The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1866-01-12


tent to leave you the same liberty Of
choice and action that | claimed for my
self. | knew that whatever lon did, you
would do like IA man f honor, and rested
satisfied Besides you had been for some
time retired from active life by your wqnt
of health. A. for myself | have nothing
to regret, save only The loss Of our indie
pendence My conscience, which is the
only earthly tribu' a Of which'a good man
should he afraid, bears me witness Of the
uprightness of my intention in choosing
my course when, with many regrets, |
severed my connection with the old Gov
eminent and hastencd to the deieuce Of
my home and section and now, upon
reviewing the whole Of my subs quent
career, | can see no act with which L
have to reproach myself as unbecomlng
man 1T honor AMI Il grntltmau.
approved the secession movement OF
the S u'hern States, though | had no
agency in it. Thought thar separation
If hose sect nus If our Republic, which
had been engaged IN deadly mortal con
ficr for thirty years, wnnd ultimately re-
sult to the great advantage ct them both.
The world WAS wide enou- h for them 10
live arar', and peace, thought, would be
the fruit of their mutual Independence OF
each other Although cared very little
about the Institution Of slavery, | thought
that the subordinate position Of the in
ferior race was its proper position, be-
lieved that the doctrine Of State rights
WIS the only dnctrn" that wo"ld saw" our
R4puhlc FROM the fate Of all other Re.
public that have g"ne beiorr Us III the
history of the world. believed that this
doctrine bad been violated, and it would
never be sufficiently respected by the
controlling masses of the Northern sec
ton to prevent them from deiocing with
crlegious hands our national bonds OF
Uninn whcresoever its letter Was meant
to guard thu peculiar rights Of the South,
Believing this. there was but one course
which faithful Southern man could pur-
sue, and msintain his selfrespect. l pur-
sued that course.
When the alternative was presented to
me If adhering to the allegiance due to
NV State or to The Uuitcd States, chose
the former Having taken my SIDE, |
gave it jealous and earnest support. l
spent four years in active service, and
only ceased to labor for my cause When it
was 40 longer possible. rendered this
service without ever having treated
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 go down to
posterty in the untruthful histories that
will he written by higo'ed and venal
historians as a sort of Blue Beard or Cap
tain Kidd But am content, my BROTH
err. My conscience is clear, my selfre-
spcct has been preserved, aud my sense of
manhood remains unimpairrd
think, ton, the S,uth will be content
notwihs andins her immense losses and
sacrifices. If sbe had yielded TO the ill.,
tolerant exactions of N"rthern selfsbness
and fapaticsm, without appealing to the
arbitrament of the war, she would have
played craven and unworthy part. 1t is
belt to lose everything than our hon
or and manhood. | know you will believe
me, my brother, when tell you that |
should feel greatly humbled in NY own
opinion, were This day entitled to wear an
admiral's flag in the old navy, and in pcs.
session of all the means and appliances Of
wealth, if l thought my honors and re-
wards had been 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 amnesty. | have
nothing to say. If am deemed unwor
thy to he citizen, | can remain in my
native land as an alien A maguanmous
people would have passed on act of
general amnesty, it being absurd and RI
diculous to talk about r, bells and traitors
in connection with such revolution rs
has swept over the length and breadth of
this land, in which States, and not indi-
viduals merely, were the actors. But
enough of this SUI ject
l am still in M"bile, but it is yet un.
certain where shall 60, or what | shall
do Ii save five or six thousand dol
lars "ut of the wreck of my aff,irs it will
be fully as much as | expect. think of
retiring into the country, where, upon a
small farm, l can live in obscurty and
peace the few years that remain to me.
My children are all grown; are well ed.
ucated, and will be able, if the worst
comes to the worst, to take care of them
selves.
Remember me kindly to your family,
my dear brother, and let me hear from
you. We have become old men. We
have both had our troubles, bur the chain
of affection which buds me to you re.
mains unaffected by the cares of the
w"rId and is as bright now as when We