---The Littlefield Presidency (1877-1883)---
FEDERALISM REIGNS SUPREME
FRANKLIN - Just days after Federalist Horace Littlefield was sworn in as the 17th President of the United States, the House of Representatives, now controlled overwhelmingly by the Federalists following the reduction in size that was approved of in the Gilford-Hammon Act, has elected Michael Follett, representative from Massachusetts, as the next First Secretary and Speaker, replacing outgoing First Secretary Benjamin Conroy of Ohio. This is the first time ever that both the President and the First Secretary have been Federalist, and only the third time since the position of First Secretary was established in 1819 that the position has been held by a Federalist at all. Most political commentators attribute this major swing from the Democrats as continued reaction by voters to the Clark Scandal that forced President Quincy to resign two years ago. Now, for the first time, Americans will get a real taste of full Federalist control of government.
“Federalism Reigns Supreme,”
Brooklyn Standard, March 10, 1877.
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PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES NATIONAL TOUR
FRANKLIN - President Littlefield, only one month into office, has announced plans to go on a national tour during the summer, to celebrate the start of his term as President. The presidential ontourage will use the train that the Littlefield’s used during the campaign, that is now being upgraded for its occupant’s new status. The so-called “Eagle Express,” will leave from Franklin on May 1st, and the President intends on visiting Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Boston, Charleston, New Orleans, and St. Louis on this tour, and is expected to be back in Franklin by September.
This will mark the first time that a sitting President has spent considerable time away from the capital while in office. There has been some concern about the legality of the President being away from Congress and his ability to sign bills into law, or veto them. However, the Attorney General believes that, with the widespread use of the telegraph, new bills can be sent to the President and signed or vetoed on the road.
“President Announces National Tour,”
Brooklyn Standard, April 1, 1877.
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REVOLT IN VIENNA
VIENNA, AUSTRIA - Imperial authorities are reporting that masses of malcontents have taken to the streets throughout Vienna to protest what they term as “continued poor leadership since the War with Prussia.” Emperor Maximilian is reportedly holed up in the Imperial Palace, now surrounded by rioters. Despite official attempts to downplay the severity of the uprisings, some believe this is the first spark of a full scale revolution, the likes of which Europe has not seen since 1789. Austria has suffered heavily since the defeat at the hands of Prussia last year. High war indemnities have crippled the economy, along with the loss of territory and a severing of the alliance with Bavaria (Bavaria’s King Maximilian II abdicated in favor of his grandson, the twelve year old Prince Otto Maximilian, now King Maximilian III, and the country is now ruled by a pro-Prussian regent).
Austria’s Emperor landed on the throne unexpectedly, after the death of his Uncle, Ferdinand I, and father, Franz Karl, in 1874 and 1876. He has been dubbed the “unexpected Emperor,” and seems incapable of ruling effectually. There have been a string of senior ministers appointed and then resigning or being dismissed, while little has been done to stabilize the country since the war ended nearly a year ago. The Austrian Empire is made up of several different nationalities, and some wonder if Maximilian does not get a firm grip on power soon, the whole empire might splinter apart. And this revolt in Vienna may just be the first crack that brings the land of the Hapsburgs crumbling down.
“Revolt in Vienna,”
Boston Eagle, April 17, 1877.
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GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE OPENS!
FRANKLIN - Despite several delays, accidents, and going several thousands of dollars over budget, the George Washington Bridge, connecting the North and South Banks of the City of Franklin, has officially opened for traffic. The span, the nation’s first large suspension bridge, connects the two sides of the nation’s capital, spanning the Ohio River and linking the two halves of the city’s central thoroughfare, Union Avenue. The bridge was supposed to be completed in time for the nation’s centennial celebrations last year, but several setbacks prevented this.
Either end of the bridge is anchored by two tall towers, currently only dwarfed in the city by the spire of the Congress Hall. Each tower acts like an arched gateway, and the left side of each gate has a large statue of Washington. The first, on the South Bank, depicts General Washington, in uniform, leading his men on horseback. The second, on the North Bank, depicts President Washington, poised as though to address the masses. An eagle adorns the top of either gate, wings outstretched, as if guarding either entrance to the bridge.
President Littlefield was in attendance at the opening ceremony, on the South Bank of the river, where he was given the honor of cutting the ribbon officially opening the bridge. He and his wife, Caroline, were the first to cross, followed by the carriage of the First Secretary.
