Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-03-28

We commend the following most sensi.
bic remarks, which we clip from the Toledo
Commercial, rs worthy Of consideration by
every ono. The Commercial in the most
mild and careful terms lays bare the fact
that in the Southern States, real, "popular
sovereignty" has not existed. The state
ment Of the simple fact, that in every South.
ern State, Constitutional prohibitions ol
any and every thing touching or looking to
tho emancipation Of slaves, have existed
for many years, show how completely a
class interest and class power have been
placed above tho reach of the people,
This point has been placed clear beyond
any possible reach by the people, and just
as many bars interposed to prevent single
cases of emancipation as the ingenuity Of
man could devise. But to the article from
the Commercial. ...,
In the sense manifestly intended by the
trainers of the Constitution, the people Of
the South have failed topreserve, and Con
gress has failed to guarantee to them Con-
stitutions Republican iu form, Herein was
the origin Of the rebellion. The fathers Of
the Republic entertained the most perfect
confidence that slavery, and all other ex-
ceptional institutions, would gradually disap-
pear before the influence Of popular govern
ment, even when political power was re-
stricted to the free men within the States
Slavery, like all other class interests, be-
ing exclusive, it follows from the nature Of
things that the interests Of all those who
are excluded from its benefits, arc against
the institution; hence, that if their will
could steadily prevail, slavery would finally
be destroyed by the free operation of Dem
ocrtc influences. They were full believers
in the principles of popular sovereignty, or,
in other words, of the capacity of mankind
for selEgovernment.
We have, to-day, full faith in that prin
ciple, and could it be thoroughly secured il
the Southern States, we would look to n
other remedy for existing or for future di
ficulties. If it is not thoroughly secured
we must adopt other measures, for to leavt
all the causes which produced the REBEL
ion, in full operation, would be nationa
suicide.
In an article published few days since
we took the ground that, for the reasons
therein set forth, there were no Constitution
al Governments in the Southern States, ant
no means, except resort to the extreme
right of revolution, by which the people
could reform the old or adopt new Consti
tutious. We hold that under the provision
of the United States Constitution, to which
we have referred, it is clearly the duty o
Congress, in this emergency, to guarante
to the people Of the Southern States Dem
ocratc Constitutions, and, to that end, t
authorize the calling Of conventions for tha
E purpose. Indeed, the provision may hav
. been intended 10 meet precisely such eme
gencies. Congress, however, will not pc
form its whole duty unless it shall also n
: quire that these Constitutions shall provid
methods by which the people, of their ow
motion and without resort to the cxtrem
right of revolution, may modify, amend, @
change their Constitutions. This would b
secured by provision which would recog
! nize the right of instructions as Constitu
! tional right, making the will of the majorit
authoritative upon the official, and refC
@ sal to comply with it, a disqualification fc
! office. This would accomplish the objeC
/. which the trainers of the Constitutio
y sought to secure. This would secure to th
3 people their right of sovereignty, AM
q though their action, lead a very good resu
q which it is possible to attain.