Man of the Hour, A Franklin Pierce Story

[CELTICEMPIRE]

At the Whig convention, there was little doubt of who the presidential nominee would be. Allegations of corruption, however, meant that there would be an effort by some delegates to replace Colfax. They drafted General William Tecumseh Sherman, who was not consulted and had no desire to run for president. Anti-Colfax efforts predictably failed. The much more serious contest at the convention would be the vice-presidential nominee. Greeley, the incumbent, was in poor health and this information was known by most of the delegates as he was too ill to attend the convention. On the first ballot, Greeley failed to win a majority. The two other main contenders were Senator James G. Blaine of Maine and former Postmaster General Cassius Marcellus Clay, a powerful figure within the Whig Party. In the end, Clay won out. Just like the Democrats, the Whigs rejected the progressive policy planks in the platform. The Whig Party was the party of industrialists, not labor unions. And just like the Democrats, the Whig Party pledged to support the Gold Standard against bimetallism or paper currency.

(Cassius Marcellus Clay)​

The Whigs were not in an enviable position. The Colfax administration was accused of corruption, the economy was in a recession, and people were weary of twelve years of full Whig control. Attacking the Democrats as the party of the Confederation was wearing off quickly, as the party had nominated generals twice in a row. But Colfax had two causes for optimism. One was that hundreds of thousands of black Southerners were registered to vote for the first time. The other was that Butler had split from the Democratic Party. Butler was also a cause for some concern. Colfax understood that many Whigs would be sympathetic to his message. After all, it would be impossible to become governor of Massachusetts without appealing to at least some Whig voters. The coalition that had put Fremont into power was united on the issue of slavery, but held widely divergent views on other matters. And for this reason, Whig politicians and voters were already switching to the Democratic Party, narrowing the Whig majority in Congress.

Butler tried to win voters from both parties. He even attempted to win the endorsement of Frederick Douglas by claiming he would do more for the black man than Colfax. Douglas, though sympathetic to Butler, ultimately decided to support Colfax. The Whigs had ended slavery and were protecting the rights of freedmen. Douglas was not eager to abandon a friendly administration for an upstart party that had little chance of success. Most black voters felt the same. In Louisiana, however, there were many former slaves who remembered Butler as the man who gave them freedom and would vote for him in November. This was the first time the black vote was contested. Butler’s base of support was not in the South. He was popular in the West and in his home state of Massachusetts. The Farmer-Labor Party ran candidates for local elections as well, especially in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Utah. Butler had little hope of winning the election outright. Instead, his strategy was to build a base of support on which he could expand in 1884.

(Frederick Douglas)​

The election of 1880 saw Democrats gain in the North and Whigs gain in the South. This would be the first election since 1868 in which every state would participate. South Carolina held a popular vote election for president for the first time. In the end, the Whigs won the popular vote in both the North and the South. They did, however, fall three votes short of the 184 votes needed to win the electoral college. This was mainly due to extremely narrow losses in Missouri (376 votes) and Massachusetts (359 votes). The election would be thrown to the House. Colfax could safely count on 12 state delegations; Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Utah, Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina. Hancock could also count on 12; New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Indiana, Illinois, California, Oregon, New Mexico, Missouri, and Arkansas. Several representatives supported Butler, and thus Massachusetts, Iowa, Louisiana, and Kansas were deadlocked. Soon, Kansas and Nebraska pledged to support Butler. Kentucky, Georgia, and Florida got behind Colfax. Texas threw its support to Hancock.

Meanwhile, Democrats made a deal with Butler’s supporters. They would support some of their policies in return for votes for Hancock. In all likelihood, the Whigs made a similar offer. But Democrats were set to take the House, so they would have more power. Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Louisiana, and Massachusetts went into Hancock’s column. 18 state delegations supported Hancock, 15 supported Colfax, and four (Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, were divided. One Virginia Whig changed his vote to Hancock, and with that he won the election. Democrats would have the presidency once more. In the Senate, the vote was between the top two, so only Clay and Tilden were in the running. The Whig majority in the Senate meant that Clay would win the Vice Presidency after one vote. For the first time since 1796, a President and Vice President elect would be from different parties. The election of Clay as Vice President meant that Whigs would maintain control of the Senate. Greeley, meanwhile, had recovered by the time of the election and later claimed that he voted for Butler after feeling betrayed by the Whig Party.

