Like Mother, Like Son: An Alternate History of American Politics.

OOC: I'm skipping ahead a bit and adopting a different format...

12: William Seward (Liberal)
Prime Minister: 1863-1870
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Famous for
Being the first Liberal Prime Minister
Ending the "peculiar institution" of slavery.
Winning the War Between the States.

Popular Imagination
White-haired man who shouted a lot in Parliament, against the Southern MPs who stayed.
Effective leader.
Lots of blacks in present America has the surname "Seward", because he is viewed as liberating the black slaves from their chains.



"William Seward was a great man, ending the chains of slavery that many Southern negroes had. He freed them from their forced labor, and ensured they had an equal chance at liberty. As he often said, "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness are the core values of America". He brought all three to the South, to the negro slaves and ensured they were freed. However, on other matters, he was incompetent. After the War, he proved himself totally ignorant of the woes of Northern labor, and looked the other way when Southern whites re-assured their control over the freed negroes. He could have been a better Prime Minister, but he was a great war-time one, we can't deny that."
Abraham Lincoln (Lib.) talking about Prime Minister Seward a year after the latter's death.

"I know many of you vote Liberal because of William Seward, and that he freed you from the slavery the Southern whites put you under. That cannot be underestimated. However, the present Liberals are not listening to you. They refuse to listen to your current demands, your reasonable worries. Why? Its because they don't want to frighten away the Southern whites. Vote for the Socialists, and we will make sure you get a fair hearing, a voice in American politics."
Party Leader Eugene Debs (Soc.) speaking to an black audience about Seward's legacy amongst the black community.

"Prime Minister Seward was a great man when it came to freeing black slaves, and we cannot underestimate that. His Pittsburgh Address was an inspiring one, one that undoubtedly encouraged Northern soldiers to fight against the Southern slaveowners. However, as Abraham Lincoln a century and a quarter ago said, he was incompetent when it came to labor affairs and doubtlessly started the Gilded Age. His legacy is mostly positive, but we must not glorify him."
Violetta Cress (SDm.) talking about Prime Minister Seward in 2009.
 
"It is clear that the North has forced an unreasonable man as the leader of the country on us. We know that the Liberal Party is clearly against our precious institution, and Mr. Seward's voting record has not shown us that he is more reasonable than his party. So, we are going to form our own Parliament, in the South, loyal to Britain and to the Monarchy, but not to the unreasonable Philadelphian government filled with abolitionists and mudrakers. The Southern Assembly will be established on the 7th of September 1861, and I have it personally that most Southern Members will be attending. May we leave peacefully, and continue our institutions, and you the same."
Part of the Member of Parliament John Breckinridge (Dem.)'s famous "Peaceful Exit" speech, in the House of Commons. After this, most Southern MPs cheered, and left, along with Breckinridge. The image of a half-empty House would become a famous part of the War Between the States.
 
Southern Assembly

73 Democrats
31 Confederalists*

25 Vacant*
129 Seats.
65 seats needed for a majority (theory)
52 seats needed for a majority (reality)

Prime Minister: John Breckinridge (Dem.)
Leader of Opposition: Millard Fillmore (Cfd.)

* Confederalists are former Unionists.
* Vacant because the MPs didn't defect from the Union.
 
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