Western union. (City of Hannibal, Mo.) 1850-1851, 1851-05-01
Public Opinion in South Carolina.


In the "His,ory Of Europe" by Alison, il 10
beautifully said, that Of the hundred thousand
persons who asse mbled in Paris to witness the
execution OF Louis the Sixteenth, there were not
ono hundred who secretly and at heart desired
his death; and yet there was not one man, in all
that vast concourse of human beings, who had
the bollne. TO avon his opposition to this exc
cradle murder. Such was the public opinion
IN France during her reign OF terror" But il
was not public opinion. Public opinion was ,
suppressed BY terror. This terror, too. was
produced 10y a po"erless power, il il had only
been confronted with buldnsss and de fisnce. The
bravest spirits Of the land were scared into
submis sion" by phantom; scared into horrible
crimes ny false public opinion. Thi. was
,tr,k,ngly illustrated 10y the dow MALL of Robes.
pierre IA the zenith Of bis terrible power.
| La conneXipn with the downfall of thl. bloudy
| grant we men,ion VII incident told ~ many
years since by Mr., Puinseu. He was ~ France
shortly after the reign VI terror, and was IN
uoduced to TalIien. Ia the course of their con.
versalion. he alluded To Talens boidness in do.
nouncing mud ,hrotll,ng Robesp,erre in the
chamber Of ID pules, when it was supposed he
was all powerful IN France, aud wagon loads Of
.nman beings were sent, by his order. every
day, to the eulllotine, "a have their heads cut
If! Tallien's reply to Mr.. Poinseu was,
i
act OF desperation on my part. | knew that an
order had been issued 10 carry me to tho gull
lolns the next day. 1t was contest between
Robe.perr and my self for existence - for lile?"
As soon as It was discovered that there was
one man IN Paris who had struck blow at tho
head of their bloody tribunal Robespierrs fell
+ powerlcss amidst the execratons of all France.
, He had no power excep! that given to him by
false public opinion:
SO it is in South Carolina at this time in re-
gard to secession. We believe, u. confidently
as we do in our existence, that large majority
: Of the people OF South Carolina are o. posed to
I secession. but they have been afraid to express
: their opposition, and have seemingly acquiesced
f in wha. they supposed to be public opinion.
| They have seen the State gliding ON into bloody
y revolution, which they dreaded and abhorred,
and yet they stood silently By, or chesred her
in her onward course to destruction! Whilst
thirds .; the people secretly and at heart"
desire The State to stop and wait Tor the Coop
Grafton of the other Southern States, yet not
u one man in ten has the boldness to say so!
few days since gentleman in adj dining
Il district said to us, Il began to think and reflect
= about the Consequences Of secession, and came
z to the conclusion that it would not do. But
{ was "irad 10 say SO. Amer Il while, | met q
1 neighbour, whu expressed the same views. We
i then talked rely To each other. IT, u week or
so, one OF our representatives returned from Co
;. lumbia, aud concurred with II, in opinion.
q then began toeXpress my views publicly. Those
with whom conver'ed eagerly responded to
me, an! nov, sir, majority Of the district are
q opposed II secession" This is true in regard
IS to public opinion IN every district in the State.
1t ~ nin is told, sees 1t published in the Jews j.
e papers, aud never hears it donbted, that tho
u whole State Is Tor secession, and no believes il
/; to be his duty 10 go with his State. In this way
a false public opinion is manufactured, and the
most TIM! and tine-serving evnce the most
h"!tnes' and eagerness in iolluwing ii. The
y brave, ard rig'nons, and patriotic acquiesce
through what they suppose to be necessity
: They regret it. They think they stand alone.
= IN their opinion, it would be usnseless to throw
: themselves imto the breach; when, in fact and
Y, IN truth, if they would express their opinions
v they woull soon discover that they were in q
lie majority, and could save their country from de
Y feat, disaster, and disgrace.