Damn John Tyler, and Goddamn John Calhoun!

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Damn John Tyler, and Goddamn John Calhoun!

1844

Tyler fails in his bid to annex Texas, and runs on his own "Texas Party" banner, with John C. Calhoun as his running mate. This scares the Democratic Convention into voting for Van Buren, taking a neutral stance with Tyler on the pro-Texas side, and Henry Clay on the anti-Texas side. The 3-way battle slowly morphs back into the duopoly, with Van Buren taking slow, diplomatic steps in favor of the Texas annexationists. Van Buren was nudged by running mate James K. Polk, no stranger to political maneuvering into leaving his slightly negative phrasings, to more conciliatory to either side. As Tyler and Calhouns own friends became worried them and their chances in the end, they fought onward and managed to make a large impression come November.

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Henry Clay/Theodore Frelinghuysen (Whig): 155 Electoral Votes, 46.3% of the popular vote
Martin Van Buren/James K. Polk (Democratic): 111 Electoral Votes: 40.9% of the popular vote
John Tyler/John C. Calhoun (Texas): 9 Electoral Votes: 9.4% of the popular vote
James G. Birney/Thomas Morris(Liberty): 0 Electoral Votes: 3.4% of the popular vote


Taking far more votes than anti-slavery activist James Birney, they manage to tip the scale in several close states in the South, Louisiana, Georgia, and even Tyler's home state of Virginia. The only victory was in South Carolina, a protest vote for Calhoun more than for Tyler. James Birney won little more than a third of his ideological extreme opposites, but managed to spoil several Northern states, more willing to vote for an anti-slavery candidate if the South ran a pro-slave one.

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Damn John Tyler, and Goddamn John Calhoun! Pt. 2

1848

Not all was paradise following Clay's election, a last ditch effort by John Tyler to annex Texas via a joint resolution (which needed a simple majority rather than a 2/3rd's one in the Senate for a treaty), which enraged Mexico and gave Clay a chance to show off his diplomatic skills. Unfortunately, or not depending on your view of history, during negotiations with Mexico a massacre of American soldiers broke out near the border claimed by the Republic of Texas, with several more border incidents and confused negotiations with the Mexican ambassador, Clay asked Congress to declare war on Mexico.

Ironic that the anti-Imperialist Whig statesmen would prove to be the man would annexed the most land, an act fueled by his desire to create a safe zone between America and Mexico, as well as get revenge on the government that goaded him into war. By 1851 the war was over, with several southern Democrats, declaring Clay (with their tongues firmly planted in their cheeks) as a better successor to Jackson than Van Buren. Until the territorial bills were passed, but we'll get to that in a moment.

He did manage to pass several Whig platform bills, helped by a 40 seat pick-up over the Democratic and "Texas" Parties splitting the vote in many area's down south. One of the first acts of his administration was re-establishing a National Bank, other acts included raising tariffs, and most controversially the Wilmot Proviso, banning slavery in the acquired territories. Despite anger and bile rising in many a southerners throat, there was nothing they could do. Clay was popular among the Manifest Destiny crowd, and among his native Whigs, but they would fight with all their might come 1848. Knowing that Taylor would cost on his war record, they matched him by nominating fellow Mexican War vet William J. Worth, attacking over reaching federal power and erosion of the separation of powers, with former Speaker Clay accused of taking a more hands on approach for passing legislation.

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Zachary Taylor/Abbott Lawrence (Whig) 155 Electoral Votes: 50.6% popular votes
William J. Worth/James Buchanan: 135 Electoral Votes: 49.3% popular vote

Many southerners were outraged even with slaveholders Clay (although he emancipated his before entering office) and Zachary Taylor (who did the same) on the previous and current Whig Ticket, most Northern's didn't mind, despite split-voting last election, this one was a clean sweep for Zach Taylor, with his Massachusetts VP moderating the louder of the "Conscience" Whigs. This election was among the closest thus far, and both sides fought hard to get there man in office, ultimately enough men who supported Clay, and even Birney, came back to support the Whig ticket.

