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The squabble between the two houses is rancorous. Eventually the two sides agree on a compromise. On Aug. 1, 1865, McClellan signs into law the Rebellion and Eligibility Act. This final version moves flag officers into the banned for life area, majors into the ten-year category, and requires all not banned for life to swear an oath of loyalty to the United States after their disenfranchisement period is over before they may run for elective office or accept appointed office. Future violations of such oaths will be considered treason and punishable by execution. The law takes effect immediately upon signing.
August 16, 1865
6:00 PM
A secret location somewhere in Tennessee
Nathan Bedford Forrest glanced around the campfire at the forty or so men. All of them were perfectly aware that McClellan's Reconciliation was easier on the South than what the Republicans would have delivered. All of them thought that even what McClellan had enacted was too much. Part of this was they had never forgiven the President for running roughshod over the South during the war.
"Men," he said, "y'all feel as I do. We will not stand for these Reconciliation acts. If President (he laced the title with scorn) McClellan wants to give us a peace offerin', then he should see to it that things are the way they were before 1861. No ban on slavery in the Constitution. No ban from office for Rebels. That just puts the state governments hereabouts in the hands of Unionists. We don't want that, do we?"
"NO, SIR!!!", the assembled men answered in unison.
"Good. I thought y'might say that. I want y'all to be the first to know this. I intend to violate this new law. I'm going to the state capitol and I will file papers to run for Governor of this state in the fall." (2)
"But sir, won't they refuse you the right to run?" asked a voice.
"They will, because the ones runnin' the show are on the North's side, from the east of the state. When they do, I'll already have some lawyerin' ready. I'm goin' to sue. I want this law shot down in the Supreme Court."
"Run, Forrest!" called a man toward the back. "Yes, run, Forrest!", answered another. Someone let loose with a loud rebel yell.
The next thing Forrest knew, the woods were filled with an enthusiastic chant: "Run, Forrest, run! Run, Forrest, run! Run, Forrest, run!..." Over and over.
1. Obviously just Davis and Stephens, but they aren't mentioned by name.
2. IOTL the gubernatorial election in TN for 1865 was won by an unopposed Republican.
Part 14: Meetings
Nathan Bedford Forrest, formerly of the Confederate Army, files his official petition of intention to run for Governor of Tennessee on August 21, 1865, having got the needed number of signatures quickly. He files as an independent for the general ballot in November. But the filing is summarily rejected because Forrest has been disenfranchised and is now ineligible for office. Forrest sues in state court to be put on the ballot, and has his suit rejected by a Unionist judge on Aug. 30.
On August 23, an amendment is introduced in the Senate by the Republicans which bans the vote from being denied to anyone because of race, color, or creed. (OTL 15th Amendment) However, it fails to achieve a 2/3 majority by 5 votes. The GOP, recalling the earlier bargain made with President McClellan (1), approaches him again. But he says he has no interest in this ban, and refuses to sign any such law.
September 4, 1865
Office of Senator Benjamin Wade
Senator Zachariah Chandler leaned forward in the chair in front of his colleague's desk. "The amendment is dead, yes. But not necessarily for good. We may regain the House at some point. We may increase our hold on the Senate. We won't need a two-thirds majority if McClellan loses in three years. Then we can just pass it as a law."
Wade shook his head. "If I were a betting man, I wouldn't wager on defeating him. The South is bound to go Democrat. That'll let him win more decisively than last time. We may not need another amendment for this anyway. Remember, we were able to keep the clause in the 14th that defined citizens of the US and of each state. It requires the states to grant the rights of citizenship to all citizens. That would include the vote, no?"
Rep. Thaddeus Stevens, who had been pacing about the office, stopped and scratched his chin. While not a Senator, his input was still valued. "You may be right about that. It could be sufficient to give the franchise to the blacks. I criticized the bill you had with Davis as too lenient, but that was when we had both houses, plus the White House. Now we need to see the benefits of what we are able to accomplish. If this doesn't work, we can always reintroduce the amendment in future years, or pass a law if we can get it signed."
Chandler sighed with resignation, then said, "These are hard times for us. But I don't doubt the party will rise again."
