conviction and sentence of this miserable
insane negro who is sinking into a state
of idiocy, should follow that of Wyatt —
These are the decisions of an earthly tribunal
How differently they w same cases will be
viewed and judged by our heavenly Father
remains for us yet to learn — Justice and
Mercy will not with him be incompatible —
It has been a great sacrifice of time for your
father but is cheerfully made in the cause
of benevolence and humanity — Seneca
Wood his associate counsel in Freemans
defence is too ill to attend court – David Wright
has taken his place — Dr Doane returned
home last Sunday – Dr Brigham went also
but has come again to attend this trial —

The weather here was cold and unpleasant for
some days – it must be unpleasant for
your encampment – You do not say when
you wish me to come or answer the other
questions I asked — I hope you will take care
of yourself these damp cold nights –
What do you think of the Mexican prospects? —
Did your class of graduates all receive
appointments or is it not yet known? —
I expect Aunty and Frances some time
this week — Uncle Worden is yet in Albany
Grandpa is quite well again — Willie
and Fanny all well and merry — Fred
says he is studying pretty hard preparatory to
commencement — Aunt Clara is well
and sends love — Mr Underwood, Amos,
died Tuesday, is buried this afternoon.
Old Mrs Hatch, Gen Throops mother whom
you may remember is also dead and
to be buried tomorrow — A Dieu —
your affectionate Mother—