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Damn John Tyler, and Goddamn John Calhoun! Pt. 3

1852

Despite the hopes of some southern, and even northern, Democrats that the most nonpartisan Taylor would keep to his Southern heritage and rollback Clay's bills, he didn't. Instead he anger a good deal of men when he attended the funerals of both Clay and Daniel Webster, but not the one for John Calhoun. "I am an American, a steadfast Unionist. That man was everything but those two things." was his the infamous line in a response to a letter from his son-in-law, Jefferson Davis, who to this day is argued about whether or not he knew the letter was let out. This brought many men, including those in tepid or high support of Taylor, against him.

Taylor wasn't a dumb man, he knew slavery wasn't going to go easy into the night for the South. But he also knew that whoever through the first punch lost the first battle, that of image. When South Carolinians started heehawing about secession he came out and echoed Andrew Jackson's words "Our Federal Union -- it must be preserved!

On November 1849, a raid on a federal military base prompted a night long shooting war. 4 soldiers and 10 rebels killed was enough to spook both Taylor and South Carolina, within the month Taylor met with the Governor (as well as old rival Winfield Scott) to defuse the situation. It didn't work, and by February of 1850 South Carolina had declared itself an Independent Republic. Taylor had none of that, he went to Congress to "gather an army...to put down an uprising" which was passed mostly on sectional lines. By July the "Uprising" was put down, and most of the other Southern States who sympathized with South Carolina put an end to the discussion of secession (held back until the dust had cleared with South Carolina).

With seccesion dead in the water, killed twice by President's on both sides, the only thing left for many pro-slavery advocates was something called filibustering. Something a young man born in Nashville, Tennessee would find great interest one day. But until that day happened, many other things did, like a young Democrat being chosen for party nominee, or Zach Taylor being the first Whig to stand re-election for President.

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Zachary Taylor/Abbott Lawrence (Whig): 185 Electoral Votes: 54.6% popular vote
Stephen A. Douglas/William Marcy (Democratic): 111 Electoral Votes 44.6% popular vote
(Not-Douglas Democrats): 0.8% popular vote

Douglas ran on a gradual emancipation platform, calling for the government to reimburse slave owners for any freed slaves, while rejecting the idea of expanding said slavery. This only got him lukewarm support in the South, and not much support up North (even his native Illinois was lost). For what it is worth, Taylor pledged to end slavery as "something the southern states shouldn't fear, or worry about lost crops and money. For if we expect someone to give unwillingly, the least we can do them is to give them something as well." This would spell the end times for the Democrats, but they wouldn't die just yet. They would limp on and achieve a few more victories before perishing.

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Damn John Tyler, and Goddamn John Calhoun! Pt. 4

1856

Zachary Taylor was possible the most popular man to leave office since Andrew Jackson, his supporters saying even since Washington, but while he and his party were comfortable in the 1852 election, despite some lost seats to the Democrats, they sailed through the next two sessions of Congress, with Democrats and Whigs sniping at each other with the slavery issue mostly put to rest, and then Know-Nothings happened. A sizable third party of anti-Catholicism, anti-immigrants, anti-corruption prohibitionists who could reach into America's hearts about issues outside of slavery and the economy. The Whigs went from 130 seats won in 1852, to 79 in 1854; The Democrats went from 104 to 89, with the American Party holding 66. This forced the first coalition government in Congressional history between the Whigs and the Americans.

The Whig-American coalition was tested immediately as a Speaker was needed to be elected, after 10 ballots between many names eventually former Democrat (turned American) Nathaniel Banks from Massachusetts was chosen, while there would be more struggles to come to grips with in the future, for now the government was working, passing immigration law (not vetoed by Taylor) and a bill banning alcohol sales on sundays (vetoed by Taylor). The emergence of the American Party kneecapped the Whigs, especially in key states like Massachusetts, and brought hope to the Democrats, who were fighting hard for their immigrant constituencies up north in New York and other states.