​

Schuyler Colfax (W-IN)/Cassius Marcellus Clay (W-KY): 4,062,121 Votes (46.09%), 181 Electoral Votes
Winfield Scott Hancock (D-CA)/Samuel J. Tilden (D-NY): 3,896,695 Votes (44.21%), 164 Electoral Votes
Benjamin Butler (FL-MA)/James B. Weaver (FL-IA): 841,214 Votes (9.55%), 21 Electoral Votes [1]
Others [2]: 13,054 Votes (0.14%), 0 Electoral Votes

1: Includes a faithless elector from New York
2: Prohibition and Socialist parties.

 

[Gentleman Johnny]

You say that Clay was the Whig Vice-Presidential candidate, yet have Horace Greeley as the Vice-presidential candidate at the bottom where you list the electoral vote and stuff.

 

[CELTICEMPIRE]

You say that Clay was the Whig Vice-Presidential candidate, yet have Horace Greeley as the Vice-presidential candidate at the bottom where you list the electoral vote and stuff.

Thanks for pointing it out. I had copied and pasted from the last election because some of the candidates were the same.

 

[President Eternal]

Huh, split-party victory after a deadlocked vote. Did not see that coming.

Be interesting to see how this affects policies going forward.

 

[CELTICEMPIRE]

This election saw the Whigs gaining in the South and Democrats gaining in the North. Democrats won New Hampshire for the first time since Sam Houston and they won Ohio and Connecticut for the first time since Franklin Pierce. Whigs won Tennessee and North Carolina for the first time since Bell carried those states in 1856. They won Florida and Georgia for the first time since Taylor in 1848 and they won South Carolina and Alabama for the first time in history. Butler's support was based in the West, the Midwest, and Massachusetts. In the South, his support mostly came from New Mexico, Texas, Missouri, and Louisiana.

By Region:

North [1]:

Colfax: 2,762,315 Votes (44.77%)
Hancock: 2,720,153 Votes (44.09%)
Butler: 674,916 Votes (9.55%)
Others: 12,584 Votes (0.20%)

South [2]:

Colfax: 1,299,806 Votes (49.18%)
Hancock: 1,176,542 Votes (44.51%)
Butler: 166,298 Votes (6.29%)
Others: 470 Votes (0.01%)

By State:

Closest States:

Spoiler

Missouri: 0.1%
Massachusetts: 0.2%
New Hampshire: 0.3%
Nebraska: 0.5%
Ohio: 0.5%

Best States:

Spoiler

Best Hancock States:

Delaware: 53.4%
Maryland: 50.7%
Arkansas: 50.5%
New Jersey: 49.7%
New York: 49.3%

Best Colfax States:

South Carolina: 70.5%
Vermont: 64.1%
Mississippi: 61.5%
Tennessee: 51.9%
Florida: 51.7%

Best Butler States:

Massachusetts: 40.4%
Kansas: 36.9%
Nebraska: 34.0%
Utah: 33.0%
New Mexico: 23.5%

Worst States:

Spoiler

Worst Hancock States:

Massachusetts: 19.1%
South Carolina: 26.7%
Vermont: 29.9%
Utah: 32.0%
Nebraska: 32.5%

Worst Colfax States:

Kansas: 31.1
Nebraska: 33.5%
Utah: 35.0%
California: 35.5%
Texas: 37.0%

Worst Butler States:

Delaware: 1.9%
Virginia: 2.2%
Florida: 2.4%
Maryland: 2.4%
Georgia: 2.6%

1: North of the Mason-Dixon line.
2: South of the Mason Dixon line/South of the Missouri Compromise Line, includes New Mexico.

