South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1866-01-19
Letter from Raphael Semmes.

CcluibcS, Ettc ColEilltlllcT pt INT -hitD'Iu',
and now awaiting trial in Washington, writ
ten by him in August last To his brother,
Samuel VI. Scmmcs, ut Cumberland, Mary
land, is given To the public through the -Nd-
Ho"m MhH;yc"cer:
MOBILE, ALA, August II, 1860.
My DEAR BROTHER: The cessation Of
the war leaves ne at liberty to renew my
correspondence with you, without subject !
in% v"u to suspicion and annoyance; and
need not say t" You how grateful to the
ycarnines Of my heart is this lon.-suspcnd-
cd privilege. You have been frequently in
my thoughts during our unfortunate strug-
gle, and have often felt much solicit,,dc on
your account, lest 4 part of the odium and
ill-will which n jealous performance Of my
duty has called down upon my head from
u "mad nation" should attach to You and
your familv. and operate to your injury.
Indeed, have no doubt but that the prciu-
dice against me was the secret of the bar
barous and malignant persecution Of your
son. of whic! heard only few days since
| from my wiics friend and relation, Mrs.
Judge Spencer, of Cincinnati. | have new
crinquircl rs 70 your opinions and conduct
ddrinm the war, Icina content to leave YOU
rtlic same liberty of choice and act"n that
/ claimed for myself. | knew that what
i ever you did, You would do like n man of
; honor, AMI rested SatiSiictl. Besides, YOU
I had been for solmc time retired from active
life hy ycur want of health. As for my
self, have nothin. to regret, save only the
loss of our independence. Ny conscience.
which is the only earthly tribunal OF which
ness "t the upri.iItncSS Of my intention in
choosing my course when, with many re-
grcts, severed my connection with the old
Government and fastened to the defence Of
my home and section; and now, upon re-
viewing the whole fmy subsequent career,
! can see no act with whivh have to re-
. .Proach nysclf rs unbccoming man of hon
! or and II gentleman. approved the Sc
ccssion movement of the Southern States,
though had no agency in it. | thought
that separation of those two sections of our
Republic, which hal been engaged in a
deadly moral conflict for thirty years, would
ultimately result to the great advantage OF
them both. Tic world was wide enough
+ for them to live apart, and peace, | thought
Woull be the fruit Of their mutual indcpcnd
little abGtv''tllaseer ,r-Altlan@h cared very
thought that the subordinate position of tn,
inferior race was its proper position. be-
llcvcd that the doctrine of Statcs-rirhts was
the only doctrine which would save our Re
public from the fate Of all other Republic.
that had gone before us in the history Of
the world. | believed that this doctrine
had been violated, and that it would ncvc,
he sufficiently respected By the controlling
masses of the Northern section to prevent
them from driIcing with sacrilcgious hands
our national bond of Union whcrcsocvcr its
letter was meant to guard the peculiar rights
of the South. Bciirvn" this, there was
but one course which 4 faithful Southern
man couIl pursue, and maintain his self
respect. pursued that course When the
alternative w#s presented 20 me of alhcrinr
t" he allegiance duo to my State or to the
United States, chose The former. Having
taken my side, gave it jealous and ear
nest support. | spent four years in active
service, anl only ceased to labor for INV
cause when it was 10 Longer possible. !
rendered this service without ever hayin"
treated prisoner otherwise tI!an humanclv,
and | may say, often kindly; and wi,lou;
ever h"vii" committed III act Of war M any
I time, or iii any manner. which was not
Sanc;i med by the laws of war; yet my
name will probably 90 down t" "poSicritv in
! the untruliiul histories that will be writ
! ten by hicn:cl and vcnal historians as a
sort Of Blue Beard or Captain Kidd. But
| am content. my brother. Ny conscience
Il clear; my Scifrr$pcct has been preserved,
and my sense Of manhood remains unim-
! paired. think. toe. the South will be con-
tent, notwithstanding. her immense losses
and sacrifices. !fshc had yielded to the in
tolerant cxactious OF Northern scliishncSs
and iana'icism. without appealing to the
arhitraincnt "t war, She would have PLAYED
a craven and unworthy part. 1t is better to
lose everything than our honor and man.
hood. | know You will believe me. INV
brother. when tel! you that should feel
greatly iumhlcd i'll ny own opinion, were
tins day cn;itlcd to wear an adniral's FLAG
III the odd navy, and i'll possession ofall the
means andarrlianccS "fwcalth, if | thought
my h"nors and rewards had ircn gained BY
sacrifice of creed. The preservation of
my own self respect is infinitely preferable
to all such gains have come out of the
war poor: but, God willing, shall make
support for my family. The President
treats me as an outlaw, unworthy of amncs
ty. | have nothing to say. III am DEEM
CT unworthy TO bca citizen, | can remain in
my native land as an alien \ marnan
nous people would have passed au act of