God Save These American States

[Virginia Liberal]

God Save These American States.
A History of the world without George Washington

4:59pm October 9, 1781

General Washington stood with the gun crews in front of Yorktown, Virginia watching the seconds tick away at 0500 Washington himself would fire the first gun and start the Combined Franco-American bombardment of the British Army dug in at Yorktown.

Tick…Tick…Tick. Washington’s watch hit 5. Washington yanked the lanyard and BOOM the Cannon’s barrel burst killing the crew of the gun and most of Washington’s staff. Amongst the carnage was the body of General Washington broken and bleeding, he would die just thirty minutes later. The only survivors were General Henry Knox and John Park Custis, Washington’s step son. Nathaniel Greene Washington's second in command became the new commander of the Continental Army and led them to victory at Yorktown.

 

[Virginia Liberal]

The First Constitutional Convention May 25- September 12, 1787.

By the spring of 1786 it was clear that both the Continental Congress and the Articles of Confederation the laws by which it governed were simply not up to the job of keeping the newly Independent Colonies now styling themselves the States united and working together for the common good. In August 1786 the states of New York and Delaware Called for a Convention to discuss possible alteration of the Articles of Confederation to fix the flaws that were already showing. The delegates would meet in Annapolis Maryland from October 2, 1786 to November 5, 1786. The results of this Annapolis Convention would be the call for a second convention to be held in the spring. All the states would send a delegation of less than two and no more than five members. This convention was to find common ground and common approval for amendments to the Articles of Confederation.

The spring convention would convene in the Pennsylvania State House on May 25, 1787; however, many of the delegates didn’t arrive till mid-July. The list of Delegates was:
New Hampshire: Nicholas Gilman and John Langdon.
Massachusetts: Elbridge Gerry, Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King, and Caleb Strong. Connecticut: Oliver Ellsworth, William Samuel Johnson, and Roger Sherman.
Rode Island would abstain from sending any.
New York: Alexander Hamilton, John Lansing Jr, and Robert Yates.
New Jersey: David Brearley, Jonathan Dayton, William Huston, William Livingston, and William Paterson.
Pennsylvania: George Clymer, Thomas Fitzsimons, Benjamin Franklin, Jared Ingersoll, and Thomas Mifflin.
Maryland: Daniel Carroll, Luther Martin, James McHenry, John Francis Mercer, and Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer.
Delaware: Richard Bassett, Gunning Bedford Jr, Jacob Broom, and John Dickinson.
Virginia: James Madison, George Mason, Henry Lee III, Patrick Henry, and James McClurg.
North Carolina: William Richardson Davie, William Blunt, Alexander Martin, Richard Dobbs Spaight, and Hug Williamson.
South Carolina: Pierce Butler, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Thomas Pinckney and John Rutledge.
Georgia: Abraham Baldwin, William Few, William Houstoun, and William Pierce.

The elderly statesman Benjamin Franklin from Pennsylvania was appointed the President of the Convention.

The real work would start on July 19, 1787. The item of the floor that day was a proposal compiled by the Virginia delegation. This plan referred there after as the Virginia Plan.This Plan called for a more powerful central government consisting of three branches with each branch providing a check on the other two's power.

The Legislative branch would consist of a unicameral Congress in which the states had representation based upon the size of their population. The Congress would have the power to levy taxes to pay off national debts, maintain interstate commerce, and the defense of the nation. Most importantly the congress no longer needed a two thirds majority to pass all laws, a simple two vote majority would pass all bills, pass a declaration of war, or ratify a treaty ratification.

The Executive Branch led by a President who would be elected by the Congress by a two vote majority. The President would serve a single 9 year term, after which he could not serve again in the national government. The president would be the commander in chief of all armed forces of the country on land and at sea. He would have the final vote on any bill passed by the congress, if he approved and signed the bill it would become law. If he disapproved then he could line item veto the parts of the bill that he didn’t agree with and send it back down to congress, for a redraft. The President also appointed all judges to the federal courts, members of the cabinet, and ambassadors to other countries; judges would have to be approved by the congress before taking their new positions.

The Judicial Branch would be made up of one federal court for each state. These courts would rule on cases in which federal laws were in contradiction to state laws, treason and customs cases, and act as final appeals court for state court convictions.

The thing that would be the major difference between this plan and that that would follow was that under this plan federal laws acted as mere guidelines for the states to create laws that would be used to administrate and enforce the policies set by the federal government. This plan left the states with a good deal of power while creating a stable and functioning Central Government.


The next plan presented was the New York Plan created by Alexander Hamilton. The New York Plan was similar to the Virginia Plan in that it created a new central government system consisting of three branches Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.

The Legislative branch was modeled on that of Rome. The Legislature called the Senate would take the place of the Congress. The new Senate would have three Senators from each state, giving all states equal say in the government. The senate would be headed by the Consul who would be chosen by the majority faction in the senate and would have a tie breaking vote if the senate became deadlocked. The Senate would create and pass all legislation in the government. Once more only a simple majority was needed to pass all legislation besides foreign policy legislation. Once a bill was passed the Senate it would be presented to the President.

