Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-03-20
The, Staaaafo..
From the Norfolk Herald
SENSIBLE CHARLEsToN LETTER.

We give below the most sensible and discriminate
ing letter concerning the position at Charles
ton which we have yet encountered 1t exhibits
thorough knowledge of the workings of the political
system Of South Carolina and ruthfuly reflects, we
have occasion to know, the now silent conservative
sentiment of the State: E.. :-s.
CHARLEsros, S. c., Feb. Is, 1851.
While there are positive symptoms on reacuon'
I hope no one will jump to the conclusion, tnar
therefore South Carolina and some Of the other Sc
ceding States about to run race back into the
Union There has from the outset been avitai Union
sentiment in this State; there have ever been those
who regarded secession the worst Of evils, and
remedy for nothing; but they have been ana stll
small in numbers, though they are unquestona-
bly, growing holder, if net more numerous. learn
from conversation with some Of them that they nave
recently dared to look each other il the face even
speak-though scarcely abeye whtSper-words OF
hope and announcement They are very small
minority and scarcely felt They are right at hearr
and have done nothing to encourage the hopes or
strengthen the hands of the secessonsts. They are
as a grain of mustard seed, though, perhaps, there
is rather less hope touching the probable yield there
o! than we are taught to expect in the Scriptural
parable must insist on q moderate expectancy in
this respect There are, however, sundry auxiliary
resources of hope. No cause ever yet had run
especially revolution that did not encounter dis
sension, schism revolt While all is sunshine and
fair-sailiag, things 60 easy; and then, of course,
there is union and strength. But when darkness
and adverse winds come, as come they will, there
will be dissensions desertions if not positive mu
tiny and wreck. The cause of the revolution in
South Carolina has now arrived at just this point of
experience. The dissatisfied for variety of rea
sens begin to show themselves Secession begins TO
Be criticised They who do it may not be Union
men; yet they almost certain, in time, to be-
come Sc. There is no other resort The inevlta-
bic consequence of forcible change is to contrast
AZ ,lo Ao1 ~ rfa1 To-
and this few in this State-and their number will
certainly increase-are beginning to do. In no State
in the Union is there so little of what you at the
North understand by strict public sentiment as in
South Carolina. There is no middle class ever talk
ing, reading, thinking, acting-making and unmak-
ing, and holding to strict accountability those who
occupy positions of trust and power. The State
with its white population of less than 800 900 souls
casting its $4,000 votes, is held and controlled by
the aristocratic few.
The form of State Governments essentially mon
archicaL The people do not vote for Governor or
any State officer. Neither do they have any direct
voice in choosing Presidential Electors these things
being left to the Legislature which is chosen every
two years. Thus are politics and public questions
kept from the people, who are seldom troubled to
think, or permitted to act The workings of the To-
cal system of the State in large measure deprive
the people of power and the effect in the long
has been to render them Indifferent to great ques-
tons Immediately affecting them. Such thing
submitting question to the people is hardly ever
known Consequently reaction such | as have
spoken of, must be of slow growth, and about the
last thing to develop ITSELF Secession, far as it
was submitted to the people at all in choice of dele
gates to the Convention, was rushed on them; time
was not allowed for discussion, nor would it have
been permitted had there been time; snap judg-
ment was taken without regard to merits, and the
whole matter foreclosed by delirious excitement
which the leaders were cunning enough to create;
and since then the public mind has been held up to
the mark by appeals TO prejudice, passion, and the
false promise of results. undertake to say that
had there been permtted-what is scarcely ever
permitted in South Carolina full and fair discus
sion before the people, free exercise of private
Judgment decided and firm minority would have
developed itself And say further, and with great
confidence, that if there could be such thing now
as fair discussion of this revolution and its results
so far they have shown themselves; fair canvass
of the probable consequences; free circulation of
newspapers on both sides, and as free and safe a
vehicle for the thoughts and arguments of those
opposed as those in favor of the acts and
Of the leaders and those in authority, you might
safely count a reaction if not early overthrow
of the rebels. But there is such state of things
here. Not a newspaper is permitted to be conduct
ed but in the interest of the revolution 1t is not
safe for to give utterance to an honest dissent
ing opinion. No man is permitted to be neutral or
to withhold his substance in support of the cause
Every man is expected to be active agent in some
way of its promotion. Thus you will see that such
q thing as reaction must be at the hardest If ever
it does come it will be like the belching Volcano
You will not see its small beginnings as you see
revulsons in popular sentiment in other States, and
the chances are far more in favor of the reaction
being crushed out for time at least than of march
ing right on to an assertion of the popular judg-
ment l speak of South Carolina only, the case
may be different in other States.
In reality, the idea for which South Carolina Sc
coded has failed utterly-that of the African slave
trade Hundreds and thousands who were the back
bone of the revolution at the outset have withdrawn
and ceased to take an interest. Yancey, who has
thus retired from the field in Alabama, represents
al army of others elsewhere. If you could now
take from the movement the feature which appeals
to the fanced necessity for an exploit of arms to
the end that the prowess and bravery of her sons
should be indicated mere sentiment which has no
necessary connection with the merits of the ques-
tion originally at issue-if YOU could rob the reVolu-
ton of these features it would be already more than
half conquered Secession at this hour retains few
of its original features proportions in South Car
olina, and only hope that in its future treatment
the philosophical and practical bearings of the sub
ject may be well understood