Weekly standard., 1861-03-20
The Standard.
From the Norfolk Herald.
A SENSIBLE CHARLESTON LETTER.

ing letter concerning the position affairs at Charles
ton which we have yet encountered. 1t exhibits
thorough knowledge Of the workings of the political
system Of South Carolina, and truthfully reflects, we
have occasion to know, the now silent conservative
sentiment Of the State:
CHARLESTON, S. c., Feb. Is, 1861.
While there are positive symptoms of reaction,
l hope no one will jump to the conclusion, that
therefore, South Carolina and some of the other Sc
cedng States are about to run race back into the
Union. There has from the outset been vital 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 and still
are small in numbers, though they are unquestiona-
bly growing bolder, if not more numerous. learn
from conversation with of them that they have
recently dared to look each other in the face,
speak-though scarcely above whsper-words of
hope and encouragement They very small
minority and scarcely felt They are right at heart
and have done nothing to encourage the hopes or
strengthen the hands of the secessionists They
as 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 moderate expectancy in
this respect There are, however, sundry auxiliary
resources of hope No cause ever yet had run
especially no revolution that did not encounter dis
sension, schism, revolt While all is sunshine and
fair-sailing things go easy and then, of course,
there is union and strength. But when darkness
and adverse winds come, as come they will, there
will be dlssensiOns desertions if not positive mu-
tiny and wreck The cause of the revolution in
South Carolina has arrived at Just this point of
experience. The dissatisfied, for variety of rea-
sons begin to show themselves. Secession begins to
be criticised They who do it may not be Union
men; yet they are almost certain, in time to be-
come so. There is no other resort. The inevita-
nf bla nhonn Ic fo
the thing place fed from with that resorted to;
and this-a 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-makng and unn,ak
ing, and holding to strict accountability those who
occupy positions of trust and power. The State,
with its white population Of less than 800 souls
casting its $4,000 votes is held and controlled by
the aristocratic few.
The form of State Government is 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 seldom troubled to
think, or permitted to act The workings of the To-
cal system Of the State in large measure deprive
has been to render them Indifferent to great ques-
tions Immediately affecting them. Such thing as
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 so far 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 a derious 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 perm tted-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 as they have shown themselves; fair
of the probable consequences; free circulation of
newspapers on both sides, and as free and safe
vehicle for the thoughts and arguments of those
opposed as those in favor of the acts and measures
of the leaders and those in authority, you might
safely count on reaction, if not early overthrow
of the rebels. But there is no such state of things
here Not newspaper is permitted to be conduct
ed but IN the interest OF the revolution. 1t is not
safe for to give utterance to 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 bean active agent, in
way, of its promotion. Thus you will see that such
thing reaction must be at the hardest. If ever
it does come, it will be like the beching Volcano
You will not see its small beginnings as you see
revulsions 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.
ceded has failed uttery-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
an army of others elsewhere. If you could now
take from the movement the feature which appeals
to the fancied necessity for exploit of arms to
the end that the prowess and bravery Of her sons
should be vindicated mere sentiment which has no
necessary connection with the merits of the ques-
tion originally at ssue-if you could rob the revolu
tion 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
olna, and only hope that in its future treatment
the philosophical and practical bearings of the sub
ject may be we'll understood.