The Executive Branch would be made up of the President and his cabinet. The President would be elected by the Senate with a two vote majority; he would serve a four year term but he could be reelected to office for as long as he wanted to run and could win the votes in the Senate. The President would appoint all cabinet positions, judges to federal courts and diplomatic post. All appointments were final. He could veto any legislation passed by the Senate, unless he did so it would become law of the land with his seal. The President was also the commander and chief of the armed forces on land and at sea. Lastly he could issue executive orders that would act as the law of the land without going through the Senate. These orders would expire after the end of each presidential term unless the senate passed legislation that would make it a true law.

The Judicial branch was set up much like the one in the Virginia plan with each state having a federal court that presided over the state courts. However under this plan the Federal courts reviewed all state court rulings and could overturn any ruling of a state court without an appeal case being brought before it.

Lastly the Federal government assumed almost total power over the state governments. Under this plan state governments were reduced to mere enforcement agencies to administer federal law, with little legislative power of their own state laws would pertain solely to enforcing federal law.

However neither of these plans succeeded in gaining any traction with the delegates at the convention. There was simply too much discomfort among the delegates when it came to the idea of creating a bigger more powerful central government, after all hadn’t they just finished a seven year was to get out from under such a government.

Both were quickly countered by William Paterson’s New Jersey plan. This plan would do what the convention was called to do fix the Articles of Confederation. “This body was summoned to fix the current body of laws not replace them.” Paterson said in his introduction to his plan.

Benjamin Franklin due to his age was unable to control the debate; and soon the delegates became hostile to each other and the convention overall dysfunctional. Finally in August a vote was taken out of 55 delegates 37 voted in favor of simply amending the Articles of Confederation on September 17, 1787 the New Jersey plan to the Amended Articles of Confederation was adopted. It was a major victory for the budding state nationalist delegates. James Madison and Alexander Hamilton were both down heartened and Benjamin Franklin was heard to say “This is not the end, or maybe it is merely the beginning of the end. I don’t see this patch work holding everything together for very long. If only Washington had survived the war.” Even with the new amendments it was hard for many to see how the current government could function as it should. Regardless one thing was clear the government under the Articles of Confederation would continue for the near future at least.

Under the New Jersey plan the Continental Congress gained new powers in addition to the existing powers under the Articles of Confederation. these powers were

The authority to raise funds via tariffs and other measures, and to regulate interstate commerce and commerce with other nations. Cases involving these powers would still be heard by state courts unless appealed to the federal judiciary.

The authority to collect taxes from states based on the number of free inhabitants and 3/5ths of slaves in that state.
Congress elects a federal executive, consisting of multiple people, who cannot be re-elected and can be recalled by Congress when requested by the majority of executives of the states. Federal executives to be named Consul(s).

The federal judiciary is represented by a Supreme Tribunal, appointed by the federal executive, which has authority in federal impeachment cases and as the appeal of last resort in cases dealing with national matters (such as treaties).

The Articles of Confederation and treaties are the supreme law of the land. The federal executive is authorized to use force to compel non-compliant states to observe the law.

A policy of admitting of new states should be established.

A singular policy for naturalization should be established.

A citizen of one state can be prosecuted under the laws of another state in which the crime was committed

 

[rjd1997]

Looking good so far, keep up the good work!

 

[Virginia Liberal]

Federal Hall in N ew York Citywhere Congress was in Session from 1788-1791

A Renewed Head Ache the Trials and Tribulations of the Continental Congress and the Amended Articles of Confederation. 1788-1791

Sometimes there is a period of time after a change in government when everything goes perfect everyone manages to get along and work together for the greater good. This did not happen for the Congress and the newly amended Articles of Confederation. The Continental Congress took its new found powers and went to work to use its new found powers, or attempt to anyways. The Congress had gained a good deal of power (anything is greater than 0 after all.) The biggest of which was an increased ability to raise funds through taxes and tariffs.

Its first act was to elect the new executive branch. Congress chose to copy Rome and name two Consuls who would carry out the executive role by a majority vote among themselves. The lucky men elected were Patrick Henry of Virginia an out spoken anti Federalist, and Alexander Hamilton of New York, to placate the Federalist faction. The selection of these men would set the tone of the Congress, and that tone was deadlock, as the two new consuls couldn't stand each other.

For the next three years Congress and its Consuls got very few things accomplished. Hamilton and Henry would spend most of their time fighting with each other over how the Government should be run. The only bad thing about their new powers was them having to agree to use them which no one seemed willing to do, over even the most simplest of issues.

