“But were there not many who if they had opportunity would have proclaimed themselves for the United States Government?” That question is answered in part by the conduct of most of the inhabitants in the Southern cities and neighborhoods already occupied by the loyal troops.  Up to this writing, the developments have not been very encouraging.  Yet I doubt not there are some, who in the depth of their hearts believe Secession wrong, and as a principle destructive to all government, and who long for the return of the peaceful and beneficent authority of the Constitution and laws of the Union; but they are too few and timid to exert the smallest influence.  Nor dare they attempt it.  The tyranny of public opinion is absolute.  No young man able to bear arms dares to remain at home; even if the recruiting officers and the conscription law both fail to reach him, he falls under the proscription of the young ladies and must volunteer, as I did, though from not quite the same kind of force.  And then, no expression of Union feeling would be tolerated for a moment.  From their stand-point, why should it?  They feel themselves engaged in a death-struggle, to defend their property, honor, and life.  Any hint of Unionism among them is treachery to all their interests, and, besides, a rebuke upon their whole rebellion.  When the North becomes as deeply and generally enlisted in the war as the South, and feel it to be a struggle for existence as keenly as they do, no man here will dare to express sentiments favoring the people or institutions of Rebeldom.

“But how,” I am asked, “how can good and sensible men, and ministers, even, thus take ground against a beneficent government, and justify themselves in attempting its destruction?” Among the facts I have noted in my brief life, one is this:  That the masses of men do not reason, but feel.  A few minds give the cue, and the herd follow; and when passion takes possession of the heart, its fumes obscure the brain, and they can not see the truth.  A general impression reiterated in a thousand forms, always affirmed and never denied, fills the mind, and is believed to be the truth.  And thus it is with the people.  “Are they sincere?” Yes, as sincere as ever were martyrs in going to the stake.  This is demonstrated by their whole conduct; and conduct is the test of sincerity, while it proves but little as to the righteousness of the cause.

In addition it should be said, the common feeling is, “We are in for a fight, and must carry it through; there is no hope for us but in fighting; if we give up now, our institutions are ruined, and we forever the vassals of the domineering and meddling Yankees.”  This the leaders and prominent men feel most acutely, and hence they will fight to the last, and keep the people up to that point as long as possible.  How long that will be depends upon the will of the North, as no sane man doubts they have the power, and no loyal man questions the right.  But the spirit, the enthusiasm, the enlistment of all the people with all their power and resources, are, with the South, as yet far beyond any thing I have seen North.