WI: William L. Marcy nominated in 1852

In 1852, Former Secretary of War and Former Governor of New York, William L. Marcy ran for the Democratic nomination for President. From the 45th to the 48th Ballot he received a plurality of delegates.

What if he had managed to actually get a majority? Would William King still be nominated as VP? How would Marcy fare against Winfield Scott? What would Marcy's administration look like? Who would be in his cabinet? Will Marcy attempt to stop the impending Civil War?
 
In 1852, Former Secretary of War and Former Governor of New York, William L. Marcy ran for the Democratic nomination for President. From the 45th to the 48th Ballot he received a plurality of delegates.

What if he had managed to actually get a majority? Would William King still be nominated as VP? How would Marcy fare against Winfield Scott? What would Marcy's administration look like? Who would be in his cabinet? Will Marcy attempt to stop the impending Civil War?

He may try to make a grab for Cuba. If he does (successfully or not), the reaction in the North (if the Mexican War is any guide) will be pretty angry, probably angry enough to kill the Kansas-Nebraska bill. Could spawn quite a few butterflies.

King might still be VP, but even if he isn't it will surely be a Southerner, for regional balance.
 
In 1852, Former Secretary of War and Former Governor of New York, William L. Marcy ran for the Democratic nomination for President. From the 45th to the 48th Ballot he received a plurality of delegates.

What if he had managed to actually get a majority? Would William King still be nominated as VP? How would Marcy fare against Winfield Scott? What would Marcy's administration look like? Who would be in his cabinet? Will Marcy attempt to stop the impending Civil War?


Considering that in 1852 IOTL the Whig party was coming apart @ the seams, I
think Marcy would have defeated Scott-
& maybe pretty easily too- & been elected
President.
 
Maybe this would be the result? Because we're assuming Marcy runs with Cuban rhetoric, I gave Scott a stronger push in the North. It's still a Dem mop tho:

Screen Shot 2017-10-13 at 1.29.39 AM.png


William L. Marcy (D-NY)/William R. King (D-AL) 222 EV
Winfield Scott (W-NJ)/William A. Graham (W-NC) 74 EV
 
In 1852, Former Secretary of War and Former Governor of New York, William L. Marcy ran for the Democratic nomination for President. From the 45th to the 48th Ballot he received a plurality of delegates.

What if he had managed to actually get a majority? Would William King still be nominated as VP? How would Marcy fare against Winfield Scott? What would Marcy's administration look like? Who would be in his cabinet? Will Marcy attempt to stop the impending Civil War?


Most likely Marcy would have followed a pro-southern- & thus pro-slavery- course, though I'm unsure
as to whether he would have done what Stephen Douglas did IOTL- come up with the idea of "popular
sovereignty" as the method to decide if a territory is to be slave or non-slave.
 
Most likely Marcy would have followed a pro-southern- & thus pro-slavery- course, though I'm unsure
as to whether he would have done what Stephen Douglas did IOTL- come up with the idea of "popular
sovereignty" as the method to decide if a territory is to be slave or non-slave.

Iirc he was more interested in acquiring Cuba as Slave territory than pushing slavery into the West. And he'd have had a tough time in Congress pursuing even one of these options, let alone both.
 
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