“George Washington Bridge Opens!”
Franklin Observer, April 20, 1877.
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AUSTRIAN REPUBLIC DECLARED
VIENNA - The riots that broke out in early April have now turned into full-fledged revolution, with rebels seizing control of the Austrian capital and declaring the establishment of the Austrian Republic. Emperor Maximilian has been captured by the revolutionaries and reportedly imprisoned in the Hofburg Palace. There is fighting reported in multiple areas of the country, and reports of secondary revolts breaking out in Hungary and elsewhere, establishing nationalist republics and breaking up the Austrian Empire. It remains to be seen if the Austrian Armed Forces can turn back the tide, or if any of the other powers in Europe will react, and how.
“Austrian Republic Declared,”
Franklin Observer, May 27, 1877.
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PRESIDENT DECLARES SUPPORT FOR MANHATTAN
MANHATTAN - After a day visiting the city of Brooklyn as part of his national “whistlestop” tour, President Littlefield took a ferry over to Manhattan Island, where he toured the city with Administrator Alexander Hamilton III. After reviewing the plans for the city at Clinton Castle, still the headquarters of the Manhattan Commission, Hamilton and other officials took the President and First Lady on a tour of the city. The central avenue, Portman Boulevard, is still largely unpaved, and many of the lots along it remain vacant and unpurchased. After stopping at Union Plaza and seeing the still incomplete city hall, the President then insisted on seeing the different neighborhoods of the city, many of which are in appalling condition.
When the entourage arrived back at Clinton Castle, the President made an impromptu address, where he stated, “for too long, this island has languished in need of real financial support, something that has been promised almost since the War ended 15 years ago, and it is a disgrace to this nation that one of our grandest cities has been left to wallow in the mud of ruin brought upon it by the old Slavers. It is my solemn promise that the Federal Government will come to the aid of the rebuilding of this city before my tenure as President is at it’s end. Manhattan will rise from the ashes.”
Some speculate that the President will work with the state government in Albany to have Manhattan Island declared a Federal District, something many support. The Friends of New York Society, headquartered in Westchester, recently endorsed this plan, believing that investment from the Federal Government might be able to finish the rebuilding of the city that Mr. Hamilton has long labored for.
“President Declares Support for Manhattan,”
Brooklyn Standard, May 20, 1877.
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Hail Columbia! had served as the nation’s unofficial anthem since the late 18th century, having been composed for Washington’s inauguration in 1789. Despite its wide use and relative popularity, it was not the only song used for official events nationwide.
Land of Liberty, written in 1818, was used widely in the midwest, and in New England
Yankee Doodle had remained popular. During the War Between the States,
Freedom’s Hymn, written in 1849 by Abolitionist Mercy Baxter, became the de facto anthem of the Confederation, and remained incredibly popular after the North defeated the Slavers in 1862. The popularity of this song spread into the old Midwest, and into Freedmen-held territory, and by the 1870s was the second most popular “national anthem” in the United States. This sparked a lot of contention with those that found the song too divisive, especially by Westerners. In 1877, action was finally taken.
Proposed by Indiana Representative Josiah Young, the “National Anthem Act” was submitted to the House of Representatives in May of 1877, and declared that the national anthem of the United States would be
Hail Columbia!, which would be used for all official ceremonies that called for the use of such an anthem. The law stated that while other patriotic songs could be played at official functions, if only one song were to be played it had to be
Hail Columbia! Representative Young stated that, while he knew many liked
Freedom’s Hymn, many Democrats saw it as a song of rebellion, and that it did nothing but rub salt in the wounds of those who lost the War, which would not help heal the wounds of the past. “
Hail Columbia!, a song we have sung since the 1780s, will help our nation find common ground, whereas
Freedom’s Hymn comes across as a victor’s triumphant boast.”
The bill was hotly debated in the House, but ultimately passed on June 30, 1877, and was presented to the Senate, which took it’s time debating the matter, not passing it until August 1st. Despite being a fan of
Freedom’s Hymn, President Littlefield felt that the logic behind Young’s bill made sense, and so he signed the law three days later, doing so in New Orleans while on his famous train tour of the country. In a ceremony in Brandt Square, the citizens of Louisiana’s most prosperous city looked on while the President signed the bill into law, and a band played the new official national anthem. Visitors to Brandt Square can find a small plaque marking the site where the signing took place, not far from the tall bronze statue of Hugo Brandt that dominates the plaza in central New Orleans in front of St. Louis Cathedral.
