Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1884-08-16
Jack Wills.
HIS PETITION TO CONGRESS FOR
AMNESTY.
Bowling Green { Ky. Gazette.


Bowling Green KY Gazette.
Some years ago Jack Wills petit
tion for pardon attracted widespread
attention. Although this remarka-
BILE document possesses degree of
merit far beyond many productions
that have gained world wide fame,
it has well nigh faded from the pub
lie mind. Jacks petition was read
in Congress by Proctor Knott, in
that distinguished gentieman's inim-
liable style: and his motion that the
pardon be granted was sanctioned
by the fiery Radical leader Of that
period, General b. T. Butler. The
prayer for pardon was not only
granted, but his fervent petition for
a good, fat office was promptly an
swered in the nature of an appoint
meat as Register in Bankruptcy for
one Of the mountain districts of
Kentuckey. Its publication in our
columns at this time is in response
to requests from some of our readers
who have but recently heard of it's
existence for the first time
DEAR KNOTT: thought as had time.
I'd write to you and Beck in rhyme,
TO let you know that am we'll,
A spans length yet or more from hell.
I olGn spnI a ppfition cinuod
BY loyal men who were SO kind
AS to endorse and recommend
For clemency your hayward friend.
Please push it through and thus relieve
A rebel who past sins doth grieve:
And you may tell each friendly Rad
That though | was a rebel bad,
My penitence is deep and true,
More than | dare express to you.
When Jeptha, Judge of Israel fought
The Amonitish hosts, and sought
In prayer the aid of IsraePs God,
TO drown his foes in their own blood.
He made vow he "hadn't orter,'
This, now, Pm sure old Jep repented
Until he felt almost demented.
If all of Holy Writ is true,
Old Pharoah did the Jews pursue
With numerous host intent on slaugh-
ter;
Until he got neck-deep in water;
With penltence no doubt profound
His soul was filled before he drowned.
And thousands evil ways have tried
Who felt repentance ere they died.
Rut few have felt the deep contrition
AS he who send you this petition.
Some for their crimes get thrown into
prison,
And some get ropes around their "wiz-
en;'
Some after death are sent to hell,
All these can bear their fates quite we'll
But he who with cory hand,
Stirs up rebellion in the land
Against the best government under the
sun,
And fails in his purpose, is forever
undone.
No prison for him. Let no gallows be
built
The red ocean of hell is too mild for his
guilt!
The pit of perdition where the devil and
his kith
Are weeping and waling and gnash-
ing Of their teeth,
Is too full of pleasure. Let's invent
some new plan
To punish and torture this rebellious
clan!
Thus our lawmakers said and with
cruel intention
Went to work and conc0cted the four
teenth Amendment.
A man can stand being hung or put in
Jail,
Face the guillotine, too, without turn
ing pale,
And pleasantly travel the pathway to
hell,
And plunge in as though without fear
he fell.
But just think, my dear Prock, and Won
are no novice,
How kentuckian feel when he can't
hold office.
Old Spain's inquisition, and the racks
there applied,
To torture mankind may be twice null
tplied,
Then add gallows and Jail and the for
tunes of hell,
And the figures you get begin scarcely
to tell
The misery of him whose scale of de-
cendment
Is laid down my the law in the Four-
teenth Amendment;
Not that he cares much for the Yankee
blood split,
Or for those he had wounded or those
he had kilt,
But his cup of misery he thinks full
enough is
When he knows he's prescribed and
can never hold office.
Remorse and repentance express but
cOntentment
When compared with the rule in this
Fourteenth Amendment,
Why it's bad enough, Prock. when he
can't get elected,
1t makes him feel sorry, repentant. re-
iected,
But to say he shan't run, o, We gods
what contrition
Fills up mans heart in this awful
condition.
such condition is mine and it wor-
lIlG l. q