Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-04-19
PUBLIC OPINION IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

TIE 7" "soUTHERN PATRIOT" OF APRIL A.
In the History Of Europe" by ALISON, Is beautifully
said that Of the hundred thousand persons who assembled
in Paris witness the execution Of Louis sixteenth there
were hundred who secretly and heart desired his
and yet there man. in all that vast con-
course Of human beings who had the boldness his
opposition to this execrabe murder Such public opn-
lon in France during her reign of terror" But il
public opinion Public opinion suppressed by
This terror too, produced by poweess power it had
only been confronted with boldness and defiance. The
baves spirits Of the land scared submission by
phantom scared into horrible crimes by false public opn-
ion. This strkingly illustrated by the downfall Of
Robespiene in the zenith Of his terrible power.
In connexon with the downfall Of this bloody yrant we
mention an incident told many years since by Mr. PoIs
sETT de was in France shortly after the reign of terror
and was introduced to Taen In the course of their con-
versaon, he alluded to Tens boness in denouncng and
throttng Robespere in the Chamber Of Deputies when it
supposed he allpowsrul in France, and wagon
loads Of human beings sent his ORDER every day. to
the guone to have their heads cut off, Taiens reply to
Mr.. PoIssxrr was, There no boldness-in it, . Il
was an act Of desperation my part knew that an or
der had been issued to carry to the guIotne the next
day Itwas contest between Robespeue and myself for
exisence-for life !" As soon as it was discovered that
there in Paris who had struck blow at the
1oau VI snen nouosPierIe PoWeIlese
amidst the execatons Of all France He had no power
cePt that given to him by false public opinion
So it Is in South Carona at this time in regard
sion. We believe, confidently do in existence,
that large majority Of the people Of South Carolina op
posed to secession, but they have been afraid express their
opposition and have seemingly acquesced what they sup
posed to be public opinion They have the State gliding
into bloody revolution which they dreaded and abhorred
and yet they have stood silently ceeed her in her on
ward destruction Whilst wo-thirds Of the peo-
pie secretly and at heart" desire the State stop and wait
for the cooperation Of the other Southern States yet not one
man in ten has the boldness to say So!
few days since gentleman in adjoining district said
81 began think and reflect about the consequences
Of secession, and the conclusion that would not
do. But / was afraid to say After while, met
Reighbor, who expressed the views We then talked
freely to each other In week So Of represen-
taves returned from Columbia and concured with in
opinion Ihen began to express my views publicly. Those
with whomI convesed eagerly responded to me- and now,
sir majority Of the district opposed secession" This
is true n regard to public opinion in every district in the
State man is told, published in the newspapers
and never hears doubted that the whole State is for
sion, and he believes it to be his duty 60 with his State
In this way false public opinion is manufactured and the
most mid and tmeserving evnce the boldness and
eagerness in following it. The brave, and vrtuous and
patriotic acquesc through what they suppose be necessity
They regret it. They think they stand alone In their op-
would be senseless throw themselves into the breach
when, in fact and in truth, if they would express their
opinions they would discover that they in
oy and could their State and their country from de-
feat, disaster, and disgrace.