Amos T. Akerman to George W. Ashburn, 1 November 1871

November 1, 1871. Mr. Geo. W. Ashburn, Sir: I have received your letter of the 6th of October. On account of your family, I should be delighted to be able to favor your release. But in official action I am bound by public considerations; and I have not been able to see how you can be released except upon a principle that would work serious detriment to the public service. The best atonement which you can make for the serious error in which you fell, is a submissive suffering of the sentence—with a hearty resolution to act uprightly in the future. Respectfully, &c. A. T. Akerman, Attorney General.