The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1851-02-26
Letter Of Rev. tvssl. Capers.


To my FELTON, Ctnzsns of South Carolina.
take the liberty Of addressing YOU, through
the newspapers, on a subject Of a different
character from what has hitherto employ ed
me and | do 50 The more readily as my lile
guarantees NY sincerity, and, on your part,
personal good will. II is the first time that
/ | have ever !eltu my duty to express public.
ly on opinion on any matter Of State policy.
Once, indeed, during the extreme excilemen,
which prevailed 10 Charleston, on the subject
Of nullfying law Of Congress, | met with
the Clergy Of the City apart, a, the instance
OF some venerable citizens, 10 consider wheth.
er there was anything which We might pos.
slbly DO, IN our sacred character, to promote
peace. Bu, i, resulted in nothing. We
found nothing IN our power, but our prayers
for the people. Ministers Of religion have
litle 20 do, at any time, with ma ets OF the
State more than to pray for Gods guidance
and blessing on The people. Nevertheless
Ministers are men-afe CIT 2ens ard II niay
be expedieni once in lifetime OF three score
years ami more, for minister TO appear III
his character asa citizen and not as INNS.
Ter. Suffer me- then, for this one time, 10
assert nv citizenship, and commune with
yCu, freely, on the state Ct public afi,Irs.--
am a cltizen born on the soil of South
Carolina not long after II had been won, II
part, by he sword OF my father.
After an absence Of abou; five months OF
my sacred duties, in Tennessee, Mississippi
Louisiana, Alabama, and George, canno
) express how painfully IL has shocked me L
he told, on my return home, that the gtea
Safe measures u W on foot, look solely Il
secession from the Uuried States. BY thu
State alone: that ~ Convention shortly
be neld IS ~ order 10 tins aud that toe on,'
question to be open there IS one OF time
whether 10 srcede al orce, or await the issu.
Of the Southern Congress, aud then sccsde.
To secede at once, or al a future time
: alone, must be to secede from the other South
ern States no less than from the Northern
+ II must a pui,ag Of the other Soulhet
States IN lapt--a sort Of branding then
as deficIeu, N knowledge or courage, or patti
olsm, or all these together. They are IN
voved in all respects, az We are, touchin
the injustice Of The late acts Of Congress.
+" We may no, hold ourselves wiser nor bette
> than they ar, but as equals only and the
II are - any, while We are, comparatively, few
q And what, in such cifcu Instances, will be tn
probable judgment Of mankind, respectln
our aclio0, should We sccede
l. Ii may place any reliance on what ha
e come under my observation, during my lon
!. journey through FIVE e the ptincipa! Souti
ern ates, II is not probable that SoutheI
Congress. representing the Southern peop
y car be had Al all nor 4 IT could be had, tn,
x II would much, anything, more than Il
A Ceorg,, Convection did. As to secession,
have no dnubl that three foutihs nf the PEE
pie would oppose j. al the present time. ri
reason Of bl. opposifion, have understot
TO be, that ines d. no, consider the acts
r. Copgres Ia b. a violation Of the Consiltu,io
"A and IN tne'f p"ion nothing less should just
~ secession. ! understand II to be the OPT
'' ion Of our people If South Carolina, that Co
lr grsss violated the Constitution. At mo,
then, i. is mooled point, and not q settle