Wade looked at the other two. "I've also wondered about the South in the Senate. I've seen some letters from back home calling us stubborn. We have been refusing to let the men elected down South in because we'd lose the majority. But I've been hearing about how candidates for the legislature in several states are making senatorial votes an issue. They are calling us stubborn because the House and the President have already admitted the South back into the Union, and it's time to get on with the business of running the nation."
Chandler asked, "So what you say is that if we let the South return to the Senate, we lose the majority. But if we don't, we could lose our positions. A bad choice." He sighed again, this time longer, then muttered, "Perhaps we should readmit them. I would sooner speak for my state than be cast out to dry."
The next day, the Senate votes to readmit the elected Southern senators starting with the next Congress. It is virtually certain the Democrats will take over the Senate on March 4, 1867. Pres. McClellan responds by saying the GOP has "seen the light of reason," and removes some of the occupying troops from the ex-Confederate States.
Sept. 7, 1865
Knoxville, Tennessee
Forrest looked at his potential new associate. If only he could back Quantrill for office. But this man, while he had only been a captain in the rebel forces, had been a wanted outlaw before that.
"So you want me as a player in your organization. What do I do in it?", asked Quantrill.
"Rabble-rousin', basically. I'm can't run, but I can still legally back others for office. All kinds of politics are open to me. Thought of startin' a party. The rabble-rousin' is one bunch, the party is another. They'd be connected, but not so far as the law knows."
Quantrill asked what to call these groups.
Forrest answered, "How 'bout the Liberty Party for the one? And the other, hmm, let's see. Any ideas?"
"How does Society for Democracy in the South sound?"
"Not bad. Better 'n' what I thought of. Our aims are easy: no disenfranchisement, repeal the 13th and 14th Amendments, put things back to how they were before the war. I want the old South back."
1. See parts 12 & 13.
Part 15: Alabama Song
January 23, 1864
50 miles west of the Azores
Onboard the CSS Alabama
Captain Raphael Semmes was regretting his decision to turn and fight. His proud ship had already taken a hit in the port side and was listing somewhat. Unless they got out of this battle soon, it would sink. He grimaced as a shell from the Union ship went right through the deck. He turned to holler something to his first mate.
Semmes' command, whatever it was, was drowned out by the roar of a powder magazine exploding. It must have taken a hit. "Abandon ship! To the Boats!", he yelled.
"Sir, the boats are gone," the first mate informed him. Semmes looked around. Sure enough, two of the lifeboats were rowing away. The others were no longer of use to anyone. The sailors were indeed abandoning ship, though. They were all diving straight into the water.
"Go!", he said to the other officer. "I'd say this ship is-"
The Alabama's first mate watched as a piece of shrapnel neatly sliced his captain's head off. He was captain now, if only for a few minutes. Just then another shell screamed in, and the new captain was too close. Another hole in the deck opened up. Sailors on the Northern vessel which had been pursuing the Alabama watched as she went underneath the surface.
History records that a passing Portuguese freighter would pull 5 men out of the water. There were no other survivors.
"Good day for war."
Attributed to Capt. John Winslow of the USS Kearsarge after his sinking of the CSS Alabama during the American Civil War on 1/23/1864
From Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 1870 edition
The White House
Washington, D.C.
March 7, 1865
George McClellan had decided quickly one thing: he liked the Presidential desk. He had no intention of using one other than the same one Lincoln used. That thought made him think a quick prayer for his predecessor's survival. McClellan turned his thoughts back to the business at hand. He stared at the sheets in front of him, blueprints for a ship.
"What did you say her name was again?"
"The Alabama, sir," answered his Secretary of War, Andrew Curtin.(1)
"And it was built in England?"
"Yes, sir," said the Secretary of State, Horatio Seymour. "They had neutrality laws against this sort of thing, but seem to have been lax in enforcing them." Seymour didn't bother correcting the President on the use of "England."
"If this ship, and others too, Sec. Curtin informs me, were built for the South in Britain against British law, and the British didn't bother to stop it, then that makes them liable, Mr. President. We are entitled to some kind of reparations," Attorney General Thomas Key put in. (2)
McClellan scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Start talking to the English, Horatio. I want what we have coming to us."