The Democratic convention was a straightforward affair, Douglas remained in high standing for his demeanor and ability to hold the Democrats together in the disastrous 1852 election. He received his renomination despite not holding any office at the time and chose Thomas Hart Benton to balance out his ticket age and geographically-wise. The Whigs were moribund after losing so many seats and took 20 ballots to reach a candidate, after early favorite Abbot Lawrence died in 1855. Some suggested a third General as a candidate, Winfield Scott, however he and Taylor were old rivals, and despite some praise from Taylor, suspicion that he would run, he didn't. The candidate to emerge from the rubble was Edward Everett, former Representative, Governor, Secretary of State, and Senator. He surprised many by choosing fellow Senator William Henry Seward, popular in New York with immigrants and friend of Zachary Taylor.

The American Party had it's own unique set up, a popular vote primary in each state was used, the first of its kind, although there was no doubt that the popular and effective Speaker Banks wasn't going to be chosen, he surprised many by taking California Senator John C. Fremont as his Vice-Presidential choice.

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Stephen A. Douglas/Thomas Hart Benton (Democratic): 110 Electoral Votes; 39.8% popular vote
Edward Everett/William Henry Seward (Whig):101 electoral votes; 35.5% popular vote
Nathaniel Banks/John C. Fremont (American):85 electoral votes; 24.7% popular vote

The American Party didn't win immediately, but they did throw the election to the house, and made a circus of elected the President and VP. Benton was an early favorite to win the VP automatically, but Seward had friends and connections among the few American Senators (some of whom were Democrats, but most Whigs), but was eventually sidelined for Benton. Douglas was chosen with little fanfare, with most delegations belonging outright to the Democrats, or them holding most of the seats in some states like Wisconsin or Maryland.

Banks continued on being Speaker, an increased amount of Democrats was offset by the new American's. Some Whigs proposed absorbing the new party given their coalition in some states and in Congress, but others scornfully refused to join the Know-Nothings as they called them. Taylor was the first President to leave office in both good standing and good health in a long time, and died in his sleep in 1867.

Elsewhere

While America had focused on the elections, elsewhere a young man named William Walker had gathered an army of malcontents, and pro-slavery agitators who didn't want to simply roll over and die, after South Carolina failed in its secession, some men thought to leave and start their own country. The man to lead these many men was the aforementioned Walker. He gathered an army of 1,000 men, and several millions in bonds to finance them, and took over the state of Lower California. They soon expanded into Sonora and fought against the Mexican Army. Despite outnumbered and outgunned they fought long and hard enough to simply tire out the Mexicans, leaving them with de-facto control. The Golden Republic of Sonora was formed, and it wouldn't be the last Golden Republic. Some men planned for an all encompassing circle around the United States, with a man like Walker they could go for a while, but their glory wouldn't last forever. They expand, but not forever, and not without a lot of blood spilled. And the next goal? A little island or two off the coast of Florida.

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Damn John Tyler, and Goddamn John Calhoun! Pt. 5

1860

As quickly as they rose they fell back down. The American Party was reduced to nothing but 20 seats in the 1858 election, most of the Congressmen got re-elected, but they ran as Whigs and not Americans. By 1860 only 7 men would run under the party ticket, and in 1862 all were retired or had moved to the Whigs. The Democrats under Douglas were empowered, taking back Congress and most of the New York delegation from the Whigs, which they did with the Governor's office in '58. This election signified an era with lessened sectional tensions, mainly due to the Democrats focused on taking the North from the Whigs, utilizing the immigrant populations to fight for them. Ironically this weakened them in their native South, leaving them open to the Whigs and remaining state Americans to take. This would also be the last election that the Democrats would win, and it would be a good one to leave on.