Guthrie, Virginia.
America’s National Symbols. Brooklyn, NY: Harper Brother’s, 1976.
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PRESIDENTIAL SURPRISE: ON TO OREGON!
ST. LOUIS - President Littlefield surprised the nation when he announced at the end of his visit to St. Louis, that instead of returning to Franklin, he would instead be visiting Oregon, following the railway along the Fifth National Road. He announced planned stops in Fort Calhoun, Platte Territory, and New Boston and Astoria, Oregon, but it is expected he will also stop in smaller communities along the Fifth National Road as he crosses into Metropotamia, Washington, and Cascadia Territories.
When asked if he was worried about old Slavers in the West who didn’t much care for Federalists from New York, the President replied, “Not at all. As much as they probably dislike me and who they think I represent, there is no way any of them would take a shot at me. Not when it would make Augustus Bailey the first Negro President of the United States. He’s the best protection the Presidential Guard could ask for when dealing with the old Slavers!” He chuckled at this, as did the crowd around him.
This trek to Oregon means that the President will likely not return to Franklin until November, at the earliest. Some are grumbling that President Littlefield is shirking his duties, but his aides have pointed out that he has been able to keep up with all communications coming from the capital via telegraph without problem.
“Presidential Surprise: On to Oregon!”
Franklin Observer, August 20, 1877.
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President Littlefield is often nicknamed as the “Traveler President,” not only for his “inaugural whistlestop tour,” where the President visited all the major cities along the federal railroad lines that followed the National Roads, including a first ever Presidential visit to Oregon, but also his eventual success at visiting every single state in the Union (including Dixiana, which terrified the senior leadership of the Presidential Guard), and his trip to Victoria, Borealia, to visit with the Borealian Prime Minister in June of 1880, becoming the first American President to travel abroad while in office.
There were many critics of the President’s constant travelling. Democrats consistently complained, saying he was shirking his duties as president. But Littlefield revolutionized the Presidency, using the modern technology of telegraphy to remain in regular contact with officials in Franklin, and signed many pieces of legislation while traveling, proving that the President of the United States need not be chained to his desk in the Presidential Study in Washington House. This would pave the way for future presidents to go even further abroad, including President Rowling’s historic trip to London in 1893.
Rowling, Dr. Boris.
Littlefield: Governing on the Move. Franklin, DW: UUS Press House, 2009.
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PRESIDENT PROPOSES FEDERAL POLICE
FRANKLIN - President Littlefield, along with other Federalists, has proposed the establishment of a new Federal organization to help police certain crimes that affect the nation as a whole. The so-called “Federal Security Service” would primarily be charged with protecting all banks, including the National Bank, which is currently protected by the Presidential Guard. The security service, as proposed, would also look into issues like counterfeiting, and certain other interstate crimes that are not the jurisdiction of any one state. This new organization would also be encompassing the Federal Marshal Service, and helping to maintain law and order in the territories.
Democrats feel this is too broad an expansion of Federal power, but it has broad support from Federalists, who still have a comfortable majority in both houses of Congress, so the measure will likely pass when presented.
“President Proposes Federal Police,”
Boston Eagle, February 3, 1878.
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FEMALE SUFFRAGE VOTE FALLS SHORT IN MASSACHUSETTS
BOSTON - The National Woman Suffrage Association fell short of it’s goal of achieving suffrage for women in the first state to hold such a vote on the subject. Members of the Massachusetts votes almost two-to-one against the measure, showing a split in the ideology of the Federalist Party, which controls a majority of seats. NWSA leader Elizabeth Cady-Brewer stated after the vote, “Today we fell short, but we have not lost the long struggle. This was but the opening salvo of our fight for equality for women.” Ever since the War, there has been a growing number of former Abolitionists who are taking up the cause of Women’s Suffrage. Mrs. Cady-Brewer told reporters that she feels confident that women will have the vote across the country before the dawn of the twentieth century.
“Female Suffrage Vote Falls Short in Massachusetts,”
Franklin Observer, June 9, 1878.
