alternatehistory.com
The Confederacy is formed
January 30, 1845, Washington D.C.:
President John Tyler cursed the name of Joseph Smith. The Union was falling apart at the seams and it was all because of that man. Smith's victory in the election, carrying mostly northern states with the exception of Kentucky, as well as his abolitionist leanings had set the South on edge. So much so that some were breaking from the Union!
Tyler looked down at something that had been brought to his attention when this whole thing had started. It was a written copy of a “prophecy” that Smith had made in 1832:
Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls;
And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations, beginning at this place.
For behold, the Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States, and the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain, as it is called, and they shall also call upon other nations, in order to defend themselves against other nations; and then war shall be poured out upon all nations.
And it shall come to pass, after many days, slaves shall rise up against their masters, who shall be marshaled and disciplined for war.
That first part had certainly come true, this whole secession business had started in South Carolina, and no less than five other states had followed them. Missouri had been the next to go. Tyler could understand that to an extent, Missouri didn't have the best opinion of Smith or his Mormon followers, given the trouble that had taken place there. Including the attempted assassination of Lyman Boggs. It was actually more surprising that South Carolina had beaten them to the punch than anything else.
Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana had all followed suit shortly after. Even Florida which wasn't even a state yet had decided to break away. Tyler could send troops down to Florida to do something about that since it was still a territory, but that would mean marching troops through these secessionist states which would no doubt trigger a war.
It was bad enough that this was happening during his final days in office, but to add insult to injury negotiations with Texas had broken down as since they were pro-slavery they didn't want to live under a Joseph Smith administration either. Honestly Tyler found himself between a rock and a hard place. To not do anything would make the US seem weak, but to send troops would mean starting a war of aggression that would no doubt prompt more states to leave. Perhaps it would be better to just try and keep things stable and pass the mess on to Smith when he took office.
Tyler looked at the “prophecy” on his desk once more and sighed. Perhaps Joseph Smith was a prophet. Strangely Tyler found himself hoping that was the case because right now it looked like only God could save America.
February 4, 1845, Montgomery, Alabama:
Anson Jones smiled as the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States of America elected him interim President, He like many took a dim view of the so-called Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith, but right now he loved the man. His election as President of the United States had scared him at first thanks to his abolitionist tendencies. Mexico had already gotten rid of slavery so if the United States did as well that would leave Texas between to giants who had abolished an institution that Texas held dear.
Most Texans despite Jones' own wishes had wanted to join the United States before the election. Smith's election had tempered that, but the offer to join the Confederate States had been too good to pass up without political suicide.
So Jones had worked out a deal to join the CSA and as a bonus was now the interim President. This was mainly due to his good relationship with Great Britain as the new nation was hoping for recognition that would dissuade the United States from making any moves against them. Of course there was still the matter of Mexico, but surely they were in a better bargaining position as part of the Confederacy than they were alone...
President John Tyler cursed the name of Joseph Smith. The Union was falling apart at the seams and it was all because of that man. Smith's victory in the election, carrying mostly northern states with the exception of Kentucky, as well as his abolitionist leanings had set the South on edge. So much so that some were breaking from the Union!
Tyler looked down at something that had been brought to his attention when this whole thing had started. It was a written copy of a “prophecy” that Smith had made in 1832:
Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls;
And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations, beginning at this place.
For behold, the Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States, and the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain, as it is called, and they shall also call upon other nations, in order to defend themselves against other nations; and then war shall be poured out upon all nations.
And it shall come to pass, after many days, slaves shall rise up against their masters, who shall be marshaled and disciplined for war.
That first part had certainly come true, this whole secession business had started in South Carolina, and no less than five other states had followed them. Missouri had been the next to go. Tyler could understand that to an extent, Missouri didn't have the best opinion of Smith or his Mormon followers, given the trouble that had taken place there. Including the attempted assassination of Lyman Boggs. It was actually more surprising that South Carolina had beaten them to the punch than anything else.
Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana had all followed suit shortly after. Even Florida which wasn't even a state yet had decided to break away. Tyler could send troops down to Florida to do something about that since it was still a territory, but that would mean marching troops through these secessionist states which would no doubt trigger a war.
It was bad enough that this was happening during his final days in office, but to add insult to injury negotiations with Texas had broken down as since they were pro-slavery they didn't want to live under a Joseph Smith administration either. Honestly Tyler found himself between a rock and a hard place. To not do anything would make the US seem weak, but to send troops would mean starting a war of aggression that would no doubt prompt more states to leave. Perhaps it would be better to just try and keep things stable and pass the mess on to Smith when he took office.
Tyler looked at the “prophecy” on his desk once more and sighed. Perhaps Joseph Smith was a prophet. Strangely Tyler found himself hoping that was the case because right now it looked like only God could save America.
February 4, 1845, Montgomery, Alabama:
Anson Jones smiled as the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States of America elected him interim President, He like many took a dim view of the so-called Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith, but right now he loved the man. His election as President of the United States had scared him at first thanks to his abolitionist tendencies. Mexico had already gotten rid of slavery so if the United States did as well that would leave Texas between to giants who had abolished an institution that Texas held dear.
Most Texans despite Jones' own wishes had wanted to join the United States before the election. Smith's election had tempered that, but the offer to join the Confederate States had been too good to pass up without political suicide.
So Jones had worked out a deal to join the CSA and as a bonus was now the interim President. This was mainly due to his good relationship with Great Britain as the new nation was hoping for recognition that would dissuade the United States from making any moves against them. Of course there was still the matter of Mexico, but surely they were in a better bargaining position as part of the Confederacy than they were alone...
- Neshomancer
- Word Count: 730