President Douglas took office and pushed through his gradual-payed emancipation bills, the last state to enroll would be South Carolina, always the rebel of the group, and the last year until nationwide emancipation would be 1867, a few months before Taylor died. Several other bills including liberalizing immigration restrictions, statehood for Oregon, and other assorted matters. Douglas was personally popular, young and charismatic, he transcended the North-South rivalry that existed even in the Democratic Party. Douglas easily won renomination, but Vice-President Benton refused renomination, partly due to old age, but some suspect due to his possible involvement in the "Freeboot Scandal" which we will touch on later. Either way Benton died in 4 months after his successor (party elder and statesmen James Buchanan who ran in 1848) was sworn in.

The Whigs ran another 3 way convention, Governor William B. Campbell of the South, Abraham Lincoln of the West, and eventually nominee William Henry Seward of the North. Seward chose Campbell as his VP choice, and promised Lincoln either himself or one of his friends on a spot in his administration, other than the Secretary of State. Lincoln asked for the office of the Attorney General, and a deal was struck. The first 4 ballots had it slowly going in Sewards favor, the 5th had it unanimous in his name. This election in retrospect is the calm before the storm in many ways.

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Stephen Douglas/James Buchanan (Democratic): 183 Electoral Votes; 54.9% popular vote
William Henry Seward/William B. Campbell (Whig): 120 Electoral Votes; 45.1% popular vote

The Presidency was kept in the Democrats hand, as was the Congress. Things were looking good for the partym and then in 1861 it all came crashing down: The infamous "Surplus Letter" was leaked to the public.

Via the Neutrality Act of 1794, it was illegal for an American to wage war against another country, so some one like William Walker couldn't just waltz back into California to ask for supplies, he needed middlemen, as well as people to help him recruit and buy supplies. One such man managed to get leftover state militia and army clothes and weapons, at low prices for the Freeboot Army as they were called. But was this helpful man? Well the man was Attorney General Robert Rhett, and was not the only Douglas Administration member to be caught doing illegal things. Secretary of State Jefferson Davis privately raised $10,000 for Walker, Secretary of the Navy Stephen Mallory managed to secretly sell them several decommissioned Navy vessels. Vessels used to establish the Golden Republic of Cuba and Hispaniola. Dozens of other Governors, Senators, Reps, even appointees were implicated in helping William Walkers army. Millions of dollars were stolen from the Treasury and funnelled through Texas into the original Golden Republic.

While Douglas was not implicated, even the most ardent defender could not, and would not, say he was entirely innocent. Posterity informs us he had a vague idea something was afoul with his administration, but 12 years out of power, and his own desire to keep the two wings of the party together, led him to overlook anything not immediately dangerous to the country or the party. The Whigs raised hell over this, charging the Douglas administration of betraying not only the law, of unprecedented corruption in all of history, but of seeking to create an anti-American Slave Empire, not helped by William Walkers open promotion of Sonora as "The ideal Jacksonian Republic, freedom from fear of lost property and foreign ways forced upon the Southern gentleman."

From then onward Douglas was a lame duck, in 1862 the Whigs stole back the control of Congress from the Democrats that it must have given some of them whiplash, with 164 seats to the Democrats 76. Little in the way of legislation was passed, but many an official was impeached by the House and Senate. Any hope of the Democrats recovering was dead when on the last week of his Presidency, Douglas pardoned his men and wrote an open letter asking "...forgiveness in the face of lost passions, of old time recollections of family farms and of the adventures of Manifest Destiny." among other pleas. If anyone still thought Douglas honest and well meaning, they were now surely convinced that was impossible.

Elsewhere

The man who escaped censure and impeachment mostly snuck off to Europe or for Sonora, by now the population had exploded, more than capable of taking on Mexico for their land. Not all of North Mexico was taken by force, several Ambassadors and other diplomatic Southerners came down and managed to convince several Mexican Governors to side with the Freeboot Army, gleefully offering money, land, slaves, basically anything they wanted. Sometimes it worked, such as with Coahuila, other times the army would be sent in to force out any dissenters, as was the case with Tamaulipas. By the time they reached the eastern seaboard the Sonora Navy was operating just fine, and capable of squeezing them from the east. The Navy stationed itself in Tamaulipas after fleeing Florida, Texas, and Louisiana. There it would wage a war of on both Cuba, before the Spanish Navy decimated much of their forces, and Hispaniola was fought, but never taken. Despite instability in Haiti, the tropical diseases alone killed more men then the soldiers did, and the Government of Haiti assembled a decent Army, fighting along with the Dominican Republic to expel the Imperialists from Sonora they won themselves respect, and some peace following the war.