The Northwest Ordinance which would allow the Government to assume control of the Northwest Territory and divide it into smaller territories that could become new states. The Northwest Ordinance was not a new piece of legislation; Congress had been trying to pass it since 1786 with little success. However, it never got the votes to pass. Henry and Hamilton who were supposed to be stopping this type of gridlock lock often let their personal deference’s get in the way. By 1791 after more than five years of trying to get Northwest Ordinance though the congress it had still yet to pass.

The Continental Bank Bill was also brought up before the Congress. The Bank would be a central lending source for all the states run by the Congress. If any one piece of legislation was the pet project of one of the two Consuls it was the Continental Bank Bill which was Hamilton’s pride and joy even above the Continental Army reformation act which he also endorsed. Since this was the case Consul Henry and his supporters in the congress made it their mission to squash it. The vote came on September 5, 1789 it failed by just 2 votes; Hamilton wanted to use the Consul vote to pass it but Henry had left for his plantation in the south side of Virginia and refused to be recalled. Without Henry’s vote there could be no Consuls override and so the Bank bill died.

It was after the bank bill's failure that Hamilton withdrew from the Congress he resigned his position as Consul and returned to New York. Hamilton would be far from retirement however, and started behind the scene work to create a new government. On October 10, 1789 John Adams of Massachusetts was chosen by the Congress to take Hamilton’s place as Consul.

The one thing it seemed that Congress was able to do during this time was pass a series of taxes that would allow them to start paying off the Revolutionary War debt. A task that would have been much easier with a Central Bank. Between 1788 and 1790 three new taxes were passed by the Congress after much debate. The first was a two cent postage tax on June 1, 1788; this was followed by the Import tax on September 18, 1789 which charged ten cent on every item imported into the states; and lastly the Whiskey Tax on March 21, 1790. The Whiskey Tax placed a five cent tax on the sale of whiskey and other spirits in within the states.

The most damning events for the Congress and the newly amended Articles of Confederation would take place in the winter and spring of 1791. On January 25,1791 Hugh Henry Brackenridge of the town of Pittsburgh, Pa. Issued the Pittsburgh Proclamation in which he called the tax on whiskey “The most vile and evil thing yet contrived by this government. Such a tax is no better than the Tea tax that started our independence movement almost twenty years past.” Within the month across the frontier of the northern states the people had broken out into open rebellion; the Whiskey Rebellion had begun.

Then in May the tensions between the states of Maryland and Virginia over who controlled the Potomac River reached a critical point. On May 15th Maryland Governor George Planter issued a decree that the Potomac was Maryland territory as the border was on the Southern bank. This decree would lead to the Potomac War breaking out. This conflict couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Congres. The northern states were rife with rebellion over the Whiskey Tax which the congress had levied. Almost immediately Maryland sent word to congress asking for assistance in the war against Virginia. Yet Congress was tied up by Virginia and her supporting states North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Rhode Island (who just enjoyed causing a headache for everyone else if possible). These states blocked congress for passing any type of aid that it might have sent to Maryland. This would lead to the expulsion of Virginia on April 20,1791 Consul Patrick Henry also resigned on this date. This would be followed by the walk out of the states that supported Virginia. The remaining Rump of the congress placed an embargo on Virginia and chose Arthur St. Clair of Pennsylvania to the now vacant Consul’s office, but that was all that they could do.

By this point the Whiskey rebellion was tying up every loyal man the governments of the northern states had, the rebellion was on the verge of over throwing the governments of many of the Northern states, so Maryland was left to her own devices

 

[Virginia Liberal]

Rebel forces attacking the Pennsylvania state Capital at Lancaster

Whiskey Rebellion the First Nail in the Coffin of the United States of America. January to September 1791

Brackenridge’s Pittsburg proclamation would become a rallying cry for those who distrusted even the modest reforms that had been done to the Articles of Confederation. By February 13th A small army had gathered at Pittsburg roughly 8,000 strong; similar forces were forming in all the Colonies north of Maryland. However the strongest was Breckenridge’s own force and a militia about 7,000 strong lead by David Bradford gathering in western New York State. The discontent however was though out the population and the Rebel forces of every size found if not co combatants then at least friendly neutrals. The rebellion quickly became too much for the non-existence Continental Army (no more than a few small companies) to handle. Its commander General John Neville ordered the Army to rally at New York City were the Congress was in Session.

The state governors quickly called up their militias but in some states more of the militia men were part of the rebellion than responded to the call to arms. By June just six months after the start of the rebellion The Government forces had lost just about every major engagement in the conflict. Starting with the Battle of Borrow Hill, then the battle of Pittsburg. On March 5, 1791 the Pennsylvania state capital fell after an intense battle between Brackenridge’s men and the state militia but the battle was a rebel victory none the less. In New York Bradford’s men quickly swept the state Militia aside and marched on New York city where both he national and state governments were held up. In New England states the loyal militia units were held up in forts or inside cities. There was little help to be had from the southern states as Virginia and Maryland had just finished the Potomac War and they plus all of the southern states had left the Congress.

