Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1866-01-19
Letter from Raphael Semmes TO his
BROTHER, Samuel M. Semmes.

Letter from KapnaeI ScmmeS 10 ms
brother, Samuel M. Semmes.
We have been furnished, says the
HteNigencer, with the following letter,
written by Raphael Semmes, late COM
mander of the Alabama, and now await
ing trial in this city, written by him in
August last to his brother. Samuel, VI !.
Semmes. at Cumberland, Md; a0
MoBILE, Ala, August IL. 1865.
Is My DEAR BRoTHER-uThe cessation Of
the war leaves me at liberty to renew
my correspondence with you, without
subjecting you 20 suspicion and annoy
anee and | need not say to you how
grateful to the yearnings 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 ac-
count, lest part of the odium and i'll
will which a jealous performance of my
duty has called down upon my head from
''m mad nation should attach to you
and your family, and operate to your in
jury. Indeed, | have no doubt but that
the prejudice against me was the secret
of the barbarous and malignant persecu-
ton of your son, of which / heard only
a few days since from wife's friend and
relation, Mrs. Judge Spencer. of Gin
cinnati. | have never inquired as to your
opinions and conduct during the war,
being content to leave you the same
liberty and choice of action thatI claimed
for myself I'knew that whatever you
did you would do like man of honor,
and I rested satisfied. Besides. you had
been for some time retired from active
life by your want of health. AS for my
self | have nothing to regret, save only
the loss Of our independence. My con-
science. which is tho only earthly tri-
bunal of which good man should be
afraid, bears me witness of the upright
ness of my intention in choosing my
course, when, with many regrets, i
severed my connection with the old Gov
eminent and FASTENED to the defence 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 unbecoming
a man of honor and gentleman. ap.
proved the secession movement 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 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 of their mutual Independence
of each other. Although ] cared very
little about the institution Of slavery, |
thought that the subordinate position of
the inferior race was its proper position.
| believed that the doctrine Of State
Rights was the only doctrine that could
save the Republic from the fate Of all
other republics that bad gone before US
in the history of the world. | believed
that this doctrine had been violated, and
that it would never be sufficiently res
pected by the controlling masses Of the
Northern section to prevent them from
defacing with sacrilegious hands our
national bond Of Union wheresoever its
letter was meant to guard against the
peculiar rights of the South Believing
this, there was but one course which a
faithful Southern man could pursue, and
maintain his self-respect. | pursued
that course. When the alternative was
presented to me of adheriDg to the allegi-
ance due to my State or to the United
States, choose the former. Having
taken my side, l 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 pos
sible. | rendered this service without
ever having treated prisoner otherwise
than humanely, and / may say, often
kindly, and without ever having COM
mitted an act of war. at any time, or 10
any manner, which was not sanctioned
by the laws of war, yet my name will
probably go down to posterity in the un-
truthful Histories that will be written by
bigoted and venal historians as sort OF
a Blue Beard or Captain Kidd. But
am content, my brother. My conscience
is clear; my elf-respect has been pre-
served, and my sense of manhood re-
mains Hnimpaired | think, too, the
South will be content, Notwithstanding
her losses and sacrifices. If she had
yielded to the intolerant exactions OF
Northern selfshness and fanatlcism.
without appealing to the arbitrament OF
war, she would have played craven and
unworthy part. 1t is better to lose
everything than our honor and manhood.
know that you will believe me, my
brother, when l tell you that | should
feel greatly humbled, in my opinion,
we're / this day entitled to wear an
admiraIs flag in the old navy, and 10
possession Of all the means and appll-
ances of wealth, if | thought that my
honors and rewards had been gained by
sacrifice of creed. The preservation Of
nv own self-respect is infinitely prefer
able to all such gains. have come out
Of the war poor, but, God willing, l
shall make support for my family. The
President treats me as an outlaw, I'M