Washington telegraph., 1851-06-04
A STRIKING PARALLEL


Beta0een the Public Opinion of South
Carolina and France during the
Reign Of Terror
In the "History of Europe by Allison,
it is beautifully said. that of the hundred
thousand persons who assembled in Par
is to witness the execution OF Louis
XVITH, there were not one 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 boldness to avow his oppo,
sition to this execrahle murder, Such
was 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
by a powerless power, if it had only been
confronted with boldness and defiance
The bravest spirits of the land were
"scared into submission" by phantom;
scared into horrible crimes by a false
public opinion. This was strikingly illus
trated by the downfall of Robespierre in
the zenith of his terrible power.
III connection with the downfall Of
this bloody tyrant, we mention an incl
dent told us many years since by Mr..
Ponsett, He was in France shortly af-
ter the ''feign of terror" and was intro
duced to Tallien. In the course of their
conversation, he alluded to Tallien's
boldness in denouncing and throttling
Robespierre in the Chamber of Deputies,
when it was supposed he was all-power-
ful in France, and wagon loads Of hu-
man beings were sent by his order every
day. to the guillotine, to have their heads
was. "There was no boldness in it, sir.
1t was an act Of desperation on my part.
1 knew that an order had been issued
70 carry me TO the guillotine the next
day. 1t was a contest between Rob-
espiegre and myself for existence-for
Iife?" AS soon as it was discovered
that there was one man in Paris who
had struck blow at the head Of their
bloody tribunal, Robespierre fell power
less amidst the execrations of all France.
He had no power except that given to
him by false public opinion.
So it is in South Carolina at this time
in regard to secession. We believe. as
confidently as we do in our existence,
that large majority of the people of
South Carolina are opposed TO secession,
but they have been afraid 10 express their
opposition. and have seemingly acqui-
esced in what they supposed to be public
opinion. They have seen q state gliding
on into bloody revolution, which they
dreaded and abhorred and yet they have
stood silently by. or cheered her in her
onward course to destruction. Whilst
two thirds of the people secretly and ut
heart desire the state to stop and wait
for the cooperation of the other southern
states, yet not one man i'll ten has the
bolduesS to say SO.
A few days since gentleman in ar
adjoining district said to us, Il began to
think and reflect about the consequences
of secession, and came to the conclusion
shat it would not do But was afraid to
say so. Aftes while, | met neighbor,
who expressed the same views. We
then talked freely to each other. In
week or so. one of our representatives re-
turned from Columbia and concu!red
with US in opinion. then began to ex-
press my views publicly. Tlose with
whom ! conversed eagerly responded to
me, and now, sir, majority of the dis
trlct are opposed to secession" This is
true in regard to public opinion III every
district in the state. A man is told. sees
it in tue newspapers. ane never hears 1t
doubted, that the whole state is for se-
cession, and he believes it to be his duty
to 90 with his state. In this way false
public opinion is manufactured. and the
most timid and time serving evinoe
the most boldness and eagerness in fol-
lowing it. The brave, virtuous, and
patriotic acquiesce through what they
suppose to be necessity. They regret IL,
They think they stand alone. In rheir
opinion it would be senseess to throw
themselves into the breach; when in TACT
and in truth, if they would express their
opinions, they could soon discover that
they were in majority and could save
their state and their country, from defeat,
disaster, and disgrace.
Southern Is. C) Patriot.