Hamilton's army on the march to the climatic battle with Brackenridge's army at Gettysburg Pa.

It was at this critical point that Alexander Hamilton reentered the picture with a force of European Mercenaries that he had recruited and paid to have brought over. His Army was composed of 8,500 infantry, 1,000 Cavalry, and 10 field guns, clad in forest green uniforms. He landed his force on June 2, 1791 in Wilmington Delaware one of the few states not infested with rebellion. From there he and his troops marched north. On June 13, 1791 they engaged the Rebels who were besieging the City of Philadelphia the battle harden Europeans quickly dispatched the mob of rebels. Once the city was clear and secured by the state militia Hamilton and his men chased Brackenridge’s army down and at a small hamlet called Gettysburg Pa Hamilton caught up with Brackenridge. After a full day’s worth of fighting Brackenridge and his men surrendered to Hamilton. With Brackenridge now in custody Hamilton and his army turned north. They continued on routing rebel units where ever they gave battle to his force; and picking up the remnants of the continental army and state militias as he went along. By the time he broke the Rebel forces besieging New York City on July 7, 1791 his army was over 12,000 strong. His march would end on September 9, 1791 when the broke the last rebel group that was entrench near the small town of Lebanon New Hampshire. The survivors fled into the area between New York and New Hampshire known as the Green Mountain Republic, which had become a preferred hide out for those who refused to surrender. On October 1, 1791 the Rebellion was officially over there were no longer any rebel units in the field. Hamilton and his men returned to New York City were they received a hero’s welcome, form the people. As Hamilton arrived at Federal Hall he and the Congress received word that the British had recognized The Great Lakes Confederacy a Native American Coalition of Tribes from the Northwest Territory, and had entered into a defensive alliance with them.

Hamilton urged the Congress to declare war on Britain but they were of the opinion that the states were too unstable a conflict with the largest Empire in the world at this point in time. It its mind unable to fight Congress chose to negotiate and dispatched Pierre Van Cortlandt of New York to York, Canada to sort out a diplomatic solution to this problem. Jay would return in February 1792 with the Treaty of York. This treaty had three major points

· The People of the States of the United States of America Recognize the Great Lakes Confederacy and in control of the Northwest Territory west of the line separating the new Erie territory from the Rest of the Northwest Territory.
· The People of the States of the United States of America agree to the British preferred border between Canada and Upper Massachusetts.
· The People of the States of the United States of America sever their Alliance with the French.

Pierre Van Cortlandt

Congress would ratify the Treaty of York on March 4, 1792 that same day Hamilton’s supporters in the New York State House passed a vote of no confidence in Governor George Clinton; two days later the senate also passed it. A new election for governor of New York would be held on Tuesday November 8, 1792. No body knew it yet but Hamilton was plotting a political revolution that would reshape the whole country; but first he just had to take New York.

 

[Virginia Liberal]

The Potomac War April to June 1791 The Rock that Shattered the Glass house of the Union.
The Potomac War was the result of ten years of conflict between the states of Maryland and Virginia over who had the right to fish on the Potomac River. The story starts on May 15, 1791 when the Government of Maryland sent a decree to Virginia that all fishing in the Potomac River had to be registered in Annapolis and Virginians fishing in the river must pay a fee to Maryland. The decree was thrown out by the Virginia General Assembly and Governor Henry Lee ordered the Virginia Guard and Militia to readiness. News reached Annapolis a week later; upon hearing it Governor George Planter was in shock having been told very incorrectly that Virginia was no longer interested in the fishing rights. Planter called up the Maryland Militia in response to Virginia’s doing the same. Planter was not a fool he knew that Maryland was outnumbered by Virginia more than 2 to 1. He sent word to Maryland’s representative in Congress to seek mediation though the congress. However, the Congress was currently fighting over how to pay off the nation’s debt to France from the revolution much of which remained outstanding. The embittered Congress was in no mood to help; Consul Adams sent Planter a Letter informing him “Although I feel for your situation personally; it is not possible for this government to assist you at this time.” Planter was forced to go it alone he refused Virginia’s claims that the Northern bank of the river was the Border with Maryland. On April 1, 1791 Virginia declared War on Maryland, and American history would never be the same again.

Virginia called up 61,500 men when the crisis started; of these men 25,000 were Virginia’s professional armed force called the Old Dominion Guards. The Old Dominion Guards was made up of 15,000 Infantry of which 5,000 were armed with Rifles. The rest were 9,500 Dragoons and then there was the 25 cannons that made the artillery and the supporting forces. The other 36,500 men were militia units from around the state. These were divided up into three Divisions each consisting of around 12,000 men. Each division was roughly made up of 8,000 infantry 1,500 mounted dragoons and around 4 guns in support. Old Dominion Guards was under command of Governor Henry Lee III himself, and was located near Leesburg Va on April 1st. Lee was also the Commander of the Full Army of Virginia. The First Division of Militia under command of General Adam Stephen, was mustered at Alexandria Va. The Second Division was mustered in Northampton County on the Eastern shore under the command of James Read. While the Third Division of Militia was located in Harpers Ferry.