The next aim for the Golden Republic? Nicaragua, and the long awaited canal. No one ever accused the Freebooters of lacking dreams, but soon they'd lack supplies and patience, from America, Mexico, and Europe.

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Damn John Tyler, and Goddamn John Calhoun! Pt. 6

1864

By 1864 the Democratic Party was hit hard and it was bleeding profusely. Anti-corruption Democrats in the North railed on the corruption of the Douglas administration, many calling for his impeachment, or to expel him from the Democratic Party as the Whigs did John Tyler. They still affiliated with the national Democratic Party, but the wounds were there, and they wouldn't heal. The Democratic field was swamped mainly by Northerners, Westerners, and only a few men from the border regions, anyone with Southern appeal or values was immediately distrusted.

The early favorite was Franklin Pierce, who served as a general in the Mexican-American War, and a Representative and Senator of New Hampshire. Young, charismatic and a Governor of a New England state, he seemed like he had the best chance of appealing to disaffected Democrats and suspicious Whigs. But the accusations of being a Doughface rang all the way to the Convention, where he would play kingmaker.

The next biggest name was New York Senator Horatio Seymour, the former Governor had impeccable credentials as Governor, he was worried about his health, only recovering from being bedridden a few months prior, and publicly stated he would not seek the nomination. Lazarus Powell from Kentucky was carefully examined by Southern and Northern delegates, both eyeing him on which side he stood by, the Freebooters or the Loyalists. He would be chosen as the chosen as the Vice-Presidential nominee for the ticket.

The last man whose name was entered was Western Explorer, Democrat-turned-Know Nothing-turned Democrat again John C. Fremont, while an abolitionist, he was wildly popular among the general public, and held cross sectional appeal, being the son in law of Vice-President Benton and the former Senator and now Governor of California. He also held appeal to Loyalist Democrats and Whigs for his staunch refusal to assist Sonorans seeking supplies and shelter in California, personally lead the National Guard into battle a small regiment that had taken over a small outpost town. For attacking the Sonoran army, and driving them back into Sonora, no further explorations into California territory were made by the Sonorans, starting to suffer from the descent from on high.

Southern delegates refused to pledge for the Loyalist Fremont, one for being a Know Nothing, which in their eyes meant he was as good as a Whig, two for his seeming hypocrisy on Manifest Destiny, and three for his anti-slavery rhetoric. 10 ballots in Seymour announced his support for Fremont, as did Pierce (who was promised an Ambassadorship to the country of his choosing), and Powell was chosen as Veep to balance the ticket.

The Whig held the opposite problem of the Democrats, too many candidates this year. After the Revolution of '62, as if were called, many wanted to be the one to give the finishing blow to the Democrats and etch their name into history. Senator Seward, Governor Lincoln, Former-Speaker Nathaniel Banks, and the list went on. Unlike last election, which went rather quickly, the Whigs went 54 ballots before reaching a candidate, Seward was renominated (covertly promising member after member a juicy position) till old friend Abe Lincoln remained a challenger, who dropped out after it was obvious Seward would win. Seward mailed his a letter thanking him for his tact with the situation, and asking if he still wished for his Attorney General spot, Lincoln forwarded back "...if you have room, good. If you have room on the [Supreme] Court, better." To balance the old "Conscience Whig" North Carolina Governor and former Navy Secretary William Alexander Graham was chosen. His experience as Navy Secretary would later prove invaluable, but we'll get there.