 

[CELTICEMPIRE]

Winfield Scott Hancock was inaugurated in 1881, urging unity as the country had received a divided government. The President was a Democrat for the first time in over a decade. The Vice President, however, was a Whig. Cassius Clay pledged to work with Hancock and put country over party. The House had a slight Democrat majority that was bolstered by members of the new Farmer-Labor Party. The Senate had 38 Whigs and 38 Democrats, with both parties having Senators who were sympathetic to the Farmer-Labor Party. The Senate remained under Whig control due to there being a Whig Vice President. Failed Vice-Presidential candidate Samuel Tilden of New York became Secretary of State. Senator Thomas Bayard, a Conservative Democrat from Delaware, was the new Secretary of the Treasury. Former New Jersey Governor Joel Parker became Attorney General. Senator George Washington Glick of Kansas became Secretary of War. Former Senator George Pendleton of Ohio was chosen as Postmaster General. Arthur Sewall, shipping magnate from Maine and Farmer-Labor supporter, became Secretary of the Navy. The new Secretary of the Interior, Richard P. Bland of Missouri, was also sympathetic to the Farmer-Labor Party.

In June, the US Supreme Court was set to make a ruling on Clark v. United States. Clark, a former Confederate soldier from Mississippi, wanted to exercise the right to vote. He argued that he had never wanted to fight against the United States, but was forced to due to the Confederacy’s conscription laws. Since the Secession War ended, he had been a loyal citizen of the United States. In a 7-2 decision, the Court ruled that the federal government had no right to impose voting restrictions on the states. The ruling did not, however, give Clark the right to vote, as the state of Mississippi continued to withhold voting rights for former Confederates. The only two dissenters were Samuel Freeman Miller and Richard Busteed. Field, Chase, and Waite, Whig appointees, joined the majority decision. Not long after the decision was made, Nathan Clifford died and Salmon Chase retired (he died the next year). Clifford was replaced by Elmer Scipio Dundy of Nebraska and Chase was replaced by Melville Fuller of Illinois.

As part of the deal made between supporters of Hancock and Butler in the House, the 47th Congress would not bring of the Gold Standard. Democrats pushed for reduced tariffs, but were unsuccessful. Another item on the agenda was the admission of two new states, both named after presidents. The State of Washington was established between Oregon and Canada. The State of Jefferson included some of the areas West of Minnesota and Iowa. Admission of Western states was also part of the deal made to elect Hancock. The 47th Congress also approved bills to increase the size of the US Navy. There was talk about a potential conflict with Spain. Tales of Spanish cruelty in Cuba as well as the continued existence of slavery in Spanish colonies inflamed American public sentiment. There was not enough public support for war, at least not at the moment. The issue of Nicaragua reappeared as well. William Walker had declined to run for reelection in 1878, and in 1881 he toured America to argue for annexation. Though there was renewed interest in Nicaraguan annexation and statehood, no action was taken during Hancock’s presidency.

(Pioneers in Washington)​

When the Clark decision was handed down, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina had their own laws preventing former Confederates from voting. Bills to deny the vote to former Confederates were proposed in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Nebraska, Utah, and Washington. Only in Nebraska did they succeed (and Nebraska’s law was repealed in 1886). Democrats gained in both houses during the 1882 midterms. Former confederates broke heavily to the Democratic Party, not only in the South, but also in the Western States where they settled. In the 48th Congress, both chambers had a Democratic majority, supplemented by Farmer-Labor congressmen. The Speaker of the House was Samuel S. Cox of New York and the Senate was led by Thomas A. Hendricks of Indiana. The first act of the 48th Congress was tariff reduction, reducing tariff rates by more than 10%. The second act was to begin the withdrawal of the US military from the South. As the troops left, violence against freedmen increased. While some Democrats turned a blind eye or actively supported this, President Hancock condemned those who attacked their fellow citizens.

In June 1883, the president decided to take a tour of the South. He wanted to promote unity in the land of the former enemy he faced on the battlefield. In Virginia and North Carolina, most people were happy to see him. In South Carolina, however, some people still held a grudge against him as he had commanded Union soldiers during the Secession War. But the majority of people had moved on. Unbeknownst to the public, the president was in poor health. After a speech in Georgia in August, he fell ill. On the 9th, he was dead. He was 59 years old The nation mourned the loss of the president. Winfield Scott Hancock was the fourth US President to die in office. In addition, some Americans noticed a pattern. Every president elected in a 20-year cycle since 1840 died in office. William Henry Harrison died in 1841. Sam Houston died in 1863. And Winfield Scott Hancock died in 1883. Cassius Marcellus Clay was soon sworn in as president.