1st Virginia Artillery Regiment
Apposed them was the 40,000 men strong Maryland Militia men lead by Major General of the Militia William Smallwood. The Maryland Militia was divided up into three Division. The Peninsular Division located at Easton Maryland consisted if 10,000 men commanded by Major General Mathew Summers. The Capital Davison located at Annapolis consisted of 25,000 men lead by General William Smallwood personally. And the Western Division 5,000 men commanded by General Mordecai Gist located at Shepard’s town.

The First Battle of the War occurred at Frederick Maryland when Lee’s Old Dominion Guards ran into a Maryland Garrison of 8,500 on April 9, 1791. The battle took most of the day but at the end the Marylanders were driven back toward Baltimore. Two days later the second battle of the war occurred at Salisbury Maryland when Read’s Second Division of Militia ran into the Summers Maryland Peninsular Division. The two forces were about equal in size and strength. The battle see-sawed back and forth for two days until finally as the sun set on the 12th the Virginians were forced to pull back. Salisbury was a victory but Maryland was fast losing the war unless she could get help she was done for and her governor George Planter knew this.

On April 15, 1791 Gist’s Western Division attacked the Virginia third Division at Harpers Ferry Va. This attack was a complete failure. Gist was out numbered two to one. His Western Division was annulated and Gist himself was captured. This was a major blow following the victory at Salisbury, then worse followed on April 20, 1791 Lee’s Guards and Stephen’s First Militia divisions linked up just west of Baltimore together they had 32,500 men. They were opposed by 20,000 Marylanders of the Capital Division entrenched around the city, at dawn on the 21st the Virginians surrounded the city and started digging in themselves the siege of Baltimore had begun. On the 30th Read’s Second division of Virginia was tying up the Maryland Peninsular division so that there were no reinforcements to be sent to Baltimore.

Maryland Militia entrenched around Baltimore
On April 20, 1791 Planter once more went to the Congress to plea for aid and support in their fight with Virginia. “My state has been ruthlessly invaded by her larger and over aggressive cousins on the Southern bank of the Potomac. Our claim to the Potomac River are just. I beg the August body to come to our aid here in our time of need. For if this Congress cannot protect the states from fighting with each other then what use is our member ship in it.” The Congress responded by censuring Virginia and expelling their representative, however even with Virginia gone Maryland could get no help Virginia’s allies kept any bill authorizing help for Maryland from passing. Finally Consuls St. Clair and Adams broke the lock and passed an embargo against Virginia. At which time North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Rhode Island all walked out of Congress. After which Adams is said to have remarked that “This thing is going to break our backs if we aren’t careful.” It was the start of a revolution.

With the Virginia block out no longer in the Congress it was believed by Governor Planter that the rump of the Congress would rush to aid them to shore up their own positions. Indeed this was what Consuls wanted but it was not to be. The Rump was instead more focused on putting down the Whiskey which was erupting though out New England. But at the same time no one could agree on what to do about that either there was a lot of arguing, and fighting between the representatives all the while the revolt spread and Consuls St. Clair and Adams were left pulling their hair out. Then on May 17, 1791 Baltimore, Maryland fell to the Virginia forces under Lee. On May 20th the Virginians held a victory parade though Baltimore followed by a Grand review of the Army by Governor/General Lee.

With Baltimore and most of their Militia now gone, and realizing that they would get no help from the Congress or any other states on their own free will. Governor Planter gave in to the reality of his position; at noon on the 27th of May Governor Planter entered into a cease fire with General Lee. Two days later on May 29, 1791 Maryland surrendered unconditionally to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Treaty of Baltimore would be signed June 1, 1791. This treaty would see Maryland cede its Eastern Shore lands to Virginia, Maryland also accepted that its southern border was the North bank of the Potomac River. However, it got worse. The Government of Maryland was dissolved, from this point onward Maryland’s Governor would be appointed by the Virginia Governor this governor would have absolute power in Maryland; and lastly Maryland would follow Virginia and leave the Congress of the United States. The New Republic of Maryland would be a protectorate of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Governor Planter would be taken to Richmond where he would be held, in a comfortable house for the next five years. Governor Lee would appoint James Read of Charlotte County Virginia as the first Military Governor of Maryland.

 

[HonestAbe1809]

I'm guessing that the newly-independent North and South Carolina would unite into one country. And that the North will soon follow the South in declaring independence. Especially with those rebels in Vermont.

 

[Zelda]

this is fascinating

 

[Not Henry G.]

Nice, I love TLs like this. Subscribed

 

[Virginia Liberal]

Thanks glad you like it. no spoilers as to the Northern States But Rhode Island is already Independent, and Remember from the First Constitutional Convention that Hamilton has grandiose ambitions for America.