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The American Liberal Party got its start in the Women’s Suffrage Movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After the War Between the States, Federalists, the so-called “Party of Abolition,” had become the defacto party of liberalism and social progress. But the mantel fit awkwardly for many members, who felt that some liberal ideas were too extreme for what the Founding Fathers of federalism intended, and so balked at the ideas, such as the female vote, end of property requirement for the franchise, and workplace protection for the growing class of industrial workers in northeastern cities, which had typically been the bastion of the Federalist Party. The ALP was officially founded in 1880, two years after the failure of the Equal Voting Rights Bill failed in the Massachusetts legislature, killed by many prominent Federalists of the time. The loss of members to the ALP from the Federalists would be slow at first, but by the 1890s became significant enough to cause the a split vote from the traditional Federalist base and allow the Democrats to take back both parts of government.
Sanders, Dr. Virginia.
American Liberalism. Manhattan, FD, Manhattan Univ Press, 1990.
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FIRST OWENITE ELECTED TO CONGRESS
INDIANAPOLIS - Election officials are reporting that Ernest Owens, grandson of the famous industrialist and social reformer, has been elected to Congress. Robert Owen established the communalist society at New Harmony, Indiana, in 1827, and has family has played prominently in Indiana politics for years. In New Harmony, the Owen family have been slowly crafting their philosophy of “communalism,” where a society shares their wealth equally for all members for the community. In New Harmony, the citizens live in community apartments, working together on farms and in factories and farms that are owned by the whole group, and the profits of which are also shared. The Owenites, or the Social Progressive Party, as they are officially known, have been a part of politics in southwest Indiana for years, but this is the first time that a member of the party has served in Congress.
“First Owenite Elected to Congress,”
Franklin Observer, November 7, 1878.
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FEDERALIST RETAIN CONTROL BY ONE SEAT!
FRANKLIN - The Federalists have maintained their control of the House of Representatives by one seat, to the chagrin of the Democrats, who vowed to unseat First Secretary Michael Follett, who will now keep his position at least until 1881. The Federalists now have 132 seats (with Owenite Ernest Owens of Indiana caucusing with the Feds) to the Democrats 119, with the Republican having 12 seats. This is a small but noticeable increase for the Republicans, who had only 6 seats after the 1876 election.
President Littlefield told reporters at Washington House that he was “relieved to not have a change in the position of First Secretary for the next two years. It makes things easier to govern when both the Executive and Legislative Branches of government are in sync, something that might not have been maintained had the Democrats retaking the House.”
Despite being unable to retake the House, the Senate is now likely to be in Democratic hands. Both Federalists and Democrats have 30 seats, with 4 now belonging to the Republicans thanks to the readmission of South Carolina. This puts the Federalist 30 votes (31 if you count the Vice President in a tie vote), to the Democratic/Republican bloc of 34 votes. It remains to be seen how much of an impact this will have.
“Federalists Retain Control By One Seat!”
Manhattan Gazette, November 8, 1878.
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PROPOSED DISTRICT OF MANHATTAN ENDORSED BY PRESIDENT!
FRANKLIN - President Littlefield, in a letter to Congress, endorsed a bill presented by New York Senator James Newman calling for the Federal Government to take direct control of the island of Manhattan, and to help finance the rest of the rebuilding of the city. This has been met by mixed response in Manhattan and in the rest of New York, but many in Albany have expressed relief, including Governor Phillip Underwood, who stated, “the State of New York would be better served giving up the tattered island of Manhattan, that remains to this day, 17 years after the guns fell silent and the War Between the States ended, a ghost of it’s former self, infested with immigrants and others of a less than savory nature, than trying to funnel hard earned taxpayer dollars into that mess.” Mayor Porter echoed this sentiments, saying “hopefully, under direct Federal control and receiving Federal dollars, the island of Manhattan can recover and be our twin city, instead of the quagmire that it has been since the War.” It is unclear yet whether Congress will approve the plan, even with the President’s party enjoying control of the House. The Senate is in unofficial Democratic hands, and there are Federalists in both Houses who are unsure that the Federal Government should take over the island city.
“Proposed District of Manhattan Endorsed By President!”
Brooklyn Standard, February 12, 1879.
