American Parliament-1868

Hi. I know this seems like an implausible Idea, and it partly is, but I always wondered what really would have happened if President Johnson had been impeached, nothing really outlines in the Constitution (besides succession) what to do next, and I was wondering what might have happened if reaction to the nation's first impeachment had caused a new Constitutional Convention, where a Parliament form of Government, to lessen the power of "Corrupt Executives" was implemented.

Well, here it goes, be nice. :)

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1868, American Parliament

For three years after the tragic assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, The Republican dominated Congress and President Andrew Johnson of Tennessee had clashed on virtually all issues from Reconstruction to Amnesty to the defeated South. Johnson had wanted to clear all Radical Republicans out of his cabinet, and to do so, fired Secretary of War Edwin Stanton.
The House of Representatives, led by Radical Republicans, easily passed a resolution impeaching the President for his actions 127 to 46. Even though the trial had actually been very misleading and biased in favor of those favoring impeachment.

On March 26, 1868, President Andrew Johnson was impeached by the Senate of the United States from the presidency for violating the Tenure of Office Act by firing the secretary of War, Edwin Stanton. The vote had been 36- 18, just one away from the President being saved from impeachment. Radical Republicans were somewhat confused, they had expected a 42- 12 vote, but six Republicans had quietly voted against impeachment, out of protest on how the trial of impeachment had been conducted.

President Johnson gave a farewell address on April 4th, 1868 giving a few last blows to the Republicans who took him down, and urged his allies to “fight special interests, and their protectors...” The President departed the White House with his wife later on an April 5th morning. Johnson and Mrs. Johnson would retire to their homes in Tennessee, retiring from public life forever. Republicans were jubilant, the man who had stood in the way of Radical Reconstruction was now gone. Southern Democrats were disgusted, as their only protector was now gone. President pro tempore of the Senate Benjamin Wade of Ohio was soon sworn into the Presidency. Wade was a radical Republican who wanted to pursue a more direct form of reconstruction in the South, and now had the opportunity to do so. But some Republicans were not satisfied with impeachment, some men wanted to reform the Government completely to ensure another “Johnson” would never bother them again.

“This affair has proven to me that we can no longer trust the Presidency in general! I demand the President call for a Convention to reform this cluttered mess we call a Government!” cried the leading Radical Republican in Congress, Thaddeus Stevens. Stevens however was not the only one in favor of reforming, many Republicans and some Democrats (who thought the current system was against them as well) called for reforming the Government completely.

President Wade was firmly on the side of the Radicals, and called for a Constitutional Convention to be held in New York City on April 30th, 1868. Delegates from all states (except Virginia, Texas, and South Carolina) argued tremendously for one staggering month between two plans. One plan was proposed by Governor Seymour of New York, The Seymour Proposal called for the abolition of the Executive branch, and Congress, and make the United States a loose Confederacy with a “Council of the States” making all Federal decisions. The plan was supported by Southerners and the Democratic Party.The other plan was proposed by Congressman Charles Sumner himself, which did call for the abolition of the executive branch, and called to make the House of Representatives the major governing body of the United States. The Supreme Court would stay on. The head of state would be called a “Prime Minister” which would be appointed by the Legislature.

The Sumner plan was supported by his fellow Republicans, which made the Stevens plan, triumph at the New York City Constitutional Convention of 1868. The Sumner proposal was ratified by most of the Republican- dominated States in the Union, with Democratic States such as Georgia and Alabama rejecting the plan.

The Sumner plan came into some trouble, most Americans were skeptical about the plan, as were many officials in the Military and in the former Lincoln cabinet who warned against weakening Executive power to much. President Wade went on a speaking tour to spark up support for the Government Reform Plan, and the tour worked, and most Americans supported the Sumner Project by the end of June.Indiana became the 26th state to ratify the new Constitution, and it became law on June 29th, 1868. The American Parliament was now in session.
 
I hope Wicker's America still lives!!! I was really enjoying it. Several things spring to mind, with that being said Reconstruction America is not my forte:
1. Interesting premise, How likely is this to happen during Reconstruction? I can see southern states being more in favor of this than you think, the advantages to personal freedoms is tremendous.
2. How are elections handled in your new system? Direct election of Senators?
3. I thought the main problem with Johnson was that he was much nicer to the South than Wade, Sumner, Stevens etc. wanted him to be. I think a Johnson impeachment would lead to different Reconstuction policies and not a new constitution. I think you would see Presidential powers buffed up and made more clear, not a weakening of the office. All I the info I recall on Wade involves power hunger, I don't think he would be not so self serving
4. the Prime Minister is the new head of govt and head of state? or is like the current English system? King and PM? If you want to continue this, I would think a seperation of powers by Foreign and domestic would be pretty likely. If the US govt was constantly changing govt how would any foreign policy ever get done? I know there has until recently ( last 30-40 yrs) been unity at the waters edge but parliaments are more chaotic and more likely to be blown by popular winds, while not a bad thing, this could be extremely problematic in conducting negotiations on a world scale.

If you can answer my questions I can't wait for the next post. :D
 
Hi. I know this seems like an implausible Idea, and it partly is, but I always wondered what really would have happened if President Johnson had been impeached, nothing really outlines in the Constitution (besides succession) what to do next, and I was wondering what might have happened if reaction to the nation's first impeachment had caused a new Constitutional Convention, where a Parliament form of Government, to lessen the power of "Corrupt Executives" was implemented.

The Constitution does tell what to do next. After Johnhson's March 1868 impeachment Wade would be Acting President of the United States until the winner of the November 1868 election is inagurated POTUS in March 1869. Being a presidential election year it's highly unlikely, even given the unprecidented and momentous events surrounding Johnson's impeachment, trial and removal from office, that such a fundamental change would be enacted in 1868. Please note that Congress cannot just call for a Con. Con.; it can only call one upon "the application of the legislatures of 2/3 of the several states" (which I don't think would happen in an election year, even under the aforementioned circumstances). Also note that any amendments coming out of a Con. Con. would then have to be ratified by 3/4 of the states before becoming part of the Constitution ("ditto" election year issues). The reality is that there is not enough time between Johnson's removal from office and the already scheduled presidential election campaign to make such a wholesale change in the federal form of government. I would sugggest having Wade and the Republicans make "changing the cluttered mess we call a government" their campaign platform and then implement it in the new Congress beginning in March 1869. You've got the beginnings of a good story here; I'm interested in seeing where it goes.

One final note, there was a thread about a year ago using this POD, which you may find informative: https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=105311
 
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