1. Curtin (Gov-Pennsylvania) may have been the only Republican McClellan ever liked, or even tolerated well. Stephen Sears in his McCl. bio depicts a sort of mentor/protege relationship between them during the war. Curtin set up an intelligence network for McCl. like Pinkerton did. In this TL, the two had a small falling-out when McCl. discovered neither network had given him Lee's true troop strength. However, after McCl. won the 1864 election, the confirmations for his Cabinet in the GOP Senate were expected to be rancorous and difficult. Which led him to curry favor by naming a Republican as SoW.
2. In addition to being McCl.'s aide during the war, Key had previously been a judge in Cincinnati.
Part 16: Potpourri
Assorted Bits and Pieces making up the general context of this TL
Canada
In our own world, the confederation of Canada came about, among other reasons, due to fear of the United States. Many in British North
America felt that once the American Civil War was done, Lincoln would then turn his armies north and invade British territory. These feelings weren't entirely unfounded, because many Americans saw Canada as a target for eventual US annexation. In this world, that fear is increased and accelerated. This is mainly due to the swifter victory by the Union over the South in the ACW. "Once the war between the states is done" comes sooner, and the Union seems stronger to the Canadians. Accordingly, John A. Macdonald and others in the Canada colony (Ontario and Quebec) start talking confederation earlier, and learn that the Maritime colonies are planning a union among themselves. Canadian observers go to a conference on Maritime confederation in June 1864(1) on PEI. Macdonald's proposal for a wider union is made there and seems to be well received. After the conference disbands, there is much talk in the assorted colonies. Fear of America is only increased by agitation south of the border by Fenian militants who talk about holding Canada hostage for Irish freedom. (More on the Fenians below.) The eventual Confederation is formed as the legislatures vote on it. Prince Edward Island in this timeline joins the union at the outset; it is more easily swayed by the increased Americo-phobia. The British North America Act is passed by Parliament in London on April 17, 1867 (2). The Dominion of Canada is born, with the full blessing of Queen Victoria.
America
The elections of 1866 are, to say the least, interesting. Democratic and Republican candidates become the target of fierce opposition by
Nathan Forrest's fledgling SDS and Liberty Party. (3) While both groups are out on the fringe so far, they are making some noise. Many candidates are heckled at speeches, some have eggs and/or produce tossed their way. For the moment, most voters in the ex-CSA take a Unionist Democrat tilt; they are satisfied with President McClellan's watered-down Reconciliation because it could be a lot worse. They never dream they could have gotten even less than what they do have to put up with. To them Forrest's aims are desirable, but a pipe dream nonetheless. In the North, the Democrats are somewhere between the Southern Democrats and the GOP's Radical wing. Northern Democrats and Moderate Republicans form a powerful bloc in Congress. In the meantime, the Libertists (as they call themselves) field an array of candidates throughout the South, but not for all offices. These men were all not highly ranked in CS forces to be affected by disenfranchisement, or they never joined up. The new party and SDS are strongest in their birth state of Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Kentucky. (4) In other parts of the South, organizations similar to SDS spring up, the most prominent being the Southern Liberation Army in Georgia.
By the time the dust settles, the Liberty Party is the official opposition party in 3 state legislatures. The Democrats have already added to their House lead from the start of the 1865-7 term when the ex-CSA states were readmitted there. Now they profit in the Senate as well, with the South due to finally be given its seats back there. However, they do lose ground in the North to the GOP. Also, the Libertists manage to take their first few House seats. The new Congress, starting on March 4, 1867, looks like this:(5)
House:
D 152, R 89, L 3
Senate:
D 44, R 30
In 1867, Russia offers to sell Alaska to the US. Sec. of State Seymour sees little to gain by the purchase, and tells the President so. America politely declines. (Russia will eventually sell Alaska to Canada in 1873.)
Meanwhile, negotiation with Britain over the Alabama claims drags on. The US issues some strong statements which can be easily considered bellicose. McClellan had a hand in this language, despite the urges by Seymour for moderation, he is still POTUS. British responses are seen as huffy; they don't take kindly to the tone America uses.
