Voyage of Discovery: An Alternative Civil War

The Launch of the Voyage

Francis Preston Blair was an important member of the Republican Party in that summer of 1857. The former Democrat became a Republican after the Mexican – American War as he felt that slavery should not be allowed to spread beyond were it currently existed.

He presided over the inaugural Republican convention in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania in 1856 and he was very important in the process of nominating John C. Frémont to be their candidate that year. Frémont (R – CA) lost the election to James Buchanan (D – PA) 174-114. Yet he proved that the Republican Party would be viable in a presidential election with victories in New England, New York, Ohio, and the Upper Midwest. (Map Bellow, R-Red, D-Blue)

Francis Preston Blair had enough influence in the party help make someone the presidential nominee of the party and William Henry Seward Jr. knew this. The former Governor of New York and the current Senator from the same state was the clear cut favorite to become the Republican presidential nominee. Unlike Blair, Seward was previously a Whig and he came to the Republican Party after the breakup of the Whig Party in 1855. He knew that Blair was more conservative then him, but he felt that if he could get his endorsement he solidify his premier position with the support Blair had with the moderate wing of the party.

Seward’s main tactic in trying to get Blair’s endorsement was trying to woo him with his charm during a trip to Canada in the summer of 1857. Later called the “voyage of discovery” by Blair, the two along with members of their families travelled to Niagara Falls, Toronto, the Thousand Islands, and the coast of Labrador. They had a splendid time tougher and really became friends. When the time came to back a candidate for the presidential election of 1860 Blair and the rest of his family decided to go against their political views and endorse their friend, Seward.

(In OTL, Blair goes with his political views and backs Edward Bates, in this timeline Seward does a better job in swaying Blair in his trip to Canada)

1856 Election.PNG
 
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