The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-03-01
BfshOD CauerSs I.etter-

This document has attracted much attention in
the South. The writer is a native of South Caro-.
lina-a large slavehelder-one of the four Bishops
OF the Methodist Episcopal Church. South. Such
letter, from such man. must have its influence,
To my Feilo1, Citizens Of South Carolina:
take the liberty of addressing you, through the
newspapers, on subject of a different character
from what has hitherto employed me and do so
the more readily as my life guarantees my sincer-
", and, on your part, personal good will 1t is the
first time that have ever felt it my duty TO ex.
press publicly an opinion on any matter of State
policy. Once, indeed, during the extreme excite-
ment which prevailed in Charleston on the sub.
Ject OF nullifyng a law of Congress, l met with
the clergy of the city apart, at the instance of
some venerable citizens, to consider whether there
was any thing which we might possibly do, in our
sacred character TO promote peace. But it result
ed in nothing. We found nothing in our power,
but our prayers for the people. Ministers of reli-
glon have very little to do at any time, with mat
ters OF State, more than pray for Gods guidance
and blessing on the people, Nevertheless, minis.
ters are men--are citizens and it may be expe-
dent, once in Lifetime of three score wears and
more, Tor minister 10 appear in his character as
citizen, and not as minister. Suffer me then, for
this one time, to assert my citizenship, and com.
mune with you freely on the state of public affairs
am citizen; son of citizen; born on the soil
of South Carolina, not long after it had been won,
in part, by the sword of my father.
hiteT Ill dUsenCe Ot dDOut HVe months, nv
sacred duties in Tennessee, Mississippi, louisiana
Alabama, and Georgia, cannot express how pain
fully it has shocked me to be told on my return
home, that the great State measures now on foot,
look solely to secession from the United States, by
this State alone that the convention shortly to be
held is in order 10 do this and that the only ques-
ton to be open there is one of time; whether to
secede at once, or await the issue of the Southern
Congress, and then secede
10 secede at once, or at a future time, alone,
must be to secede from the other Southern States
no less than from the Northern. 1t must be put
,lhg OF the other Southern States in faut-a sort of
branding them as deficient in knowledge, or cOur-
age or patriotism, or all these together. They are
involved IN all respects, as we are, touching the
in]ustice oi the late acts of Congress. We may not
hold ourselves wiser nor better than thew are. bu,
as equa's only and they are many, while we are
comparatively few. And what, in such circnm.
stances, Will be the probable judgment of mankind
respecting our action, should we secede!
II may place any reliance on what has come
under my observation during my long journey
through five of The principal Southern STATES, it is
not probable that a Southern Congress, represent
ing the Southern people, can be had at all nor
if it should be had, that it would do much, if any
thing, more than the Georgia Convention did A.
to secession, have no doubt that thres.fou Of
the people would oppose it at the present time
The reason of this opposition, have understood to
be, that they do not consider the acts of Congress
to be violation of the constitution, and in their
opinion nothing less should justify secession un
dersand it to be the opinion of our people of South
Carolina, that Congress has violated the consti,u.