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AUSTRIAN CIVIL WAR ENDS
VIENNA - After two years of bloody fighting, the Austrian Civil War has ended, with a cease fire having been signed between the defeated Royalist forces and victorious Republican and Nationalist Forces outside Budapest. A treaty is expected to be signed in a matter of weeks, which will formally dissolve the Austrian Empire, replacing it with the Republics of Austria, Hungaria, Czechia, Slovakia, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia. The Habsburg family, minus the now late Emperor Maximilian who died in the custody of the Austrian Republic, are reportedly being granted asylum in Rome by the Pope, despite protests from the leaders of the Italian Union.
Some now wonder what will happen next, in particular if the Kingdom of Prussia will allow the Austrian Republic to exist on its periphery, or will it march in and attempt to reestablish some form of monarchy in Vienna. While King Frederick William V has been considered a political moderate, especially when compared to his father, who helped Austria crush the liberal German Republic in 1841, he is far from supportive of true democracy, and is far more conservative than France’s King Henry V or Britain’s Queen Victoria.
“Austrian Civil War Ends,”
Franklin Observer, April 14, 1879.
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FRACTURE IN FEDERALIST PARTY
PROVIDENCE, RI - Liberal members of the Federalist Party met in Providence today for the start of a meeting entitled the “Conference of Liberal Federalists.” Increasingly since the War, left-leaning social reformers in the Federalist Party, which flocked to the Hamiltonian institution in the fight against slavery, are finding themselves more at odds with the conservative leadership of the Party, who claim that the Founding Federalists were never interested in the micro affairs of the common man, but were interested in the unity of the nation as a whole. Concerns for factory work conditions, hourly pay, quality of life, are not the purview of the government. But the liberals differ in this, and believe the Federalists should continue their work for social equality.
Prominent Federalist Liberal Joshua Dalton, a Senator from Connecticut has been elected Chair, and he delivered an impassioned opening address, saying, “Liberalism is the true legacy of the Founders, not unity of the state. We must carry forward as we approach the twentieth century and continue that work, improving the lives of every American, not just the wealthy upper classes. Our nation’s prosperity is not measured by the accounts of our richest and most famous citizens, but by how we as a society take care of those less fortunate.” The address was met with thunderous applause from the more than 500 delegates in attendance.
At the heart of the conference is this question: How should liberal members of the Federalist Party proceed from this point, by trying to take over the party, or by striking it out on their own. While Chairman Dalton remains aloof on this question, several other members are not so shy. Senator Tobias Grant of New York is leading the charge to remain in the Federalist Party, feeling a separation could allow the Democrats to sweep back into power in 1880 or 1882. Leader of the so-called Separatist Faction is Pennsylvania Representative Derrick Thorn, who is also publicly supported by Women’s Suffrage advocate Elizabeth Cady-Brewer. The Suffrage movement is just one of the many social movements embraced by many of the liberal delegates gathered in Providence, but one of the best organized.
“Fracture in Federalist Party,”
Manhattan Gazette, May 1, 1879.
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The First Conference of Liberal Federalists ended on May 3, 1879, and resolved to follow the advice of Senator Tobias Grant and try and reform the Federalist Party and help it turn leftward. In the 1880 Congressional elections, a number of liberals challenged sitting party members running for reelection or those trying to unseat democrats. This was called in the Federalist press as the “Liberal Revolt,” and it largely failed. By the end of the party primaries in May of 1880, most of the liberals had failed to oust the more established candidates. This led to the Second Conference of LIberal Federalists, held in July of 1880 in Brooklyn, where the members adopted the so-called Thorn Plan, and established the new American Liberal Party. ALP members filed for office in as many they could, mostly in New England (though the ALP would soon catch on in the Black South). The would win some seats, but not enough to completely oust the Federalists from office. Instead the Liberal Revolt of 1880 cost the Federalists and Liberals control of the House, ousting Michael Follett from the First Secretary’s chair, replaced by Democrat Wade Lamar of Missouri. The Liberal Revolt is also considered a contributing factor, though far from the only one, in the failure of Federalist candidate Jeremiah Nichols in the 1882 race for the Presidency.
Sanders, Dr. Virginia.
American Liberalism. Manhattan, FD, Manhattan Univ Press, 1990.
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MANHATTAN ACT PASSED, SIGNED!
