The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-11-28
Letter from Gov. NInxrnth.

New York Herald. sends the following
letter from Ex-Governor Hagrath, which
he says was received from him by friend
in Charleston:
Fort PULASKI, November 8, 1865
MY DEAR -: It costs me an effort to
seat myself and write you, because the
subject OF my letter is always matter of
great consequence to me and at tho same
time OF great trouble to my friends, who
are able to do anything for me. And the
thought that the sight Of my handwriting
source Of inexpressible pain. Still. my
condition here is 80 torturing to me that,
instigated by the letters which my fellow
prisoners have received to-day, am forced
to write you and ask if it is not possible to
accomplish my liberation? Every other
Governor Of q reconstructed State is at
large. Every other Judge Of the United
States who resigned is at large. Every
other Judge Of the Confederate States is at
large. Why should be detained? What
have I done? Who strove in the State
more earnestly than 1 did for years to
avert a separation? Who was held more
responsible than I for having stayed the
action of the State? And when 1 did
resign, what other course could l pursue
than that which did pursue, in resigning
at once, that successor might be appoint
ed? Would this be condemned? If SO,
what was the alternative? Was it to con-
tinuc, and either thwart the action Of the
Government, or rcnOuncc opinions which
1 honestly entertained? If this be true,
what is my offence but in having such
opinions? And can that be censllrab BILE
when with me the conclusion was not a
matter of choice, but of necessity, because
of the convictions 1 had. 1 could go
further; for you know that because Of an
adherence to the like convictions became
n nnf ct pirt,
mond. The opinion had of that Govern
mcnt had excluded me from its confidence
and deprived me of it's favor. Certainly,
in the entertainment of my opinions and
in the adoption of my conclusions, have
shown that l was endeavoring to seek the
truth, and in the search maintained con-
siStcncy.
II Judge - is opposed to me, it can
only be from some private pique. To Mr..
Seward l am wholly unknown, and what
can Judge - have against me? Can I
not point to my course during the time
that held the commission of the United
States and ask him, or any and all else. to
say in what is there wrong?
Am not entitled to claim that met the
Court of the United States in South Caro-
lima, an effete institution, little known or
respected, and that III der my auspices and
direction it had risen to as great conse-
quence and enjoyed as much respect and
COuuuellCc AS any Quiet court Ill TIE state.
Was 1t not known to all that in the increase
of it's business the road was opened for the
lawyer of South Carolina to the Supreme
Court, where but few before had ever
found their way, and that the unhappy
convulsion which shook the country alone
prevented that more extended intercourse
from which so mnch good was expected?
Or will it be said that closed the court
and stopped the action of the Government?
Could close the court, except so far as I
was the judge, by my resignation? Could
not a successor have been appointed?
Could not Judge - have opened the
court? Could not all business have been
under the law transferred to the courts in
Georgia?
No matter what my private opinions
may have been, you know That opposition
to the movement in the State was utterly
idle. You know that the only organized
party in the State by which opposition had
been made was broken up, and that its
leading members in different parts of the
State had dissolved its unity. You know
that in the summer of 1860, Mr.. Boycc pub
lished his letter, in which he urged sepa-
rate State action in the event of Mr.. Lin
coins election, although he had been one
of the leaders of the anti-seccssion party
in 1850. You know that soon after Mr.. Orr
published his letter, in which he coun-
selled a movement as soon as four States
and other leaders having thus spoken,
there came to be but one purpose every
where, and all felt that upon the happen
ing of the contingency which was then
contemplated, the choice must be made by
all whether they would go with the State.
Is not all this true? Who knew more Of
the facts than you? And if true, why
should be imprisoned when every other
functionary who has held any of the Offices
which have filed is at large?
Ny application for amnesty is full and
faithful explanation not only Of conduct,
bnt also of opinion. My assurance of
future obedience to the Government is
given in the strongest terms. My willing
ness to aid in carrying out the policy of the
Government and rc-assuring the harmoni-
ous union Of the States is expressed in
language as sincere and strong as any one
has used.
Can l not, under such circumstances,
Eor ra1inf xvJ,inh 1iaeb