(Winfield Scott Hancock, 1824-1883)​

 

[President Eternal]

So the 20 year curse is still a thing ITTL, huh?

Liking this look at how a split-party government would work.

Where exactly is the state of Jefferson compared to OTL? The description is a little vague.

 

[CELTICEMPIRE]

So the 20 year curse is still a thing ITTL, huh?

Liking this look at how a split-party government would work.

Where exactly is the state of Jefferson compared to OTL? The description is a little vague.

Hancock also conveniently died only a few years after this OTL.

Jefferson is comprised of parts of OTL North and South Dakota, with the majority of the population being near Nebraska.

 

[CELTICEMPIRE]

Cassius Marcellus Clay became the 20th President of the United States with the death of president Hancock. What Henry Clay, his cousin, had sought through the ballot box over several decades with no success, Cassius received through one man’s passing away. Clay asked the country to remain united, but would soon be partially responsible for deepening the divisions in American society. The majority of Congress supported the Gold Standard. However, supporters of the Gold Standard were divided between Whigs and Democrats. Some Democrats were concerned about the possibility of losing the support of the Farmer-Labor Party. Other Democrats, however, were not worried at all. Others were not eager to see a Whig president get the credit if the bill was signed into law. Bills to enshrine the Gold Standard into law were already being debated in congress earlier in the year, but Hancock’s death halted those efforts. But, by the end of the year, the issue of gold came up again. Clay was leaning towards Gold, but he wasn’t completely committed.

(Cassius Clay)​

The House, under the leadership of Samuel Cox, passed the Gold Standard Act in late 1883. In the Senate, however, passage of the bill was stalled as Utah Democrat James Fair began a filibuster. There were not enough votes to override the filibuster. Then, Clay began to encourage Whig fence-sitters to support the bill. In May the veto was overridden and the Gold Standard Act was signed into law by the president. In doing this, Clay created a rift in both major parties. Much of the West was strongly opposed to the Gold Standard, and the West was growing rapidly. Settlers were moving to the region in droves. This made conflict with the Native inhabitants inevitable. The Navajo, once a tribe on friendly terms with the government, began to feel betrayed. The Federal government attempted to force them onto reservations. Outraged by the treatment of his people, chief Manuelito fought back. While Hancock was still president, Navajo warriors had begun raiding towns and destroying railroad tracks. They would retreat into Mexico to evade capture.

At the 1884 Whig convention in Chicago, the majority of the party stood behind the president. Some Western delegates nominated Senator William B. Allison of Iowa. Allison had no desire to challenge Clay despite their disagreements on monetary policy. Former Ohio Senator James A. Garfield ran on an anti-corruption and reformist campaign. In the end, Clay was easily nominated and had the support of both Allison and Garfield in the general election. Former Senator Benjamin Harrison of Indiana was considered, but was turned down because Senator James G. Blaine of Maine would bring more geographical balance to the ticket. The party platform would endorse the Gold Standard Act signed by President Clay. It would call for more protections for African-Americans. It didn’t call for higher tariffs, but there was a plank opposing any reductions to the current rate. Attempts were made once more to put progressive planks in the platform. Women’s suffrage and child labor laws were rejected, but funding for education was narrowly passed.

(James G. Blaine)​

 

[President Eternal]

Looking forward to seeing how those party divisions play out.

 

[DanMcCollum]

Hancock also conveniently died only a few years after this OTL.

Jefferson is comprised of parts of OTL North and South Dakota, with the majority of the population being near Nebraska.

Small quibble about Jefferson. First, is the capitol still in Yankton? If not, I would propose that it would likely be in *Fargo.

During this period in OTL, settle patterns actually favored the northern half of the Dakota Territory over the southern half (partially because so much of South Dakota was, and remains, Reservation land). Although communities sprung up along the Red River, in the South, once you got out of the Red River Valley, it was much more sparse until you got further out west. Its not an accident that OTL South Dakotan capitol is in the Western part of the state (albeit, Pierre isn't SD's largest city by far - that would be Sioux Falls).