MANHATTAN- President Littlefield, in an official ceremony at Clinton Castle, signed the “Manhattan Act,” which officially declares that Manhattan Island and Governor’s Island are now the “Federal District of Manhattan,” separate from the State of New York. The Act establishes a provisional government to be constituted of a presidentially-appointed governor, and an elected assembly of 50 members, that will be elected at large. The assembly will have the power to enact laws and policy, but is subject to the governor’s veto, which can only be overruled by a 3/4ths vote of the assembly. Following the signature of the act, President Littlefield surprised a few by appointing Alexander Hamilton III, the Administrator of the island since 1863, to serve as the first Governor of Manhattan District. Many had expected Hamilton to be sacked, with some blaming him for the stagnation and slow rebuilding of the city.
All in attendance were not celebrating, however. The Friends of New York Society protested outside the Castle, calling the act a betrayal of New York. There was reportedly an effigy of Hamilton burned during this protest.
“Manhattan Act Passed, Signed!”
Brooklyn Standard, August 17, 1879.
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PRESIDENT TRAVELS TO BOREALIA
VICTORIA, KINGDOM OF BOREALIA - In a historic first, President Littlefield became the first sitting President of the United States to travel to a foreign country while in office, when he crossed the border yesterday aboard the now-famous Eagle Express, the same train he used on his inaugural tour of the nation in 1877. The Borealian Prime MInister, Anthony Martin, extended an invitation to the President last year, inviting him to tour the now nearly completed Victoria Palace, the seat of the Borealian Parliament in what had been the city of York until it was renamed in honor of the current British Monarch. The President is expected to tour the capital of our northern neighbors, and have meetings with Prime Minister Martin, Governor-General George Campbell (the official representative of the British Monarchy in Borealia and official Head of State), and several other leaders of the so-called “Kingdom of the North.”
“President Travels to Borealia,”
Franklin Observer, June 2, 1880.
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BOREALIANS PRESENT STATUE GIFT FOR MANHATTAN
VICTORIA, BOREALIA - Borealian Governor-General George Campbell, and Prime Minister Anthony Martin, presented President Littlefield a surprise gift for the American People, and more specifically for the Island of Manhattan. At a special banquet at York Manor, the official residence of the Governor-General, the Borealians presented the American delegation with the gift of a statue, entitled “Freedom Triumphant.” It depicts a woman clothed in robes, which appear to be flapping in the wind. She stands as though striding forward, and in her right hand she is lifting up a sword as if in victory, and in the other, outstretched, she holds up a lantern, the light of liberty. At her feet are broken chains and shackles.
Prime MInister Martin stated that the full statue would be over 100 feet tall, and it was the wish of the Borealian People to have this statue placed in New York Harbor, to commemorate the Second Battle of New York, where the British (largely volunteers and regulars from what is now Borealia) and Confederal forces retook the city from the Slaver Union in March of 1862. According to officials in Victoria, it will take some time for the statue, originally sculpted by Andrew Merchant, to be converted into a larger, metallic structure that will grace Manhattan, possibly close to a decade. In the meantime, the United States government can decide on where exactly in New York harbor to place the artwork.
“Borealians Present Statue Gift for Manhattan,”
Manhattan Gazette, June 4, 1880.
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HOUSE FALLS TO DEMOCRATS!
FRANKLIN - Both Houses of Congress are now in Democratic hands, following what is being called in the Federalist press as the “Liberal Revolt,” that began earlier this spring, when a number of social reformists within the the party first tried to unseat established candidates, and when that failed, established their own party, known as the American Liberal Party. The so-called ALP had modest returns for a brand new political movement, winning 27 seats. The Federalists, still the second largest party, was reduced to 88 seats, losing 45 seats in the worst reduction since the War. And while obviously 27 of those seats went to the Liberals, 18 went to the Democrats, several in districts that have not elected a Democrat in almost two generations, some for the first time ever. The Democrats now have a solid majority of 134 seats on their own, and will not have to seek Republican support to replace the First Secretary.
When asked on the result, President Littlefield stated that, “I am devastated to see division running through my party. It is bad for Federalism and bad for the country as a whole. It is my hope and prayer that myself and other Federalist leaders can reach out to Senator Dalton and the other ALP members and bring them back into the fold, and heal our fractured party before it is too late.”
