The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-05
Letter from Raphael Semmes TO his Bro-
theT, Samuel VI. Semmes.

..., ther, samuel ". semmes.
The following letter waswritten by Raphael
Semmee, late commander OF the Rebel pirate
Alabama, and now awaiting trial IN Washington,
in August last TO his brother, samuel NJ.
Semmes, at Cumberland, Maryland
mobile, Aa., August u, 1865.-A1y Dear Brother:
Tho cessation OF the war caves me at liberty
renew my correspondence VITA you, without subject.
ing you to suspicion aud annoyance; and need not
say 20 how grateful to the yearnlngs OF my heart
is this long-suspended pnyilege You have been
struggle, and have often iet much sohcitude on
your account lest part OF the odum and ill-will
which Jealous performance of my du,v has called
down upon my mead FROM mad nation" shOull
attach to you and your family, and operate to your
Indeed I have no doubt but that the prejud CO
against toe secret OF the barbarous aud ma
hguant persecution of our son, OF which heard
only few days since from my wife's friend and
relation. Mrs Judge Spencer of Cincinnati have
never inquired as TO Your opinions and conduct
durns the war, oeing content to leave you tho
liberty Of choice and action that claimed for my
selL knew & toat Wna,eEer s you Gid you would 90
you had been for some tune retired from active life
by your want Of health.
As for myself, have nothing TO regret, save only
the loss Oh our independence Ny conscience, which
as the only earthly tribunal of winch a good man
should be afraid, bears me witness of the upright
OF my intention in choosing my course when,
with many regrets, severed my cOnnec with the
old Government and hastened to the defense of my
home ard section; and now, upon reviewing the
whole OF my subsequent career, can no act with
which have to reproaoh myself as unUecoming
approved the secession movement of the South
ern Staes, though mad no agency in It. thou INT
that separation of those two sections OF our Re-
pubic, which had 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 i've apart and peace,
thought, would be the fruit of their mu ual inde'
pendence OF each other. Although cared very
little about the institution OF slavery thought tlat
the subordinate position OF the inferior race was its
proper position
only doctrine which would slve Republic from
the late of all other republics that had gone before
in the history Of the world. believed that this
doctrine had been violated and that It would never
be sufficiently respected by the controlling masses of
the NOrthern section prevent them from delaclng
with sacregiOus hands our national Oond OF union
wheresOeyer its letter meant TO guard the pecu-
liar rights OF the south Believing this there was
but one course which Iaithlul Sou hern man
could pulsue. and manmin HIS seit-respect pur-
sued that course. When the alternative was pre-
sented to me OF ndherng TO the egiancc due 10 my
State or TO the United States, chose the former
Having taken my size, 1 gave it Jealous and
earnest support. spent four years IN active SER
vice, and only ceased labor for my cause when 1t
no longer pOsslple. rendered this service
without ever hav Dg treated a prisoner other wise
than humanely, ana may say olren kindly; ana
without ever having committed an act of war at
any time, or in any manner, which was not sane
TONED by the rules OF war; } e. nv name viii pro-
badly 90 down TO pOserity in the untruthiul hisfo-
RES that will be written BY JIgoted and venal
historians as a sort of bue Beard or Captain hldd,
But am content, my brother. My conscience is
clear; my seltrespecJ has been preserved; and my
sense OF manhood remains unimpared | think,
too the South will be content, Notwithstanding her
immense losses and sacrifices. Ii she had yielded TO
the intOlerant eXactOns of Northern n5hness and
tanaticism without appealing to the arbttramenG OF
war she would have played q craven and unworthy
part. 1t IS be ter TO lose ythng than honor
and manhood / know you Wi beneve me, my
brother, when tell YOU that should feel greatly
humbled i'll my own opinion were l this daV
entitled to admiral's flag in the old
navy, and possession of all the means and
appliances of wealth, II thought my hOnOrs and re-
wards had been gained by sacrifice of creed Hhe
preservation OF my Prospect is infinitely pre-
terabe 10 all such gains lhave come out OF the war
poor but, God willing, Ishall make support for my
family. The President treats me as an outlaw, un-
worthy of amnesty. | have nothing to say. If am
deemed unworthy to be citizen, can Iemain IN my
native land an alien magnanmous peop
would have passed an act Of general amnesty, it
beng ABSURD and ridiculous 10 talk about Rebeis
and traitors in connection with such a revOu-
ton as has swept the length and breadth
of this laud, IN which States, and not individuals
merely, were the actors. But enough of this subject
am stI in Mobile, but it is yet uncertain where /
shall CO. what shall do. If $4,000 or $4,000
out of the wreck of my affairs it will be fuzzy
much as expect. thlnk of retrlng into The cOuu-
try, whore, upon small farm. l can live in Obscu-
ritY and peace the few years that remain TO me Ny
children are all grown; well educated, and VIII
be able if the worst comes to the worst to take
of themselves,
Remember ME kindly TO your family my dear
brother, and let me hear from you We have become
ola men. We nave both had our troubles, bat the
cham of affection which binds to you remains
now as when we slept IN each others arms
Your afecuonate brother, r. SEMMEs
Address ar. Semmes, ESQ"