Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-04-20
For the rremon, Journal.

A Problem for Solution.
EDrToR OF THE JouRNAL-D Dear Sir:
There is problem connected with the Slave
Power of this Country, which needs solu-
ton, to wit: Wherein lies its strength A
solution Of this problem is earnestly request
ed to be made in the light Of the following
admitted facts. First; all the political
strength pertaining to any institution under
republican form of government, depends
solely upon the number of its supporters.-
Second all the financial power Of any insti-
tuition, depends upon the amount of capital
invested. If the principle involved in the
first admitted fact is correct one, then how
comes it to pass that the Slave Power of
this country is found controlling the poiti-
cal destinies of this great Republic. II po-
itical power in a Republic, is the power Of
maJorties, and its ordinary peaceful mani
festation is at the ballot box, then whence
is the political power of the Shareholders
derived since, in 1856, the popular vote
for President in the Slave States, was
1000, ,246, and in the Free States it was
2,95s,95s. Excess in Free States over
Slave States, 1,s6s,712. Thus you see,
so far as numerical power is concerned, it
plainly belongs to the Free States. But
then l think l hear some one say that
'three-fifths of four million slaves are coun-
ted in the ratio of representation. True,
but this only affects their representation in
the House of Representatives and in choos-
ing Presidential electors, and does not give
them the political control of the country,
for in 1857 the Free States had so Sena-
tors, and the Slave States 80. The Free
States had 144 Representatives in Con-
gress, the Slave States but 90. The Free
States cast 176 Electoral votes for Presi-
dent, the Slave States but 100; and at pres
ent the Free States have SO Senators, and
the Slave States but 80. And the Free
States now have 147 Representatives, and
the Slave States but 90. Thus you see the
Free States have clear majority, both in
the House of Representatives, Of the Elec-
toral votes, and in the Senate. This power
should give the Free States the control of
the Judiciary, and of every department of
the Government, Notwithstanding the three
fifths apportionment 1t is not that ar
rangement that gives them their power, for
that power dictated the arrangement which
is the effect, and not the cause of the pow
err Again, it is claimed that the Slave
holders have so much capital, that it over
balances that Of the Free States, and that
in this way the South have power of
wealth that controls the whole country
This assumption of an excess of capital in
the Slave States over the Free States, refers
exclusively to the Slave property, for no
one pretends that there is an excess in other
kinds of property. Let us look at this mat
ter a little. There are four millions of
Slaves in the South, worth on an average
$500 per head. This, in the aggregate, is
two thousand millions of dollars. This di-
vided by 100000, the number of Slave
holders, gives to each but $6,666,66. Does
this six thousand, six hundred and sixty-six
dollars, and sixty-six cents apiece, give to
the 100000 Shareholders monied power
sufficient to control nation of twenty-eight
or thirty millions! If so, then 100000
individuals in the State of New York, OF
any other State, possessing $6,666,66, has
the same power. Suppose these negroes
were all exchanged for Arabian horses, al
$3.50 per head, and sufficient in number tc
amount to two hundred millions, would il
then be claimed that the 100000 horse
owners had sufficient power to control tho
nation. wait the solution of the problem
L. G.