Fenians
The Irish-American faction wields a strong vote. The government isn't at loggerheads over Reconstruction, and is more inclined to listen to them. The Alabama mess has increased Americans' hostility toward the UK, and as a result some non-Irish sympathize. The liberation of Ireland is seen as a just cause, and some non-Irish support the Fenian move against Canada. Even some "continentalists" (not all) who have desired the annexation of Canada see that an ally to the North could be just as good. Recruiting of Irish-Americans by the Fenian Brotherhood does somewhat better.
1. In OTL the meeting was in Sept.
2. Note to any Western New Yorkers or Southern Ontario natives: this means no Friendship Festivals, because the birthdays of Canada and the US aren't so close together.
3. SDS and Liberty have a closet sort of IRA/Sinn Fein relationship. Forrest goes out of his way to make sure the two aren't publicly known to be connected; Union occupiers might crack down on the party if they knew it was an arm of SDS.
4. Kentucky never seceded, but the proximity to Tennessee helps.
5. I hope my math is right. By my figures, with all the seceded states fully readmitted, there should be 251 House and 76 Senate seats. I'm counting Nebraska, which was admitted as a state in 12/1866 ATL and 3/1867 OTL.
Part 17: Arrangements and Attacks
The White House
Washington, D.C.
March 14, 1867
President McClellan looked at his Secretary of State. "You mean this could get worse?"
"Yes, sir," replied Seymour. "The French are getting nervous. There were Rebel ships built there as well as in Britain. They're worried that we could make claims against them like we have with the British."
McClellan mulled this for a second. "I want what we have coming to us. But things aren't good with the English. I certainly don't want to have to deal with England and France together if things get violent. Talk to the French. Maybe if we agree not to make claims on French-built ships, they'll agree not to support England on the claims we've already made."
"Good idea, Mr. President." Seymour wished the President would learn the difference between England and Britain. He'd already had one meeting with the British Minister when he said "England." It didn't help the current situation. Seymour figured he would have to bite the bullet and explicitly correct his superior. The Secretary also knew that if events did turn violent, then Britain would be a problem with or without France's help.
June 21, 1867
A small village chateau
Remulac, France (outside of Paris)
American Minister to the court of Napoleon III Samuel J. Randall looked at his opposite number in negotiations. Eugene Rouher, popularly dubbed the "Vice Emperor," said to him, "So, we are agreed."
"Yes. The United States will not make any claims for reparation of damage done by Confederate vessels built in France. Nor will we ban goods from your country or export to France. Your textile industry may rest assured that it will not have a second cotton shortage. In fact, you may see an increase in trade with America. President McClellan is considering an embargo on trade with the British Empire, and we could use replacement markets."
"French markets would be glad to have American goods. And you may count on French neutrality over the dispute you have with Britain."
Three days later, America blocks all cotton trade to Britain, as part of a general embargo. McClellan claims, "It hurt them during the rebellion. It should hurt them now." (1) At the same time, he demobilizes 10% of the occupying troops in the South, and diverts another 20% to points along the Canadian border. Most in the South see this as good, because the President is making good on his implied (but never expressly stated) promise of an easy postwar period for them.
August 2, 1867
Campo Bello Island, New Brunswick
The O'Mahoney wing of the Fenian Brotherhood had planned to launch its attack along the Maine/New Brunswick border last year, but put it off in hopes of an Anglo-American war breaking out on its own. When that failed to happen, it became evident one had to be provoked. However, the delay doesn't make the attempted invasion of an island claimed by both sides any more competent. The Fenian plan is known to American and Canadian forces well in advance. When the Irish would-be liberators arrive, they are intercepted by two Canadian vessels, one of the British Royal Navy, and one US Navy ship. The "invasion" force is dispersed and straggles home. The British and Canadians can't help but notice that they sent a total of three ships and the Americans only one. Do the Americans not consider this important, they wonder?
Meanwhile, the other branch of the Fenians, the Roberts wing, looks on the whole affair as a humiliating failure. They had been making plans for an invasion of their own. Now it seems they need more planning time. They could use additional time to recruit new members for a larger force, also. When they make their move, it will be a better move than the one just made.
1. IOTL Britain during the ACW eventually secured other sources for cotton, lessening the blow. Here, that was explored but mostly passed over, as the ease of the Northern victory made it evident that the shortage wouldn't be a problem much longer. However, there are some alternative sources. The US until now is still the primary source for cotton into Britain.