Some Federalists seem to think the Rubicon has already been crossed. Now outgoing Representative from Delaware, Federalist Donald Pierce, stated that the core of the party will never forgive this stab in the back. Pierce’s district went to an ALP candidate, and for the first time in living memory, one of Delaware’s congressional Delegation will NOT be a Federalist.
“House Falls to Democrats!”
Boston Eagle, November 12, 1880.
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CENSUS: NEARLY 39 MILLION SOULS
FRANKLIN - The Federal Census Bureau announced the results of last year’s census today: The national population of the United States is now at 38,846,924. There are now 12 states that have more than 1 million people, up from 7 in 1870. Furthermore, of those 12 states with more than 1 million people, 3 have more than 2 million (the same 3 in 1870, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania). New York remains the most populous state, at roughly 3.8 million people. Several states are on the verge of passing either the 1 million or the 2 million mark. Many believe, with increasing immigration and increasing birth rates, the population could nearly double by 1890. In the 1882 election, the House of Representatives will increase to 379 seats (388, if Georgia is finally admitted back into the Union, an issue President Littlefield has stated he plans on addressing before the end of his term).
“Census: Nearly 39 Million Souls,”
Franklin Observer, April 2, 1881.
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PRESIDENT SIGNS CONGRESS’S GEORGIA ULTIMATUM!
FRANKLIN - The Georgia Act, proposed by Democrats from Tennessee and Kentucky, and passed last week by both the House and the Senate, has been signed by President LIttlefield. Now, the still unrepentant state of Georgia is on a definitive deadline. Georgians now have until the November 1882 election to pass a reformed constitution recognizing the Federal Constitutional changes passed in the wake of the War. Failure to do so, according to the new law, will result in the state being dissolved and the territory given to neighboring states. There is expected to be a legal challenge, and the law has a clause that if this outcome is deemed unconstitutional, that the alternative will be for the State of Georgia to be ejected from the Union, and all land borders between Georgia and the United States to be sealed, and all other forms of direct trade between Georgia and the United States to be prohibited, effectively dooming Georgia to poverty.
“President Signs Congress’s Georgia Ultimatum!”
Franklin Observer, April 29, 1881.
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ENGLISHMAN MAKES AIRSHIP FLIGHT
LONDON - English inventor Peter Hightower has successfully piloted his motorized observation balloon, which he calls an “airship,” specifically the Avalon, in a 12 mile, 20 minute flight outside the British capital. Hightower was commissioned by the British Navy to develop a working design to have a motorized observation balloon that they believe would be more useful than stationary models currently employed by military services around the world. Hightower stated that “this is the first true flight of man, where a human being was in direct control of the craft, when compared to the common balloon where the occupants are at the whims of the air.”
Experts believe this could revolutionize military balloon use, and has application beyond making military observations. Such craft could be used to drop bombs or shoot at enemy soldiers from a safe distance. Also, some hope to see these craft used for civilian use, possibly in delivering mail or supplies to hard to reach places.
“Englishman Makes Airship Flight,”
Boston Eagle, September 3, 1881.
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GEORGIA CONVENTION APPROVES CONSTITUTION
ATLANTA - The Georgian Constitutional Convention, convened reluctantly by state leaders who had hoped to hold out long enough for the Federal occupation to just end, and allow the original constitution to be kept, has now ended, following the delegates approving the new constitution that allows for legal equality and officially recognizes the end of slavery. Elections will be held in June for statewide offices, and Georgia will vote in November to elect new members of Congress, for the first time in twenty years. Once the statewide elections are held in June, Federal occupation of the state will end. Already, units are packing up and preparing to leave, to the celebration of locals.
“Georgia Convention Approves Constitution,”
Charleston Examiner, February 13, 1882.
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FED SPLIT CONTINUES, ALP TO HOLD SEPARATE CONVENTION
BOSTON - The American Liberal Party, established two years ago by disgruntled leftist members of the Federalist Party, will hold their own, separate political convention to elect a presidential candidate in August, the week after the Federalist Convention is supposed to be held in Brooklyn, New York. Many members of the Federalist Party, President Littlefield included, now fear that this split could cost the Party control of any part of the government. ALP leader Senator Joshua Dalton of Connecticut stated that, “the cause of liberalism and social reform has outgrown the confines of the Federalist Party, and must permanently be planted in its own, larger garden. We will not change course.” Senator Dalton believes his party does have a chance at winning Washington House, despite most who claim that all a separate ALP presidential candidate will do is hand the presidency to the Democrats.
