The Placer herald., 1866-02-24
LETTER FROM RAPHAEL SEMMES To
HIS BROTHER SAMUEL N. SEMMES.

nisbed with the following letter, written by
Raphael Semmes, late commander of the
| rebel cruiser Alabama, and now awaiting
trial 10 Washington, written by him in Au
gust last to his brother, Samuel N. Semmes
at Cumberland, Md:
MOBILE, ALA, Aug. IL, 1865.
My Dear Brother:-The cessation of the
war leaves me at liberty to renew my CORES
pondence with you, without suhjecting you
to suspicion and annoy ance; and need not
say to you how grateful to the ysarnings Of
my heart is this long suspended privilege.
You have been frequently in my thoughts
during our unfortunate struggle, and have
often felt much solicitude on your account,
lest part Of the odium and i'll will which
Jealous performance of my duty has called
down upon my head from mad nation
should attach to you and your family, and
operate to your injury. Indeed l have no
doubt but that the prejudices against me was
the secret of the barbarous and malign an t
persecution of your son, of which heard
only few days since from my wife's friend
and relation, Mr.. Judge Spencer. of Ciucin.
natl. l have never inquired as to your opin-
ions and conduct during the war, being con.
tent to leave you the same liberty of choice
and action that l claimed for myself l
knew that whatever you did, you would do
like man of honor, and rested satisfied.
Besides, you bad been for some time retired
from active life by your want of health.
As for myself, have nothing to regret,
save only the loss of our independence. NV
conscience, which is the only earthly tri
bunal OF which good man should be afraid
bears me witness of the uprightness of my
intention in choosing my course when, with
many regrets | severed my connection with
the old government and FASTENED to the de-
fence of my home and section; and now,
upon reviewing the whole Of my subsequent
career, can see no act with which l have to
reproach myself as unbecoming man of
honor and and gentlemen. approved the
secession movement of the Southern States,
though had no agency in it. l thought
that separation OF these two sections of our
Republic, which bad been engaged in
deadly moral conflict for thirty years, would
ultimately result to the great advantage of
them both. The world was wide enough for
them to live apart, and peace, thought,
would be the fruit, their mutual indepen.
dence of each other. Although cared very
little about the institution of slavery, l
thought that the subordinate position Of the
inferior race was its proper position. l be.
leve that the doctrine Of States rights
was the only doctrine which would save our
Republic from the fate Of all other Republics
that had gone before US 10 the history of the
world. l believed that this doctrine had
been violated and that it would never be
sufficiently respected by the controlling mas
ses OF the Northern section to prevent them
from defacing with sacriligeous hands our
national bond of the Union wheresoever its
letter was mean to guard the peculiar rights
of the South. Believing this, there was but
one course which faithful Southern man
could pursue, and maintain bis self respect.
pursued that course.
When the alternative was presented to me
of adbering to the allegiance due to my
State or to the United States, chose the
former. Having taken my side, gave it
Jealous and earnest support. spent four
years in active service, and only ceased to
labor for my cause when it was no longer
possible. rendered this service without
ever having treated a prisoner otherwise
than humanely, and | may say, often kindly;
and without ever having committed an act of
war at any time, or in any manner, which
was not sanctioned by the laws Of war; yet
my name will probably 60 down to posterity
in the untruthful histories that will be writ
ten by bigoted and venal historians as sort
OF Blue Beard or Captain Kidd. But l am
content, my brother. My conscience is
clear; my self respect has been preserved,
and my sense of manhood remains uni,n
paired. think, too, the South will be con-
tent, notwithstanding her immense losses
and sacrifices. If she had yielded to the in
tolerant exactions of Northern sel6sbness
and fanaticism without appealing to the ar
bitrament Of the war, she would have played
craven and unworthy part. 1t is better to
lose every thing than our honor and man.
hood. l know you will believe me, my
brother, when tell you that should feel
greatly humbled in my own opinion we're
this day entitled to wear an admiral's flag
in the old navy, and in possession Of all the
means and appliances Of wealth, If thought
my bonors and rewards had been gained by
a sacrifice Of creed. The preservation Of my
own self respect is infinitely preferable to all
such gains.
l have come out Of the war poor, but, God
willing, shall make support for my FAM
lily. The President treats me as an outlaw,
unworthy of amnesty. l have nothing to
say. If l am deemed unworthy to be cti'
sen, can remain in my native land as an
alien. A magnanimous people would have
passed an act Of general amnesty, it being
absurd and ridiculous TO talk about traitors
10 such revolution as has swept over the
the length and breadth Of this land, 10 which
States, and not individuals merely, were the
actors. But enough on this subject. I atm
still 10 Mobile, but it is yet uncertain where
| shall 60, or what shall do. If save Eve
or six thousand dollars out Of the wreck OF
my affairs, it will be fully as much as ex'
pect. think Of retiring into the couutry,
where, upon small farm, l can live 10 OBJ.
5000. IL = -