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William Henry Seward/William Alexander Graham (Whig): 185 Electoral Votes; 52.1% popular vote
John C. Fremont/Lazarus Powell (Democratic): 118 Electoral Votes; 44.3% popular vote
Unpledged Democratic Ticket 0 Electoral Votes; 3.6% popular vote

The primary issue of the Election was how to deal with Sonora, Fremont favored armed neutrality, citing experiences with the rebels not causing problems when left alone, and when reminded of the USA's military might. Seward favored embargoing and a demand that they stop all hostilities within the American sphere of influence. Many potential Seward voters balked at the idea of forcing Sonora what to do and what not to do, even with all the scandals they were still a sovereign nation, composed of former Americans, who had not done any official actions against them. The election was slowly tilted from "Sure to elect any Whig!" to "Strong Whig" in a few months. Fremont did the best he could, but not the best the Democratic party could have done, as shown by their last minute split.

Some men who felt Fremont untrustworthy had their states field an unpleged ticket in hopes that they'd win some southern states, Fremont win half the South and half the North, and Seward being unable to take states outside the North. Their plan backfired and gave Seward Virginia and Tennessee. Fremont wasn't surprised he lost, congratulating Seward in persona before the results were announced, and asking him for a personal favor. "Should Sonora and that man [Walker] ever threaten American interests beyond a rebel brigade of men, I would like you permission in assembling an army to put them down." Despite no obligation to, Seward promised him he'd heed his warning and keep Fremont in consideration. Fremont would not end in politics there, to him the injury the South had inflicted upon him was unforgivable.

He did the unthinkable, he founded his own party: The Pioneer Party as it were called, focused on anti-corruption, anti-monopoly, pro-western development and statehood, pro-defense, and a slew of old Democratic values. The statehood of western states had slowed to a crawl, with the Whig Congress suspicious of anything that could give the Democrats an advantage, and thus wanted to wait until a Whig was President. The Southern Democrats feared losing their sway, so little progress was made when they were in power or opposition. The Pioneers would hold much sway in the west, as the Whigs held their native North.

Elsewhere

The Golden Republic was suffering, high inflation, little solid cash outside of plunders, and the defeats at Cuba and Hispaniola had set back the idea of a Transatlantic Slave Empire. William Walker was still enormously popular, and the first elections were held in June 19th, 1864 for a 6 year term. Walker won with over 70% of the vote, the other votes were for various candidates, often famous names of Southern expats. With until 1870 for the next election, Walker continued his game of expansion, only now being slowed by the failures in the Caribbean. He set his sights to somewhere closer: Nicaragua and the canal. Europe had given up on completing the canals, and many had hoped that Walker could be of use and do it himself, with his own men and money. For that reason many had not strenuously objected to him attacking their colonies, he was a smart man, he knew not to attack the hornets nest twice.

Despite Seward's win, Congress wouldn't play ball and embargo Sonora. Many Whig congressmen had contracts dealing with the railroads to the Southwest territories, and Sonora. They didn't wish to jeopardize their money sources, so the proposed embargo died in committee. So America watched Sonora closely, Europe watched them closely, and in 1865 Sonora launched operation "Two Seas", the conquest of Nicaragua and hopefully the completed canal. But not all would be easy, Mexico vied for blood and put aside the growing tensions for another round with Sonora, thrusting their all on both seaboards and landwise. They got far, but would they hold and crush the Gold Republic? Stay tuned and find out.

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Orange: Farthest Mexico got before being repelled.

