The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-01-24

| knew that whatever YOU did. you would
| do like man of honor, and rested salts
i fed. Besides, you had been for some time
retired from active life by your want Of
| health. As for myself, had nothing to
regret, save only the loss of our indepen-
denee. My conscience, which is the only
Eedrthly Tribunal Of which i good man, should
be afraid, bears me witness of the upright.
ness OF my intention in choosing my course
when, with many regrets, | severed my con-
nection with the old Government and has
| tened to the defence OF my home and sec
ton; and now, upon reviewing the whole
Of my Subsequent career, can see no act
4 with which have to repraach myself as un-
becoming man of honor and a gentleman
! | approved the secession movements OF the
Southern States, though had no agency in
! it. / thought that separation Of those
| two sections of our republic which had been
engaged in deadly mortal conflict for thir-
~ 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 of their
| mutual independence Of each other. Al
though cared very little about the institu-
ton Of slavery, ]. thought that the subordi-
nate position of the inferior race was its
proper position. | believed that the doc
trine OF State rights was the only doctrince
which would save our Republic from the
fate of all other Republics that had gone.
before US in the history If the world. Ibe-
lieve that this doctrine has been violated,
and that it would never be sufficient
y respected by the controlling masses Of
the Northern section to prevent them
from defacing with sacriiigeous hands our
National bond Of Union, wheresoever its
letter was meant to guard the peculiar
rights of the South Believing this,
there was but one course which faith
full Southern man could pursue and main
to u his selfsespect. Ipursued that ,lrse.
When the alternative vas presented to
me of adhering to the allegiance due to my
State or the United States, / chose the for
mer. Having taken my side, gave it zeal
Gus 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 humanity. and Imay say oftenkindly; I
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 posterity in the untruFhful histories that
will be written by bigoted and yenal histo-
rians' as a sort OF Blue Beard or Cap
tain Kidi. But am content, my brother.
My conscience is clear; my self-respect has
been preserved, and my sense Of manhood
remains unimpaired.8 / think, too. the
South will be content, Notwithstanding
her immense losses and sacrifices. If she
had yielded to the intolerant exactions of
Northern selhshness and fanaticism, with
out appealing to the arbhrament ofwar, She
would have played a craven and unworthy
part. 1t is better to lose everything than
our honor and manhood. / know you will
believe me, my brother, when tell you that
/ should feel greatly m,Inbled in my own
opinion were / this day entitled to wear an
admiral's flag in the old navy, and in pos
session of all the means aud appliances of
wealth, If thought my honors and rewards
had been gained by a sacrifice of creed.
The preservation ofmyewn selfsrespect isin
initely preferable to all such gains. i have
come outof the war, poor, hut, God willing,
shall make a support forimy family The
President treats me asall outlaw, unworthy
of amnesty. have nothing to say. 1T
am deemed unworthy to be acitizen I can
remain innly native land as an alien. "A
masnanimous people would have passed an
act Of general amnesty, it being absurd and
ridiculous to talk about rebels and traitors
in connection with a revolution that has
swept over the length aud breadth of this
land, in which States, and not individuals
merely, were the actors. But enough Of
this subject. Iamsfill in Mobile, but it is
yet uncertain where + shall 60, or what I
shall do. III save Ave or six thousand
dollars out fof the wreck Of my affairs, it
will be fully as much as | expect. think
Eof retiring into the country, where upon a
small farm, can live in obscuritY and
peace the few years that remain to, me-
Ny children are all grown; are well educa-
tied, and win be able, If the worst comes to
the worst, To take care Of themselves. .
Remember me kindly to your family, my
dear brother, and let me hear from yoti.
We have becomesoid nasn.s We have both
had our troubles, butthe chain of affection
which binds meto you remains unaffected
by the cares of Che world, and is as bright
Enow Us when We slept ineach others arms.
Your afectiOnate brother, b
r. SEMsEs.
Address r. sennes, Esq"
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