Newbern weekly progress., 1861-06-11
BISHOP OTEY,

BISHOP OIE1.
The Memphis 4ppeaI publishes a long and
eloquent letter from Bishop Otey, of Tonnes
see "a native OF Virginia. to VIM. H. Seward
But it i'll fall upon his cars as did the inspired
voice Of Aaron upon the ears of Pharoah We
extract the following graphic picture Of the
military spirit Of the South
Sir, believe me, when | say that from the
Chesapeake to the banks of the Rio GranIc is
heard the martial note of preparation. The
laborcr is quitting his fields, the professional
man his office, the merchant his counting
room, and the pioneer Of the wilderness Is
dropping his axe and snatchng up his deadly
rife, all to array themselves in the ranks of
war. Our mountain tops and valleys are
pouring fourth their hardy sons, while our
plains are alive with armed men, eager for the
strife of battle Even the free negro the uvr-
conscious representative of a class whose al
legged degradation and uncomplaning wrongs
have rousod into frenzy all the fierce passit Ms
OF twenty millions of mcn in thc North, GENES
forward, voluntarily, and begs the favor OF be-
ing allowed to fight for the land where he tolls
fer his daily bread.
Our wouen, the daughters of mothers who
moulded bullets, and carried them hot in their
aprons to their husbands, as they stood behind
their stockalcs and repcllcd thcasSaults oftho
merclless savage, are practising themselves IN
the use oftircarmS, and forming voluntary asSo-
woundetl-condimente medicines and other
comforts for the sick anil toil-worn soldier.
Sir, have been in this State forty years.
The Indian boundary lines, when | came to
! Tennessee, was two hundred miles east of this
place. 1t is now twice that distance vest
1t is now | know not where. | have travelled
ottener than | can count years of my life, all
over these Southwestern States, from Fort
Towesend to Tallahassce-from Virginia to
'rayoc and cd tla
der all the ordinary circumstances of social in
tcrcourse. | have had the best opportunities
to know them intimately, and think, under
stood their character thoroughly. | tell you,
in all the sOberr ess oftruth, that wherever the
invader shall attempt to pass the borders of
these States, with hostile intent, he will be
met by living wall of men, with brave hearts
and hands armed for the strife of death, more
difficult to pass than brcastworks frowninS
with cannons and bristling with bayo-
nets, more numerous than those which
crown the raInparts of Burgos. Numbers may
overcome and destroy these men, but, i'll my
conscience, declare, that do not believe that
the united strength Of the North can compel
them to submission. You may kill them, but
as Cambronne is rtportcd to have replied, in
behalf of the Old Guard, to the demand for
surrender on the bloody field of Waterloo,
they diet they never surrenderW ~
l repeat that know these people: l know
their impetuosty, their reckless daring. But
| know, too, and others who have fought by
their side know also, that they be cool
and steady as veterans when the occasion de-
mands. Accustomed, from childhood, to the
handling of arms, and practiced in their skill
full use in the chase, which frequently involves
dangerous encounters with formidable Wild
beasts, they require all the readiness Of attack
and defense which marks the veteran in war,
and far more activity than he possesses, 1t is
not to be denied that the same qualities Ct sol
diership distinguish the troops of the Northern
States, where they have been trained in similar
schools of hardy discipline. But this adms-
sion suggests first and foremost, the thought,
by no means pleasing one to minds which
are set on peace, that an encounter between
such troops must be proportionately more des-
tructiye. But be that as it may, the cooness
and deliberaton with which our people arc
preparing for the conflict, may well surprise
any one, and knowing their temperament, as
do may add, their calmness fills me with
amazement They certainly inspire high
hopes as to the final result Of this unfortunate
difference, disastrous as tide realization of those
hopes must be to any who, with hostile tread,
venture to violate the sanctity of our soil.