“Fed Split Continues, ALP to Hold Separate Convention,”
Brooklyn Standard, May 19, 1882.
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DRAKE TAKES MOST ELECTORS, SHORT OF MAJORITY
FRANKLIN - Federal election officials have announced that Democratic candidate Governor Theodore Drake of Iowa and his running mate Beuford Scott have won the most electors in the 1882 presidential election, winning 181 out of a possible 452 electors, shy of the 227 electors needed for a majority. Federalist Representative Jeremiah Nichols of Rhode Island and his running mate Jonathan Pendleton of Maine received 166 electors. ALP Candidate Senator Joshua Dalton of Connecticut and running mate Governor Terrance Cole of Mississippi received 74 electors, and Republican Senator Christopher Hampton of Dixiana and running mate Senator Kevin Baxter of South Carolina received 31. Under the 20th Amendment, the candidate with the lowest number of electors is allowed to give those elector to another candidate. In this case, that would be Senator Hampton. Most expect him to give his electors to Governor Drake, which would give him 212, which would still leave him 15 votes shy of the majority needed.
The question now is whether or not Senator Dalton will give his 74 electors to Representative Nichols, giving him 240 electors and the presidency. There has been a lot of bad blood between the Federalists and the Liberals, so it is not something that can be easily predicted.
“Dawson Takes Most Electors, Short of Majority,”
Franklin Observer, November 15, 1882.
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DALTON SIDES WITH DRAKE, STEALS PRESIDENCY FROM NICHOLS
HARTFORD, CT - Liberal Presidential Candidate, Senator Joshua Dalton, today announced that he is giving his 74 electors to Democratic Presidential Candidate Governor Theodore Drake of Iowa, giving Governor Drake 255 electors, more than enough to win the election. In his announcement, given on the steps of the Connecticut Capitol Building, the senator said, "While I have many disagreements with the Democrats, I believe Governor Drake to be an honest man. Furthermore, I believe that the time of the Federalist Party is drawing to a close, and I do not wish to help it limp along any further. More Americans voted for the governor than for any other candidate, which to me is a clear sign that they want a change in leadership at in Franklin, and I will not stand in the way of that." Federalists nation-wide are crying foul at Dalton, who had been a Federalist himself up until 1880 when he helped found the American Liberal Party.
Not all Liberals agree with the decision, and many newly-elected Liberal congressmen and senators are vowing to fight the Democrats in Franklin wherever they can, despite the fact that the Democrats have an absolute majority again in the House at 194 out of 386 seats, and combined with the Republicans also control the Senate.
“Dalton Sides With Drake, Steals Presidency From Nichols,”
Boston Eagle, December 1, 1882.
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Some Notes:
1) The Population: Still about 10 years behind OTL, but considering less territory, I think that's okay for right now. I suspect that by 1890, 1900 at the latest, it will be about equal to the OTL population, give or take a million or so.
2) Fed/Lib Split: I felt that at it's core, the Federalists are going to side more with the industrialists, the big movers and shakers, over the little guy. Slavery was a moral issue that the Founders had mostly been drifting away from supporting, so that was a natural extension, but things like women's rights and worker's rights are too far, so the social reformers who'd been Federalist because of abolition would not stay. What this means for the long term is harder to say.
3) Owenites: Robert Owen and New Harmony, Indiana. Basically, have that as a success, and we will say that Owen is convinced to screen his recruits for his experiment, meaning better quality of people and more skilled labor help the colony succeed and possibly be replicated. I'm working on the idea that Owenites and others will eventually form some American form of Communism. How popular it will be...eh, I'm not sure.
4) Georgia: The whole mess was a legally gray area, and definitely uncharted territory, so I came up with the either/or ultimatum as a way to cover the bases.
5) Freedom's Hymn: sounds similar to Battlehymn of the Republic of OTL.
As always, let me know what you think, ask questions, and give suggestions. I enjoy the feedback and also it often helps me decide on certain details (remember, when this whole project got started the capital was going to move to Philadelphia or New York until someone recommended the site of modern Cincinnati, so your suggestions matter
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Enjoy! (and as promised, posted by mid-day
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