Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-06-24
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: South CAROLINA, we think, about to furnishRn
important illustrptien Of the irutit that error
ceases to bsdengerons when reason isleft free, 10
combat itn The great misfortune VI that State
bas been that is public opisiion hasnot really bern
the slelberase judgement sfits people, batmerely
the sentiment Of q few leading characters implicit
tly adopted without reflection by the mass Under
the system that has prevailed there the practice
Of earnest and open discussion, whether ON the
hnsting Or through the press, has been very much
grown into disusc The speakers and journals
have generally inculcated hat one set Of opinions,
and the consequence has been that views Of the
most prominent men have rarely been contested
1t was Mr. alhoan peculiar policy to keep up
perpetual ferment in the public mind IF this State,
with the hope that Il might ultimately extend BY
the contagion to the other Southern States His
leading idea, as he.himself explained it, was that
a general Southern organization would produce
either such change in the course of the Federal
Government as would render Il Unacceptable TO the
South, or would enable the Southern States to dis
solve the Union without, injury toihemselves. We
are fully convinced that the latter alternative was
the end which chiefly contemplated and desired
Whilst Mr. Calhoun lived, he was able to excite
South Carolina and control her at the same time.
Since his death. the dangerous engine which he
| invented and had the power TO manage, has been
left in weaker hands guided by still weaker heads
The men who are striving 10 take his place at the
head ofaffairs, are, some more rash Than he 9TH
ers mare s;mid, all less competent to the difficult
task Of creating and yet constantly averting peril
AT first those Of the more violent sort seemed to
have the upper hand Adopting Mr.. Calhouns
texts, they pushed them bodilyto the conclusion
that the State must separately secede. The more
prudent party hesitated to make resistance to what
arpearedto be the popuiarcurrent But Mr. Per-
ry, a member of the Legislature, who had dared
almost alone 70 oppose itssiolent measures, began
the good work of opening the eyes ofthe people by
establishing aUnion paper at Greenville Soon.
the obvious interest of Charleston prompted some
discussion OF the question of secession through the
papers of that city, Judge Butler, Mr. Orr, and
some other public men then declared themselves
against seperate State action TO thwart the in.
Huencc of their views convention Of picked
men," as the Charleston Mercury rather happily
styled the late asseinbage of delegations from the
secession clubs met at Charleston, for the avowed
pupose ofgiying 'tonen to the action of the State
Convention, which is to meet next fall Some o.
the anti-secessonisis, however, came to the 'pick
.edpi Convention and, hough in small minority
they proclaimed their opinions and their speeche,
were published in the secession journals. Sine,
the discussion that took place in that body and tht
general publication Of the letters of Mr.. Cheve,
and Mr.. Burt, there has beenia manifest change in
the indications of public feeling. The Hamburg
meeting, sanctioned by fcnr hundred citizens o.
one district (Which is the South Carolina name fol
County, afforks unquestionahle assurance thai
Mr. Rhett, Mr. Woodbury. and the other sperat,
advocates of revolution, will be overborne-7 Times