Americana Holiday 2022 - 54 - Exceptional Presidential Pardon Signed By Abraham Lincoln, Pardoning A Man Convicted Of Manslaughter While Warning Away A Mob Harassing An African American Boy 50. LINCOLN, Abraham. Manuscript pardon signed. Washington, June 18, 1861. One wove leaf, measuring 21 by 17 inches, presidential seal intact; pp. 2; floated, silk-matted and framed with verso of document shown in facsimile, entire piece measures 27 by 49 inches. $35,000. Manuscript pardon boldly signed by Abraham Lincoln and countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward, granting clemency to Benjamin Ogle, who had served three years of an eight-year prison term for manslaughter after shooting to death a ten-year-old boy named John Webb of Georgetown in 1858 in order to protect an African American boy from a racist, stone-throwing mob of his peers. As judicially interpreted, the president’s power to grant reprieves and pardons is absolute. During his presidency, Abraham Lincoln demonstrated this presidential prerogative 343 times, including here when a white a man shot a child bully, who, along with his friends, was throwing stones at a Black child. The document reads, in part: “Whereas it appears that on the first day of May in the year of our Lord 1858, Benjamin Ogle was indicted and convicted for manslaughter in the criminal court of the District of Columbia, and was by the said court sentenced to be imprisoned in the Penitentiary of said District for the term of eight years; And whereas the said Benjamin Ogle has now served out more than three years of his said term of imprisonment, and conducted himself well… And whereas the District Attorney of the United States has reported to me that this was the first criminal charge ever brought against the said Benjamin Ogle… And whereas it has been represented to me… that the wife and children of the said Benjamin Ogle have been brought to great distress by reason of his conviction and imprisonment as aforesaid, and are now in extreme need of his care and assistance… now therefore be it known that I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America, in consideration of the premises, divers other good and sufficient reasons me thereunto receiving, have granted and do hereby grant unto him the said Benjamin Ogle a full and unconditional pardon… [signed] Abraham Lincoln.” With embossed presidential Great Seal. Countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward; docketed on verso. Near-fine condition, with only minor expert paper repairs along three folds. Signature bold and very fine. Scarce, with the paper presidential seal intact. Beautifully framed.
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