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Damn John Tyler, and Goddamn John Calhoun! Pt. 7: All that Glitters is not Golden

1868

By 1866 Mexico and Sonora had beaten each other bloody and hard, Mexico was falling apart from inside and outside, dealing with rebels in the Yucatan and Sonora, while Sonora had to deal with Mexico, Nicaragua, and a coalition of various South American states fighting them back. Both sides fought valiantly, but after 2 years of constant fighting (foreshadowed by a decade of guerilla warfare on the border), both sides were ready to call it quits. Status quo ante bellum was established, with the borders returning Sonora to it's 1860 status, and payed out Mexico several millions. The new army would be used to hold down secessionists in the Yucatan. Meanwhile Sonora had a bloody time in Nicaragua, the problems of Cuba and Hispaniola surfaced here, disease and new territory worked against them. It was around this time however, they started to get more overt support from the southern United States, regiments of men and supplies came from those who wanted to escape the 1867 deadline on freeing slaves. The romantic image of Sonora was something that had inspired many to come. The reality caused a third to go back.

The Gilded Republic, as it was mockingly derided by Northern newspapers, spread the image of a rich, prosperous, White-man's Republic. Where the hardest working man was king of his land. The truth was far uglier and bloodier. Despite claims to the land, William Walker and his Freebooters only held about half of Sonora. Various Caudillo's held bits and pieces of land, only nominally acknowledging Walker as ruler, many on the border jumped ship to Mexico's camp when they took over, and claimed themselves brave freedom fighters when their land was back in Sonora's possession, claiming their slaves or treasonous assistants sold them out. Poor and rich white's alike came flooding into Sonora, massively boosting their population, tax base, and army. With enough men and supplies (the latter often more important), Walker dispatched his Navy to a final offense, meant to knock Nicaragua on both sides. As usual it was a bloodbath, but as Walker later claimed "Wars are won by killing more of your enemy, if there is only 100 men out of an army of a million, and none of your enemies, you've won." Years of rule and power had turned the young Walker into a cold-hearted and pragmatic old man, smart enough to know his countries limits, even when others didn't.

New Orleans was the biggest port of the Sonoran Navy, often going there to get supplies from helpful southerners, but the Seward administration wanted to cut down on that, dispatching a Navy vessel to patrol the area. By sheer bad luck, around this time a Sonoran ship was restocked and intercepted, assuming the worst, the Sonorans sank the US ship, and created a self fulfilling prophesy. Seward and many northerners took this as a casus belli, and within a week a declaration of war was declared. Many Southerners vote on the declaration as well, many either Whigs or Democrats fearful of the treason libel. Families were ripped in half, as many left to fight for Sonora, or already had, and others went to fight for Uncle Sam.

Seward called up Fremont for the assault from Arizona. Fremont, always prepared and cautious, had a small army already built up in California, even taking the National Guard into Baja California to pacify. Overstretched, overworked, and underpaid, many of the men in north Sonora and Baja California submitted to Fremont's army. Walker himself was in Nicaragua, serving as a symbol to his men and thus couldn't be in Sonora when it needed him the most. While the North was easily taken, the rest of Sonora would take another few years to pacify, specifically the bordering regions of Texas.

The Sonoran situation by the 1868 election
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With the standard-bearer of the Pioneers serving in war, many followed his lead and supported Seward for 1868, and the results were plenty good. The Democrats tried to put up a good fight, but alas found no good candidate willing to fight, save former Governor and Senator Andrew Johnson, Loyalist from Tennessee, who was made the man who many hoped would turn around the moribund Democrats. It was not to be.

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William Henry Seward/William Alexander Graham (Whig/Pioneer): 262 Electoral Votes; 62.5% popular vote
Andrew Johnson/Horatio Seymour (Democratic): 41 Electoral Votes; 37.5% popular vote

Epilogue

Seward would serve out his term in 1873, followed by him a new generation of Whigs and Pioneers. Sonora would fall to US hands in 1870, ironically on the same day that a vote for President was meant to be held. Alaska was bought from Russia, adding more land to America's continental empire. Walker fled to Europe to escape the American's looking for him, holding provisional election for Sonora, but gave up the charade by 1873. He would die on September 12, 1905 at the age of 81. John C. Fremont would return a hero, and be the first President elected on the Pioneer Ticket in 1872, bringing an official end to the Democratic Party's relevance. Many new states, and new stories, were about to enter the US.
 
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