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Starr Clark to William Henry Seward, Governor Mexico, April 15, 1840 Seward Papers, University of Rochester Mexico April 15, 1840 To his Excellency William H. Seward Dear Sir I wish to call your attention to a memorial that I understand has been forwarded to you, praying you to demand of the Governor of the State of Louisiana the release of James W. Seward, confined in the Jail at New Orleans as a fugitive slave, who is a citizen of this State & whose Parents reside in Schroeppel in this county & [are] well known to me. James is a young man of good character & belongs to one of the best families in the county & I believe was born in Whitesboro. His Step-Father Mr. Amos Mason is quite a Farmer & owns one of the best farms in Schroeppel and [is a] very good citizen. Mrs. Mason formerly Mrs. Seward was brought up in the family of the late Honored Jonas Platt. The family are in deep affliction & desire me to urge upon the Governor the speedy demand [?] of their Son. I feel much interested in this case & deeply for the family. I beg of you (if you have not already) to improve the earliest opportunity of demanding James's release. I feel a confidence that you will. We could obtain almost any number of names to a petition for this purpose but I feel it is not necessary. I am not personally known to Gov. Seward & would refer you to Hon. William Duer Member of Assembly & Thurlow Weed Esq. For character. Very respectfully your Obt. Servant Starr Clark |