West Point New York

Apr. 19^th 1861

 

My dear father,

                        Occupying at preasent the position I have ever coveted, since I was of sufficient age to know the advantages of an education,—the merits of which still remaining undiminished in my estimation, You may know it would be with reluctance, under the natural course of circumstances, that I would be abandon it, without having acquired my object, but circumstances as unnatural as unexpected, have since rendered it to a considerable extent different. I entered it with the hope of and expectation of serving under an oath, that would be consistent with my principles, and which I could carry out with spirit as well as actions. To day we took the oath but under a far different form from what I expected.

 

            I am the only southerner that did not / refuse to take it, and I regret now to my heart that I did not, but, I was weak enough enough to be led into Lincolns trap. The oath heretofore taken was provided with the article, "to serve the U.S." for such a period of time, "unless sooner discharged", but now it is to serve the U.S. for an indefinite length of time and disregarding the right of resignation, but the regulations expressly state that a Cadet can resign, with the consent of his parents, and if you will send your consent, I will resign immediately or send in my resignation and be dropped for I cannot, conscientiously serve a government that will make use of any such malicious contrivance to get us within its grasp. Even old officers that have served their country faithfully for almost half a century are denied the right to resign, but all consider it a high recommendation at the south to be thus dropped and any man of impartial sense can see there is nothing inglorious in it. I would not have taken the oath, but I would have been dropped / without a cent of money, and besides I did not know your opinion on the subject, and thought perhaps I might gain your disapproval. But for want of time I cannot enter into a detailed explanation, only the oath is such that I cannot but with great inconsistency carry out. If you will grant your permission, please write it on a seperate piece of paper, somewhat under this form,               My son has my full permission to resign his appointment as Cadet at the U.S. Military academy.

 

xxxxx

How I am to get means for returning home I cannot tell, unless you will be kind enough to procure a check on some of the New York banks for me; that is the manner in which all the Cadets living at a distance procure it. With the hope of hearing from you at the very earliest opportunity, and with feelings of the greatest affection for you all I remain

 

Your obedient son

Rezin

 

Excuse very great haste

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