Orville Hickman Browning to John Whytock, 2 June 1868

Attorney General's Office Washington, June 2, 1868 John Whytock, Esq. United States Attorney, Little Rock, Ark. Sir: It appears from copies of the libel, decree of condemnation, and petition of the party to the President—to which is appended a recommendation of the Judge, and another of O. Jennings, Esq. late United States Attorney—that the law library of George A. Gallagher, Esq. was libelled and duly condemned in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, under the confiscation

In the body of this letter, someone other than Whitman has replaced the word "execution" with "confiscation."

laws; but that no order of sale has ever passed the Court,—and the books are in the custody of the Marshal. The Honorable Henry C. Caldwell, District Judge of the United States for the District of Arkansas, states, in writing, that the sale of Mr. Gallagher's library would result in scattering it, to the great prejudice of the Courts and bar of Little Rock,—and that the conduct of Mr. Gallagher has been unexceptionable. He earnestly recommends the President to grant "a remittance of the forfeiture." To Judge Caldwell's recommendation the late District Attny subjoins his own. It also appears that an indictment for treason was found against Mr. Gallagher, from which he has been judicially relieved upon a regular plea of pardon—the discharge being shown by a certified copy before me, of the order of the Court in the premises. I have to instruct you, upon this state of facts, to permit satisfaction of the judgment to be entered up, in the premises. Respectfully, your obedient servant, Attorney General, ad interim June 2 '68 John Whytock. Sent Rec.