Here is North America in early 1792 The Erie Territory was created in 1791 thanks to the willingness of the Pennsylvania and New York Governments.

 

[Gog (♀)]

Good TL, but it's Rhode Island.

 

[Virginia Liberal]

thank you for the feed back what happens between auto correct and a spastic 6 month old daughter lol

 

[HonestAbe1809]

I like the idea of a shattered America, but I agree with Gog on one thing. It's kind of absurd that Rhode Island of all places could retain independence.

 

[edvardas]

How did France get Anticosti and the Madeleines?

 

[water123]

*silently roots for Georgia to get colonies*

Looks fascinating, will definitely try to keep up.

 

[Virginia Liberal]

The base 1783 map I have had those Islands to the french will have to research that some more.

On Rode Island: It hardly ever attended the congress in OTL by the records I've gotten a hold of. It's not gonna stay independent very long but a lot of stuff is still to happen in the New England and Middle States before Rhode Island and the Green Mountain Republic finally fall.

Working on The next chapter hope to post tomorrow or Thursday. It will cover Hamilton and a Native Invasion of Virginia's Kentucky region.

As to Georgia you will just have to wait and see.

 

[Virginia Liberal]

The New York Governors Election November 8, 1792. And the Creation of Hamilton’s Constitution

George Clinton Founder of the American Party

The people spent the next 8 months listening to the campaign speeches of the candidates and their speakers. The Race was tri fold as politics in the state had fractured into three camps. Those who favored remaining with in the Congress as it is led by Governor George Clinton who was trying stay in his office styling themselves the New York Union Party. Those who favored New York declaring independent and going her own way like the southern states had done led by Melancton Smith styling themselves the New York Independence Party. Then those who favored New York withdrawing from the current Congress so that they could become the core of a new grand Federal Republic of America lead by Alexander Hamilton they styled themselves the Federalist Party of New York.

Tuesday November 8, 1792 was a dreary rainy day for most of New York State. However the people turned out in record number to vote in this “Most important election” as one random voter put it; truer words had never been spoken, on this day the people of New York would in fact be determining the fate to the United States of America. A win for Clinton would preserve the current congress and the articles of confederation, if either Smith or Hamilton were to win many of those in the Congress felt the withdrawal of New York would break the institution. All three men awaited the results in their homes. The total vote would not be tallied till November 18th. Hamilton took 55% of the total voted, Smith took 30% of total vote a distant second and Clinton ended up an even more distant third with 15% of the total vote. Perhaps even more telling was that when the 70 member of the State Assembly declared their alignment in December 40 of the 70 declared for Hamilton; 20 of the remaining 30 declared for Smith, while only 10 declared for Clinton. In the State Senate of the 24 members 15 declared for Hamilton 6 for Smith, and 4 for Clinton. The feelings of the people of New York were clear they no longer believed in the government under the Articles of Confederation, but they didn’t feel like New York could afford to go it alone with a hostile British empire to their north in Canada and now a Native state to the west.

Alexander Hamilton winner of the New York Election of 1792

Hamilton was sworn into office on March 18, 1793. In his inaugural address he called for “It is time for our great state of New York to sever ties to that government that is no longer to protect itself much less a nation. However our great state should not try to track it’s on course alone like our southern brothers have chosen to do. It is our duty to create a new nation from the ashes of the old. As my first act as Governor of this great state is to call for the legislature draft and ratify a constitution along the lines of the plan I presented five years ago in Philadelphia at the failed Constitutional Convention. Let our great state lead the way for the future of America. I call on all the states to join us in this brave new world.” This would receive a standing ovation. A week later he would recall New York’s Congressman in Boston where the Congress was meeting, and declare New York’s with draw from the congress and the United States of America. The Short lived Republic of New York was born and Hamilton became its first and only president.

The constitutional Committee consist of member from all three factions but the Federalist held 20 of the 30 seats, and thusly a majority. The committee would take three weeks to turn Hamilton’s New York Plan into the Constitution of the Federal Republic of America. Many of the non-Federalist member of the committee were very dissatisfied having been able to only make minor changes to the Federalist ideas. This constitution created a strong national government with overreaching power into state affairs. State governments were rendered into custodians of their local governments they could only pass laws that insured the local governments would follow federal laws, and any conflicting laws were void. The courts were controlled by the federal government with only minor issues being handled by state courts. The New York Assembly and senate would pass the constitution on March 28, 1793. A referendum vote was set for October 9, 1793. In the intern Hamilton dispatched ambassadors to all the states of the United States and the Southern Republics taking with them copies of the new Constitution and urging them to join their brothers in New York.

