Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-02-15
THE LETTER OF BISHOP cAPERs.

L
To my FeAou- citizens of South Carolina
take the liberty Of sddressng you, through inc
pers on subject Of different character from what mas MN
erto employ ed me and do the more rssdiy as my o
guarantees my sincerity, and your part personal good WI"
Il is the first time that have felt it duty to express
publicly an opinion any matter Of State Pocy oHce'
indeed during the excitement which prevaied 10
Charleston on the subject of nuifying law OF congress-
met with the clergy Of the city apart al the instance oi some
venerable citizens 10 consider whether there was any thing
which we might possibly do in sacred character, pro-
mo,s peace But resulted ia nothing We found nothing
in our power but our prayers for the people Ministers of
religion have little to do, any me with matters of the
State more than to pray for Gods guidance and blessing
The peoe Nevertheless, ministers men-are citizens
and nav be expedien in lifetime Of three
wears sad moe for minister to appear in bis character as
cizea and not as minister. Suffer me- then, for this
time to my citizenship, and commune with you freely
on the state Of public aSs cizen-a son of citi-
zenborn on the soil Of South Carolina long after had
been won, in part, BY the sword of my father.
After an absence Of about five MONTHS my sacred duties
IN Tennessee Mississippi Louisians, Alabama and Georgia.
express how painfully has shocked me to be tod
on my hone that the great State measures now on
soo 10 solely secession from the United States by THIS
State alone; the Convention shortly be held in order
~ -
time whether to secede at once, or await the issue Oh ne
Southern Congress, and then secede
To secede me alone, must be secede
from the other Southern States less than from the North
en It must be putting of the other Southern States in
faula sort Of branding them deficient in knowledge,
courage or patrotsm all these together They are in
voved in ell respects touching the injustice OF the
late acts Of Congress- We may not hold ourselves wiser nor
better than they se but equals only and they are many,
while we are comparatively few And what in such circum
Stances will be the probable judgment Of mankind respecting
4 action, should we secede
III nsy place any reliance what has come under my
observation during ~ stvusu re- nf the Pn-
cpa Southern States probable that Southern Con-
gess representing the Southern people, be had at all
if it could be had that would do much, il thing, more
than the Georgia Convention did As secession, have
no doubt that Of the people would oppose at the
present time The Of this opposition have understood
that they do consider the acts Of Congress to be
violation Of the Constitution, and, in their opinion nothing
less should justify secession understand TO- be the
opinion of our people of South Carolina that Congress has
violated the Constitution At most then, is mooted point
and not settled fact entertaining view Of it, while
majority Of the wise and vuous of other States, greatly
ou,numberng us, hold the opposite. Do we owe them
nothing Is it not due to own selfresPect
review the matter Surely, should know that we are
Tlgnt DeyOn0 ulSpue DeOIe We OCccu uCs
of the most fearful import.
And ought not to consider consequences Patriotism
demands not Of to madly to countrys ruin
and secession by State alone, must runous What
though hostile army might invade SOIL the United
States and will oppose Charleston will be shut out
from the Of the world her PERISH her mer-
chants leave her in dspa while. from her very suburbs,
rice and cotton shall be carried Savannah and Augusta for
market. Even the rivalry Of Savannah is not to be
contemned but let our State secede from the Unon and
Charleston must become desolation.
Nor will the blight fall Charleston only, but all the
State while taxes increased seven-od and the heat of
the present agitation cooling off very leaders, if they
should prove proud to be found knocking at the door Of
the Union for admission shall join the many thousands Of
poverty stricken people in their fight from their ruined
homes favored parts. Can patriotism demand the
sacrifice Patriotism demand the sacrifice Of the State No.,
never
Let then, w-czens review ground. If Con-
vention must have, let not be Convention of boys
and halmade men, but Of the uise and sober-minded
There is battle be fought for glory by secession but
fearful struggle with poverty and high taxes hard times
without hope of imProveent and and humiaton
And may God grant US deliverance!
WILLIAM CAPERS
CHARLESTON, FEBRUARY 6, 1851.