Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1865-12-08
EX-GOV. MAGRATH,

| 6"''Aeo SShsiShou' 10 SoiuS, suo AouuuS VI
the papers. It is needless to say that its
whole tone Of sentiment apd feeling is. ut
terly unworthy of one who has held for
however brief period, the Gubernatorial
Chair Of South Carolina. It is the most
complete moral breakdown which the
times have developed.
tQuantum mutatus all flo Hcctore!"
we may we'll cxclaim. Is this indeed the
indignant and patriotic official, who dofed
with such tragic grace the ermiue Of the
Federal Judgship in the good old city of
Charleston? Is this the eloquent advo-
cate of Southern Rights, onco the envy Of
Secession Committees, and whom we all
remember as. leading off so boldly in the
great mass meeting of Abbeville District
in lS602 Is this the.hero whom our Leg
islators short year ago, preferred above
all others, even our SCARED vetet tans, to
lead the State (heaven save the ,narkD
through the perils of q most desolating in
vasion7 Is this the leader whose brave
pronunciamentos excited tho invader to
deeds of plunder and violence, which he
did not stay to quitness2 whose wordy
proclamations we're euoughto to have killed
dozen Confede,acies Alas I our iniqui-
ty must indeed have been fs3h ewhen a
righteous Providence inflicted upon us, in
Our highest representative such moral
weakness as is here displayed. We can
not but remember, that the author of this
letter had well nigh redeemed the many
errors Of life by this one great virtue; loyal
ty to his Stale III her days of darkness
and struggle and trial. Bat all is here uht
doue-ani the seeming manIiness of the'
acted patriotism of the last four years, gives
place in The Ex-Governor of South Carroll
ia, to the humiliat;ug confessions of the
following letter, to this miserable whining
after release from Imprisonment, We
observe that the ex governor has been re-
leased. We are sure President johnson
did not see this letter befo,e granting II
release. This recreancy to the past, would
have vitiated:. ali pledges for the future.
Away With this glorying in our shame
our conquerors but despise US forsuch con.
fessions as these. We had. expected that
the State prisoners FROM South Carolina,
our Governor at least, would have emula-
ted the bearing of our captive Pres
ident, whose Christian frmness aud un-
bending dignity have commanded the adj
IMITATION of the world.
But here is the letter. Read il:
Fonr PULASKI, Nov. 8, 1865.
My Dear: 1t costs me an effort to
seat myself and write you, because tie
subject Of my letter is always matter Of
great consequence to gle. and at:the same
time Of great siauble to my friends, who
are able TO do any thing for me. And the
thought. that the sight of my handwriting
brings annoyance TO my friends is to me a
source OF inexpressible pain. Still, my
condition here is so torturing to ma that,
instigated by the letters which my fellow
prisoners have received to day, am forced
to write you and ask if til not possible to
accomplish my liberation,
Every other Governor of a seconstruc,ed
State sat large. Every other judge Of
the United States Who resigned is at large.
Every other judge ofsthe Confederats
States is at large. Why should I be de-.
tainedi What have donea W1o strove
tn the State more earnestly than 7 did for
gears. to ovsrt a separation7 WHO suas
.oas held more responsible than 7 for hap
ing stared the action Of tho !Statei And
a0hen I did'resig'a, ,0hqt other course could
I pursue than that sohieh I did pursue, in
resigning at once, that a Succession might
be appointed Would this be condemn
ed2 If 80, what WAS the alternative !?
Was it to continue, and either thwart tke
action Of the government, or renounce
opinions which honestly entertained If
this be true, what Is. my offence but in
having such opinionsi And. can that be
censurable when with me tho conclusion
was not matter Of choice, but of neces-
sity, because of the convictions lhad.
l could 60 further; for ,you know that BE-
cause Of an adhersaes to the like eonvie.
sions, I became o6nozioas to the govern
naent at Richmond. The 'opiasom I had
| Of tho govsrnment had excluded me from
tts confidence and depriued me If ifs 6nso..