The Federal Constitution 1793 (Later changed to the Constitution of 93)

Article I Executive branch
The Power of the Executive branch shall be vested in the President. The President shall be elected by a clear Majority of the Senate Elected by the People of the states. The President shall have the designated powers as follows
· The President shall sever a four year term and may serve three consecutive times before having to leave office for at least one election cycle.
· The President shall have the Final Vote on any Bill passed by the Senate, and his Signature shall turn said bill into the law of the land.
· The President may Issue a Proclamation that will act as a law of the land for as long as he is in office however it is voided upon his exit from office unless approved by a majority vote of the Senate before the President’s term is up.
· The President shall have the power of Veto over any bill passed by the Senate. This shall take two forms A complete veto: The President shall be able to completely kill the full aspect of any bill brought before him. Or A Line Item veto: The President shall be able to strike out any clause of any bill brought before him and send it back to the senate for approval or revisal before signing it, into law.
· The President shall be the Commander and Chief of the Republic’s Military. Only the President can call for war, and deploy the Republic’s Armed forces. Only the President can ask the Senate of America to Declare war on another Nation. The President may deploy the Armed forces of the Republic for 730 days before obtaining a declaration of war from the Senate.
· Form a Cabinet: The President shall form a cabinet of advisors to assist him in the running of the Republic. The offices of the Cabinet of the President shall be:

• Secretary of State: Oversee all diplomatic offices both at home and abroad. Also oversees relations between the federal government and state governments
• Secretary of War: who will oversee the defense of the Republic. He will head be the civilian head of both the Army and Navy Departments.
• The Secretary of the Treasury: The head of the Bank of America in charge of regulating the economy and currency of the Republic.
• The Consul of the Senate: Represents the senate and the people of he states on the Cabinet. He shall also be next in line if the president dies while in office.

Article II
The Legislature shall be made up of a single house to be called the Senate. Each state of the Republic shall have 3 Senators; these Senators shall be elected on the 1st Tuesday of October of every third year.
• Following the Original election on October 2, 1792 the Senators shall be divided into three classes these classes will alternate election years.
•The leader of the Senate shall be called the Consul. The Consul shall be elected by the Senators; he will have the deciding vote in the event of a tie. The Consul must be a seated member of the Senate.
•The Senate shall Elect the President from a person who is not a seated member of the Senate
•The Senate shall create and pass bills before the President signs them into laws.
• The Senate shall have the approval over any judge appointed by the President.
•The Senate will have the final approval on any request for a Declaration of War by the President.
• The Senate shall pass a budget every year by the end of June or the President my enact an emergency budget, for 365 day or until the Senate passes a budge.

Article 3
The Judicial system shall be entrusted in the Federal Courts of the Republic. Each state shall have five federal Districts with one judge in each district. The Ruling of a Federal Court over turns any ruling of a state court. In the event on an appeal of a federal case a grand tribunal shall be formed of all five Federal District Judges to review the appeal. Federal judges shall be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Once they take the bench they serve for life or until they chose to retire.

Article IV
The Military of The Federal Republic shall always be subservient to the lawfully elected civilian government of the Republic. The Military size shall be established by the president and funded by the senate. The Military shall consist of an Army and a Navy and such other branches as may be needed. The Federal Army is sole military of the Republic. The Army shall consist of unites raised in each state these units will be stationed in their home state on the normal basis however they can be redeployed on an as needed basis, they are federal units not state.

Article V
There shall never be a Religion establish by the government for the nation. The rights of the people to have religious freedom shall not be infringed upon.

Article VI
The people’s right to the freedom of speech shall never be infringed upon by the government

Article VII
The people’s right to bear arms shall not be impinged upon by the government.

Article VIII
Every Citizen shall be guaranteed the right to participle in the government by voting in Federal, State, and local elections the senate shall establish fair guidelines on the requirements for voter eligibility

 

[Virginia Liberal]

]The Rise of the Federal Republic of America,

October 9, 1793 saw the people of New York vote to ratify the new Constitution with 85% of the total vote in favor of it. Alexander Hamilton president of the Republic of New York would sign the ratification document on October 25, 1793. The Constitution would take effect on January 1, 1794 when the Republic of New York would become the first state of the new Federal Republic of America. At that point it was to be the only state. But that was to be short lived. On November 5, 1793 the state of Delaware voted to leave the Congress of the United States of America; ratify the New York Constitution, and adopt a new state constitution in line with the new national one. They would join the Federal Republic of America on February 28, 1794 so that they would have the extra time to draft a new state constitution. They would be followed on November 21, 1793 by the Pennsylvania who voted to with draw from the Congress of the United States of American; ratify the New York Constitution. They set there joining date for June 1, 1794, they felt that this date would allow them the time needed to adjust their state constitution to fit within the confines of the new Federal Republic of America. Both of these states cited obvious reasons to join Hamilton’s new Government. Delaware is a small state that had a long border with the Commonwealth of Virginia and its Protectorate of Maryland, add to that it bordered the Atlantic ocean and was always fearful of the return of the British, whose actions recently seem to moving toward annexing its former colonies. For Pennsylvania it was the Continental Congress inability to do anything as one by one its states slowly fell apart and it lost territory to the Native Americans in the west and the British in the north. Delaware and Pennsylvania would be followed by the Erie Territory which summitted and petition for state hood in the Federal Republic of America on January 2, 1794. New Jersey would leave the Congress on Feb 1, 1794 ratifying the New York Constitution on February 18, 1794 with an entry date of July 4, 1794. With his new nation growing surprising faster that even he expected Hamilton felt confident in setting the first senate election for the fall of 1794.