And so, in this ATL state of Jefferson, i would expect that the majority of the population would reside in the northern half of the state, much as it did in OTL. This would make Fargo the logical capitol (unless Yankton continues to operate as the capitol due to it having, likely, served as the Territorial Capitol. This also lessens the conflict which would likely arise between Fargo and Sioux Falls).

 

[CELTICEMPIRE]

Small quibble about Jefferson. First, is the capitol still in Yankton? If not, I would propose that it would likely be in *Fargo.

During this period in OTL, settle patterns actually favored the northern half of the Dakota Territory over the southern half (partially because so much of South Dakota was, and remains, Reservation land). Although communities sprung up along the Red River, in the South, once you got out of the Red River Valley, it was much more sparse until you got further out west. Its not an accident that OTL South Dakotan capitol is in the Western part of the state (albeit, Pierre isn't SD's largest city by far - that would be Sioux Falls).

And so, in this ATL state of Jefferson, i would expect that the majority of the population would reside in the northern half of the state, much as it did in OTL. This would make Fargo the logical capitol (unless Yankton continues to operate as the capitol due to it having, likely, served as the Territorial Capitol. This also lessens the conflict which would likely arise between Fargo and Sioux Falls).

The capitol is in Yankton for the reason you mentioned, but it may very well move in the future. While there are settlers in the North, settlement of the Northern parts of the west has been slower compared to OTL. The center of population will be moving North.

 

[HonestAbe1809]

I’m keen on hearing how Nicaragua is fairing. Like how they’re dealing with the Mormons. Or how they’re progressing in the project of reunifying Central America.

A unified Central American nation with potential American investment would be a much better fate than OTL.

 

[CELTICEMPIRE]

I’m keen on hearing how Nicaragua is fairing. Like how they’re dealing with the Mormons. Or how they’re progressing in the project of reunifying Central America.

A unified Central American nation with potential American investment would be a much better fate than OTL.

Nicaragua will be revisited after the 1884 elections.

 

[HonestAbe1809]

Nicaragua will be revisited after the 1884 elections.

I can see a Ciudad Walker being founded somewhere in Nicaragua. Not to mention the Walker Memorial when he eventually passes away.

 

[CELTICEMPIRE]

This TL will likely be finished some time in the next few months, after that I might take a break from writing alternate history for a while. There will still be updates to the story, just not any more formal chapters. But, here are some stories you might see in 2020 and beyond:

-100 men are sent by Pope Gregory X to the Yuan Dynasty, in order that Kubilai Khan can learn from them and possibly convert to Christianity. The Khan listened, but would not commit until he was on his deathbed. Meanwhile, Christianity spread among the people of the Yuan dynasty, but often in a syncretic form. At the same time, several of the priests and learned men became heretics or renounced the faith entirely. It was not going as the Vatican had expected it to.

-Theodore Roosevelt decides not to run in 1912, allowing William Howard Taft to win reelection in 1912. As war breaks out in Europe, how will the president respond?

-Leon Trotsky takes control of the USSR after the death of Lenin. He is eager to export Communism around the world. Revolutions plunge much of Europe into chaos.

-Due to various factors, the effects of the Great Depression are less severe. The Depression is still terrible, but it is more manageable (this one isn't really fleshed out and I don't know if Herbert Hoover, Calvin Coolidge, or someone else entirely is president in 1929).

-President elect Franklin D. Roosevelt is shot and killed in Miami, Florida a mere 17 days before his inauguration. As a result, Vice Presidential nominee John Nance Garner becomes the 32nd President of the United States. Will Garner reluctantly embrace some of the more liberal/progressive policies that most Democrats want? Will he govern as a conservative and work across the aisle with Republicans? Can he lead America through the Great Depression? Can the New Deal Coalition survive?

-Henry Wallace is kept on the Democratic ticket in 1944. While much of the Democratic base loves Wallace, many moderates and conservatives are worried. There are reports that Roosevelt is in poor health, making the possibility of a Wallace administration very real, unless Roosevelt is defeated at the ballot in November.

-Chiang Kai-shek emerges victorious from the long and bloody Chinese Civil War. With the exception of some ongoing guerrilla activity, the country is finally at peace. While China rebuilds, Chiang seeks to play the West and the Soviets against each other, hoping to make his country the third major power during the Cold War.

