Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-01-05
RICHMOND WHIG.
FRIDAY MORNING.............JAN. 5, 1866.
Letter from Raphael >emmes to his Brother, sam
NIL

Letter from Raphael Semmes to his Brother, SAM
url Vi. Semmes.
From the National Intelligencer Of Wednesday,
We have been furnished with the following letter
written by Raphael SemmeS late commander OF the
rebel cruiser, Alabama, and now awaiting trlal IN
this city written by him in August last 10 his
brother samuel NJ. Seinmes, at Cumberland, Mary
land.
MOBILE ALA, August Il, 1860.
Ny DEAR BRorHER-Thc cessation Of the war
leaves me at liberty to renew my correspondence
with YOU without subjectng you to Suspicion
and annoyance and / need not say 10 you
how grateful TO the warnings OF my heart Is
this long.suspcuded privilege. You have been
frequently in my thoughts during our uniortu-
nate struggle and ! have often ielt much sole.
itude on your account lest part oI the Odum ana
IN will which a Jealous performance OF my du-
ty has called down upon my head from mad ma
ton" should attach 10 you and your family and OPP
crate 10 your injury. Indeed, l have no doubt but
the prejudice against Inc was the secret OF the mag-
nant and barbarOus persecution OF your son, oi
which only heard a few day : since from my wlies
friend and relation, Mrs Judge Spencer Of Cincin-
matt. have never cnqulred as TO your OPINIONS
and conduct during the war, being content TO leave
YOU the same liberty of choice and action that
claimed tor myself. | knew that whatever you did,
YOU would do like man OF honor, and rested sat
lslied. Besides, you had been Tor sometime retired
from active life by your want OF health. As for
myself ! have nothing to regret save only the
loss of our Independence My conscience
which is the only earthly tribunal OF which good
man should be afraid bears me witness OF the up
rightness Of nv intention in choosing my course
when. with many regrets, / severed my connection
with the old Government ana fastened to the defense
of my home and section; and now, upon reviewing
the whole OF my subsequent career, can see no act
with which have to reprOach myself as unbecom-
ing a man of honor and 4 gentleman. approved
the secession movement OF the southern States,
though had no agency in it. Thought that sepa-
ration of those two sections Of our Republic, which
had been engaged in q deadly moral conflict for
thirty years, would ultimately result to the great ad
vantage Of them both. The world was wide enough
Tor them 10 live apart and peace, ] thought, would
be the fruit Of their mutual independence of each
other. Although cared very little about the nsti-
tuition of slavery, thought that the subordinate po-
stOn of the inferior race was its proper position
believed 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 in the history OF the world. believed that this
doctrine had been violated and that II would never
be sufficiently respected by the controlling masses of
the Northern section to prevent them from defacng
with sacrilegi0us hands our national bond of Union
wheresoever its letter meant 10 guard the pecu-
liar rights OF the South Believing this, there was
but one course which faithful Southern man could
pursue and maintain his self-respect. | pursued
that course. When the alternative presented to
me of adherug to the allegiance due 10 my State
10 the United States, chose the former. Having
taken my side gave Jealous and earnest support.
spent four years in active service and only ceased
To labor for my cause when 1t was no longer posi-
bic. / rendered this service without ever having
treated prisoner otherwise than humanely, and,
may say, often kindly; and without ever having
committed act OF war al any time, or IN any man
ner, which was not sanctioned by the laws of war;
vet nv name will probably 20 down to pOsterity in
the unruthiul histories that will he written by bgOt
ed and venal historians as 4 sort of Blue Beard
Captain Kidd. But am content, my brother My
conscience * clear; my sell-reSpect has been pre-
served. and my sense Of manhood remains unmpair-
ed / think too, the South will be content, notwith-
standing her immense losses and sacrifices 1t she had
Welded To the intOerant cXactiOns of Northern sell
tishneSs and anaticlSm. without appealing To the ar
bitrament OF war, she would have played craven
and unworthy part. 1t Is better to lose everything
than our honor and manhood. ! know you will he
lieye me- my brother, when tell you that should
feel greatly humbled in my own opinion were this
day entitled To wear an admrals fag in the old ma
". aud in possession Of all the means and appan-
ccs Of wealth, ii thought my hOnOrs and rewards
had been .g,igcd by a sacrifice of creed. The pre-
srryJtion OF my own SellreSpect is infinitely prefer
able tu all such gains ] have come ont OF the war
pa0r hut God willing, | shall make support for
| NV family The President treats HE rs an outlaw,
/ unworthy of amnesty. | have nothing 10 say. II
\ / am deemed unworthy 10 be q citizen, can remain
| in nay native land as an alien. magnanimous
peOple would laye passed act Of general amnesty,
IL being abSurd and ridiculous TO talk about rebels
and traitors in connection with such a revolution
has swept over the length aud breadth of this land,
m which States, and not individuals merely, were
the actors But enough OF this subject. am still
in Mobile, but II IL Vet uncertain where | shall 20.
on what shall do II ] save five or six thousand
dollars out OF the wreck of my affairs It will be fully
AS much as expect. thiuk Of retiring into the
country where, upon small farm, can live in OBJ
SrurIly and peace the few years that remain To me.
My chilaFru are all grown; are well educated. and
will be- able, il thn worst comes to the worst to take
caIe OF themselves.
Remember me kindly to your family, my dear
brother. and let me hear from on, We have become
old men. We have both had our troubles, but the
chain of Affection which binds me to you remains
unaffected by the cares of the world ana is as bright
now as when We slept in each Others arms
Your alectionate brother Il, SEAMES.
Address '' X. SEMMES Esu