Leading into October two main parties appeared. Hamilton’s Federalist Party had spread its roots into the other states in order to encourage them to leave the United States and join the new Republic. They now ran candidates in every state on a simple platform supporting Hamilton’s ideas of a strong central government to for peace, and stability, and equality. George Clinton’s old American Party and Smith’s Republican Party reworked their party platforms into a new party called the American Democracy Party. They built their platform on the protection of the average person form the central government; “Freedom and protection from tyranny for the American citizens” vowing to allow no president of the Republic become equal to the King of England. Their platform also found fertile ground in the states of the new Republic. Since the Senate was to establish the national voting requirement and it had not been elected the states simply used the voting requirements they had been using. The Results of the First election saw the Federalist take 2 of New York’s three seats, 1 of New Jersey’s three seats, 2 of Delaware’s three seats, and 1 of Pennsylvania’s three seats, and all 3 of Erie’s seats. For a total of 9 of the 15 seats in the Senate. The American Democracy Party took 1 of New York’s three seats, 1 of New Jersey’s three seats, 1 of Delaware’s three seats, and 1 of Pennsylvania’s three seats. For at total of 4 of the 15 seats in the Senate. The two remaining seats one from Pennsylvania and one from New Jersey went to the Anti Masonic Party. Normally the new senate would be sworn in in March but as there was no current Senate it was decided by the governors of the five states to allow the senate to be sworn in on December 1, 1794, Federalist Richard Bassett of Delaware was named Consul. On December third they voted to allow the Consul to act as President until they elected a president on March 11, 1795.

With the Federal government at least partly established the next major issue would be who would be elected president in March. Governor Hamilton was the first to announce that he would seek to be the Federalist Party’s candidate, however he was to be challenged by Governor Joshua Clayton of Delaware. Across the Isle George Clinton former governor put in his name to be the Candidate on the American Democracy Party ticket, however he was challenged by Morgan Lewis a New York state senator, and New Jersey Attorney General Joseph Bloomfield. After a month of internal debates the Parties finalized. The Federalist would nominate Alexander Hamilton, Clayton agreed to fall in line in exchange for a cabinet seat. On the other side George Clinton put up a stubborn fight especially once he learned that Hamilton would be running for the federalist. However he was tainted by being the Governor of New York during the whiskey rebellion, and could not shake that. In the end the American Democracy Party chose New Jersey’s Joseph Bloomfield. With the contestants set all that was left was to wait for march. The election being in the Senate it was a very civil affair in deed all of the drama was in the party nomination process. On March 11, 1795 Consul Bassett called the Senate to order and placed the only item on the day’s agenda up for debate. Each candidate then got 30 minutes to deliver a speech promoting themselves and why they should be elected. After both candidates had spoken the senate recessed for an hour for lunch, after which there was a roll call vote where each senator verbally stated the name of the candidate that he wanted to vote for, and Consul Bassett tallied the vote. The final count was Hamilton 9 votes out of 15; Bloomfield 6 votes out of 15. Hamilton had a three vote majority and thus won the election. A week later on March 18 Federal Hall in New York City was covered in red what and blue bunting while the newly approved flag of the Republic a Red Blue and White Tricolor with a Quartered Canton with a Bald Eagle in the center and Five gold stars one for each state. Alexander Hamilton was sworn in as the First President of the Federal Republic of America by the Chancellor of New York Robert Livingston. In his inaugural address Hamilton declared

“ I am glad to be the president of the new Federal Republic of America. I believe that this is the type of government that our fallen hero George Washington would have wanted to see emerge from our revolution. A strong government that can protect its citizens and the states in which they reside. A government not held hostage to the whims of the States but one that can chart a course of strength, not one where England and the rest of Europe can take from us what they please. I call upon those states not part of the great Federal Republic to forsake the United States of America and the Articles of Confederation a hollow shell of a nation that cannot protect its own territory and the citizens who reside in that territory; and join our new Republic. I also call on our southern brothers; join us come into the Federal Republic of America, do not try to go your own way and allow the Europeans to pick you off one by one. I thank you and good evening.” An with that he disappeared back into the New York City Hall.

 

[Virginia Liberal]

North America 1793-1794

Think I got those Islands corrected

 

[MrBill]

Subscribed.

It'll be interesting seeing where this goes.


Thank you,
MrBill