Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-04-21
Public Opinion In south Carolina.

Public Opinionin seush Carolina
From tks "Sosthesr Pafrio<s Of Apsll 4.
In the History Of Europe," by ALISON
it is beautifully said. that Of the 1rsdred
tkoascnd persons who assembled in Pan.
to witness the execution Of Louis the six
tcenth. there were not one hundred who Sc
creflv and at heart desired his death; and
yet there was not one man, in all that vas'
concourse of human beings, who bad the
boldness to avow his opposition to this ex-
ecrable murderl Such was public opinion
in France during her "rcign Of terror" But
it was not public opinion. Public opinion
was suppressed by terror. This terror, too
was produced By powerless power, If il
had only been confronted with boldncss
and defiance. The braves, spirits of the
land were scared into submission by o
phantom; scared into horrible crimes by a
false public opinion. This was strikingly
illustrated by the downfall of Robcspierre
in the zenith of his terrible power.
In connexion with the downfall Of this
bloody tyrant, we mention an incident told
us many years since by Mr.. PoINsETT.-
|
of terror" and was introduced to Tallien
In the course of their conversation, he allu
ded to Tallien's boldnessin denouncing and
thro;tling Robespierre in the Chamber Of
Deputies, when it was supposed he was
| all-powcrful in France, and wagon loads Of
human beings were sent, by his order, eve
ry day, to the guillotinc, to have their heads
cut off, Tallien's reply to Mr.. PoINsErT
was, There was no boldness in it. sir. Ii
was an act Of desperation on my part.
knew that an order had been issued to car
~ me to the guillotine the next day. Ii
was a contest between Robespierre and
myself for cxistence-for hte!" As soor
as it was discovered that there was one man
in Paris who had struck blow at the head
of their bloody tribunal, Robespierre fell
powerless amidst the cxecraiions Of all
France. He had no power except thai
given to him by false public opinion
So u i in Snnfh Carolina at this time il
regard to secession. We believe, as con
fidcntly as we do in our existence, that q
large majority of the people Of South Car
DINA are opposed to secession, but they
have been afraid to express their opposi
ton, and have seemingly acquicsced ii
what they supposed to be public opinion
They have seen the State gliding on into a
bloody revolution, which they dreaded
and abhorrcd, and yet they have stood 81
lently by, or cheered her in her onward
course to destructioul Whilst two-third.
of the people secretly and athedrt" desir,
,he State to stop and wait for the co-ope
ration Of the other Southern States, yet no
one man in ten has the boldness to say so
A few days since a gentleman iii an ad.
joining district said to US, Il began to think
and reflect about the consequences of Sc
cesslou, and came to the conclusion that il
would not do. But was afraid to say so
After a while, | met a ncighbor, who ex.
pressed the same views. We then talked
freely to each other. In week or so, one
of our representatives returned from Co.
lunbia, and concurred with us in opinion
| then began tocXpress my views publicly
Those with whom | convcrsed eagerly
responded to me, and now, sir, a majority
of the district are opposed to secession" -
This is true in regard to public opinion in
every district in the State. A man is told
sees il published in the newspapers, and
never hears it doubted, that the whole Stale
is for secession, and he believes it to be his
duty to go with his State. In this way a
false public opinion is manufactured, and
the most tmid ard time serving evince the
most boldness and eagerncss in following
it. The brave, and virtuous, and patriotic
acquiescc through what they suppose to be
necessity. They regret it. They think
they stand alone. In their opinion, it would
be scnscless to throw themselves into the
breach when, in fact and in truth, if they
would express their opinions, they would
soon discover that they Were in a majority,
and could save their State and their coun-
try from defeat, disaster, and disgrace.