1850 American Gold Tycoon

Chapter 619 Washington’s Safety

"We, the Republican Party, won the election in November 1860, and now that we are almost 18 and talking about this issue, the smile on Lincoln's face gradually disappears.

"More than two months have passed. Not only have we not received any telegrams from the non-marginal slave states in the South, we have not even received any telegrams from the West."

Not only have many southern states not recognized the results of this election, but even the three free states in the west have not recognized the results of this election.

This made Lincoln very worried. The problems in the South were already enough headaches, and Lincoln did not want problems in the West as well.

Although the presence of the Western region in the United States has never been as strong as that of the Southern region, Lincoln, who had personally been to the West, knew very well the importance of the Western region to the federal government.

If the western region also declares its secession from the Union, the federal government will be faced with enemies from both the west and the south. Even if the federal army does not have to face the dilemma of fighting on two fronts, it will still need to set aside some troops to defend the west.

Lincoln still hoped to keep the western region in the Union in a peaceful way. As for the issue of separatism in the west, it could be solved after the slavery issue in the south was resolved.

"Ever since the west built the fort group in North Platte, the voice of the west wanting to secede from the Union has never stopped." When the question of the west was mentioned, Jude also frowned.

"The West is a free state. They have no reason to secede from the Confederacy like the slave states in the South. Liang Yao and the Civic Party have not expressed their stance for a long time. Do they want to wait for a price? These Chinese traders are more shrewd and cunning than the last. They He is the most calculating businessman in the world.”

Jude's range of activities stayed in Illinois for a long time, and he never went to the west. The Chinese people he has most contact with in Illinois are the Fujian and Guangdong Chinese businessmen doing business there. This is his stereotype of the Chinese group.

"Jude, you still have too few contacts with Chinese." Lincoln shook his head and said, "The Chinese are not just businessmen. The social form of the western region is no different from that of the north. The western region is not a commercial society, but a Industrial society. If they were all pure businessmen, that wouldn’t be a big deal.”

"Do you want to use your cabinet position to show goodwill to the Citizen Party in the west?" Jude said, "President Buchanan offered Liang Yao the rank of lieutenant general and secretary of war but failed to impress Liang Yao, so what can we offer? What kind of price?”

"Liang Yao is not the only one in the Civic Party." Lincoln said thoughtfully, "It is naturally the best result to win Liang Yao into the cabinet. If you still can't win Liang Yao into the cabinet, you can win over other members of the Civic Party. It’s good to be in the cabinet.”

"In this case, we can also nominate some southerners. Only in this way will the southern swing states believe that the new government under your leadership is the true and only federal government." Jude suggested, "There are also many federalists in the south. "They also don't want this country to be divided, but their voices are being silenced in the South."

Not all Southerners wanted to secede from the Union, and some wanted to stay within the Union.

It’s just that due to the political correctness of the South when it came to secession from the Union, very few Southern Federalists dared to stand up and speak out.

"We can amplify these drowned voices. I also have this idea, but I just don't know if it will work. Southern representatives who are willing to join our government are treasures." Lincoln nodded and said, "But no matter what, it is always Want to give it a try.”

After bidding farewell to his old friend Jude, Lincoln did not return directly to his residence in Washington. Instead, he was banned from coming to the Oval Office of the President in the White House.

Compared with the long-term concerns of the South and the West, he now has a more pressing immediate concern that needs to be resolved.

This immediate concern is the security issue in Washington, the federal capital.

At this time, Washington, D.C., was surrounded by slave states, with Virginia to the south and Maryland to the north.

Although the slaveholding forces in Maryland were much weaker than a few years ago, there were a large number of slaveholding elements in Baltimore, the largest city in Maryland.

If Maryland were controlled by slaveholding forces, with Baltimore and Richmond in Virginia echoing each other, it would only be a matter of time before the isolated and helpless Washington, D.C., fell in between.

Given the current grim situation in the capital, Lincoln could certainly choose to move the capital to a safer city.

However, relocating the capital is a huge project and will waste a lot of unnecessary time and energy.

More importantly, moving the capital without a war would severely damage the morale of the northern military and civilians and make the separatist forces feel weak.

If they can't even protect the capital, why should the military and civilians in the north believe that their new government can protect the north?

After weighing the situation, Lincoln still felt it was better not to move the capital.

As long as the capital is not moved, we must start to solve the security problem of the capital.

Virginia, especially the Eastern Virginia region headed by Richmond, was one of the home bases of southern slave owners.

After the John Brown uprising, Virginia stepped up its guard and even built fences and barbed wire in the border areas. It was basically impossible to control Virginia.

Therefore, Lincoln planned to attack Maryland, where the slaveholding faction was relatively weak.

As long as Maryland and Baltimore are controlled, Washington, D.C., can be connected with the free states in the north and no longer be an isolated island surrounded by slave states.

Although Maryland was a slave state, like Virginia, Maryland was divided into two factions.

There were basically no plantations in the rural areas of western Maryland, just farms whose owners were not very supportive of slavery. Supporters of slavery in Maryland were concentrated in Baltimore, the state's largest city. Therefore, if you want to control Maryland, the operation is relatively simple.

"Mr. Lincoln, you are a rare visitor."

Secretary of War Scott was reporting to Buchanan when Lincoln visited. Buchanan was surprised by Lincoln's sudden visit and did not know the purpose of Lincoln's trip.

"Since the two presidents have important matters to talk to each other, I won't interrupt. I'll take my leave first." Scott stood up and was about to leave.

"Secretary Sterling, I not only have something important to discuss with President Buchanan, but I also have something important to discuss with you." Lincoln pressed his hand and motioned for Scott to sit down.

"What's going on?" Buchanan looked up at Lincoln, whose head was almost touching the door frame.

"Regarding the security issue in Washington." Lincoln got straight to the point and went straight to the point. "The attitudes of Virginia and Maryland are wavering. I hope you can send troops to control the situation in Maryland."

"That's because their attitude towards the new government is wavering. Virginia and Maryland still have great trust in my outgoing old government." Buchanan did not want to inflame tensions between the north and the south before leaving office. Prevarication.

"Send troops to Maryland, do you know what that means? It means war!"

"You blindly compromise with them and allow them to do whatever they want. Of course they trust you." Lincoln mocked Buchanan unceremoniously.

"Lincoln! Please watch your words! I am still the president of the United States! Not you!" Lincoln's taunt made Buchanan furious.

"Your Excellency Buchanan, let's listen to Mr. Lincoln's thoughts. Arguing will not solve the problem. The current security situation in Washington is indeed not optimistic." Seeing Buchanan and Lincoln arguing, Scott, who was extremely disappointed, stopped Buchanan. , he is now unwilling to even call Buchanan president.