 

[HonestAbe1809]

This TL will likely be finished some time in the next few months, after that I might take a break from writing alternate history for a while. There will still be updates to the story, just not any more formal chapters. But, here are some stories you might see in 2020 and beyond:

-100 men are sent by Pope Gregory X to the Yuan Dynasty, in order that Kubilai Khan can learn from them and possibly convert to Christianity. The Khan listened, but would not commit until he was on his deathbed. Meanwhile, Christianity spread among the people of the Yuan dynasty, but often in a syncretic form. At the same time, several of the priests and learned men became heretics or renounced the faith entirely. It was not going as the Vatican had expected it to.

-Theodore Roosevelt decides not to run in 1912, allowing William Howard Taft to win reelection in 1912. As war breaks out in Europe, how will the president respond?

-Leon Trotsky takes control of the USSR after the death of Lenin. He is eager to export Communism around the world. Revolutions plunge much of Europe into chaos.

-Due to various factors, the effects of the Great Depression are less severe. The Depression is still terrible, but it is more manageable (this one isn't really fleshed out and I don't know if Herbert Hoover, Calvin Coolidge, or someone else entirely is president in 1929).

-President elect Franklin D. Roosevelt is shot and killed in Miami, Florida a mere 17 days before his inauguration. As a result, Vice Presidential nominee John Nance Garner becomes the 32nd President of the United States. Will Garner reluctantly embrace some of the more liberal/progressive policies that most Democrats want? Will he govern as a conservative and work across the aisle with Republicans? Can he lead America through the Great Depression? Can the New Deal Coalition survive?

-Henry Wallace is kept on the Democratic ticket in 1944. While much of the Democratic base loves Wallace, many moderates and conservatives are worried. There are reports that Roosevelt is in poor health, making the possibility of a Wallace administration very real, unless Roosevelt is defeated at the ballot in November.

-Chiang Kai-shek emerges victorious from the long and bloody Chinese Civil War. With the exception of some ongoing guerrilla activity, the country is finally at peace. While China rebuilds, Chiang seeks to play the West and the Soviets against each other, hoping to make his country the third major power during the Cold War.

1. I so badly want to read about how the local religions of China tinge the sect (or sects) of Christianity that arise and how the presence of Christian priests gone native tinge the local religions. They may have renounced the faith but it's plausible that they bring bits of Christian theology with them since I'd think that being immersed in Christianity their entire lives would leave an impression not so easily washed away.
2. What kind of a President was Taft? Because even the extremely reluctant Wilson went to war when Germany provoked him.
3. It just goes to show that despite how bad Stalin was Trotsky would've been pretty bad in his own right. He's just often put on a pedestal for being the underdog in his fight with Stalin.
4. Maybe in this world's Second World War/Second Great War/Second Whatever War the Germans are on the side of the allies against the Soviets and their tide of revolutionaries.
5. It's a Depression but it's not a Great Depression. Maybe in this timeline, it's called something like "the Panic of 1931".
6. If Garner is a pragmatic politician then he'd continue the work that his martyred predecessor set out to do.
7. How is Roosevelt both assassinated and President in 1944? Could it be that Quentin Roosevelt survived TTL WWI and went into politics, and eventually the Presidency, as a war hero?
8. Could it be possible that if the Civil War went on for long enough then the Brits could've established a protectorate in Tibet?

 

[Whiteshore]

-Leon Trotsky takes control of the USSR after the death of Lenin. He is eager to export Communism around the world. Revolutions plunge much of Europe into chaos.

Maybe a WW2 analogue between a fascist Europe and the Soviet Union?

 

[HonestAbe1809]

Maybe a WW2 analogue between a fascist Europe and the Soviet Union?

Nothing about CELTICEMPIRE's post implies that either Benny the Moose or Hynkel are brought into power like OTL. It might be more accurate to say that it could be the right-wing reactionaries of Europe vs Soviet-supported revolutions.

 

[Whiteshore]

Nothing about CELTICEMPIRE's post implies that either Benny the Moose or Hynkel are brought into power like OTL. It might be more accurate to say that it could be the right-wing reactionaries of Europe vs Soviet-supported revolutions.

Well, Il Duce took power in Italy prior to the POD, assuming it is after Lenin dies.