Year: 1861

Bishop Otey to the Hen VIM H. Seward


The Memphis Appeal of May 26th contains
long letter from Bishop Otey Episcopal of Ten
nessee, to Secretary Seward, part of which we
subjoin:


repeat that know this people I know their
impetuosity, their recki' daring. But know
too and others who have fought by their side
know also, that they can be cool and steady rs
veterans, when the occasion demands Accustom-
ed fiOm childhood to the handling Of arms, and
practised in their skilful use in the chase, which
frequently involves dangerous encounters with
formidable wild beasts. they acquire all :he readi-
ness of attack and defence which makes the vet
eran in war, and far more activity than he possess
es~ 1t is not to be denied that the same qualities
Of soldiershp distinguish the oops of the northern
States, where they have been trained in similar
schools Of hardy discipline. But this admission
suggests first and foremost, the thought by no
means a pleasing one To minds which are set on
peace, that an encounter hetween such troops
m ust be proportionatey more destructive. But be
that it may, the GOODNESS and elaboration with
which our peopl preparing for the conflict, may
we'll surprise any one. and knowing their tenn
peranent as | do, | NAV add, their camness
fills me with amazemeEt. They certainly inspire
high hopes to the final result of this unfortu-
mite differences. disastrous rs the realization of
these hopes must be to who, with hostile
tired, ventures to violate the sanctitv of our
soil


But suppose the contest enventuate otherwise.
Let it be supposed that the whole picture .oi
threatened devastation and ruin he filled out in
the form of living reality that our young men
are slain in battle that old mer, women
and children, take refuge in the caves and under
the rocks of the mountains that our servants
are set free TO roam lawleSs through the land
] plundering, burning, ravaging, AMI destroying
with tho ferocity of unclaimed tigers that the
volume OF jesolation has rolled like wave oi
fire over the whole South and the wall of asory
and cry of despair ascending to heaven from
every habitaton and what then Is this n
consummatOn which Christian statesmen and
patriot can behold, with no emotion of sorrow and
regret for the share he has had in its accomplish
ment Is this the way bv which yon will bring
back the 1--we and respect of the South In this
the method of procedure by which our heavenly
Father wins back his erring and straying child: en-
and restores them to the obedience Of love and to
his favor? Have you subduel the people with
whom you contendng by this terrible intiic-
ton bv this awful visitation. before which the
dissolations of the Carnatc and the atrocities of
Wyoming dwindle into miniatures, and pale in
their enacted horrors Will YOU torn these ruins
reconstruct the Union Will the children of the
South who have escaped butcherv, grow up under
any tuition YOU may institute dut: al and obedient
subjects of Government whose foundations have
been laid in the blood of their slaughtered par
ents VIII YOU be pleased to lay your finger
upon the rage of history which records any such
instance III the annals OF the world Will you,
after your work of suhugation and of vengeance is
accomplished will you make provision for
the four millions of African children, whose an
cestors your forefathers brought over the sea- and
when their labor on northern soil proved unproff
table, they sold them to the planters of the South,
and for the title gave special warrantee to slavery
locke for no year uf jubilee for release ? Will
YOU put them to work the cotton fields and sugar
plantations which your armies devastated and laid
waste Viii you occupy the mansions of the
owners with your pous soldiers who have been
excited to murder, plumber and pillage. by such
promises Of reward read Of in the days OF
Barak and Deborah in Israel, "To erery man a
dmsei or t,eo," and then comp, them in return to
send you the products OF that me soil and labor
on which your country has prospered and so in
creased in wealth and power during the last forty
years Is this to be the destiny of the slaves
your arTies have freed from bondage to be placed
under supervisor>hip Of northern abolitionsts ?
1t is be hoped that you will ut least allow them,
as freemeu, to vote in choosing the men under
whom they will prefer to serve, sometimes
permit them as slaves to elect their own mas
ter.


Sir, permit me to say here that have some
few, very few of .hese people, made, as far as
can interpret the will of divine Providence. de-
pendent on me for the care of their bodies and
souls, and | hope yOu will not think feel an
unreasonable anxiety, rowing out of the patri-
arrhial character of this institution as it exists
among us here, to know what disposition is to be
made of them, when you shall have put an end TO
/ my stewardship IL 10 tneH hC present
they kneel with myself wife and child at the same
altar, mor,ing and evening. Our meal comes out
of the same barrel, oil out of the same cruise,
our meat is boiled at the same time and in the
same pot, and our bread is b ked in the same
The same roof shelters us, and the same blessed
Lords day dawn brings to us alike "a release from
our worldly OCCUPATIONS. Every chill born in my
h. use, whether white black, has been dedicated
to Gods service in holy baptism Dy the same forms.
nd when death has closed their earthly pilgrim
age, they have been committed to the grave with
the same solemn which the church pre-
scribes alike for the master and the slave, the
high and the low, the rich and the poor. Such
| offer as a sample of the practice, SO far
as | know, prevails generally through
this country in families where Gods name nd
word are honored. Will the Government you