1850 American Gold Baron

Chapter 95 I really don’t want to be governor

"Who's out there?"

John frowned, and a figure he didn't like appeared at the door of the tent.

"It's me, James, sir."

The thin James explained his purpose: "Sir, I am begging you on behalf of the workers, hoping to get more food rations and shorten our working hours.

Without enough food, there is no sufficient physical strength. High-intensity labor exerts too much physical energy on the workers. Today, three more workers fell ill on the job due to overwork and exhaustion."

"James, isn't it enough that you come in and see the food that Mr. Milners and I eat? We share the joys and sorrows with you?"

These are extraordinary times, and this is the best treatment I can provide you. You can't find another generous and kind employer like us." John showed his simple food to James with a big belly.

.

"Mr. John, we are engaged in high-intensity labor, unlike you." James argued with reason. At this time, he could not care less about offending John. If this continues, more workers will die.

Besides, these noble lords all have their own chefs and special stoves. If they want to starve, it is not their turn yet.

As for sharing joys and sorrows, that is even more nonsense to deceive people. Sharing hardships is true, because everyone is really having a hard time now.

Tonggan? Will you share the gold dug out of the American rivers with us workers?

"We are all human beings. What's the difference? Go to work, James." John said coldly.

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"Mr. Fremont has sent a letter, and Mr. Gervin is on his way to California. Congress has passed California's statehood bill, and California will become the thirty-first state of the United States."

In Tingtao Garden, Liang Yao announced an exciting news to his comrades.

"Oh, great, thank God, this day has finally arrived." Robinson asked very excitedly, "Will it become a free state or a slave state?"

"Free State." Liang Yao replied.

Robinson and the representatives of the gold mining companies from the north were very happy after learning of this result.

In their view, this is a great victory, a victory for democracy and freedom.

Perhaps at this time, people thousands of miles away in New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and other northern states had the same idea as them.

Liang Yao had no feeling. Slave states were a paradise for planters, while free states were a paradise for factory owners and capitalists.

Regardless of whether California becomes a free state or a slave state, as long as California can continue to make money, it is a good state.

After they celebrated happily, Liang Yao continued to speak to them.

“We need to hold elections as soon as possible. The governor, lieutenant governor, state speaker, secretary of state, state attorney general, state treasurer, and state auditor must be our people, and we must occupy more seats in the state House.

The glory of California was created by us old miners with our own hands, and California can only develop better in our hands."

"I agree with you with both hands. As you said, California is California for Californians, and those damn New Yorkers should go back to their New York!" said Jim, the leader of the old miners' organization.

He was one of the first American immigrants in California and considered himself an old Californian.

Representatives of other mining companies were noncommittal and also described themselves as Californians.

Because they understand what being a Californian can bring to them.

In fact, there are no Californians at all. They all just immigrated to California for gold. It is gold that binds them together.

Eastern newspapers even joked that miners came to California in 1949, and prostitutes came to California in 1950. They slept together, and then there were Californians. This was a way of mocking the so-called Californians.

As everyone knows, seventy or eighty years ago, the British on the other side of the Atlantic also laughed at Americans, believing that the so-called Americans did not exist.

"Mr. Liang, you have made great contributions to the prosperity of California. I think there is no one more suitable than you to be the first governor of California! The votes in the hands of us electors belong to you."

Stanford was the first to stand up and say.

"Yes, Mr. Liang, the first governor of California, did his part!"

"Who better to be the governor of California than Mr. Liang?"

"California will definitely become more prosperous under Mr. Liang's administration!"

Everyone expressed their opinion that Liang Yao should serve as the first governor of California.

This is the attitude of white representatives, let alone those representatives of Chinese immigrants.

However, Liang Yao has other ideas. He does not plan to be the governor for the time being. This is not because he does not love power.

Rather, the sudden emergence of a Chinese governor in California is bound to set off a storm in American politics.

At this time, Congress was still debating whether to recognize the Mexican government's land grant in California. To put it bluntly, this bill was aimed at him.

He is now on the cusp of Congress, and I don't know how many pairs of eyes are staring at him. Serving as the governor of California at this time is not a wise choice.

In comparison, Liang Yao is more willing to serve as lieutenant governor. First of all, the lieutenant governor is the first successor to the governor (in the five states without a lieutenant governor, when the governor steps down before the term of office expires, the secretary of state or the president of the state senate takes over.

, but many of these states have not yet been established. The five states are: Arizona, Oregon, Wyoming, Maine and New Hampshire.).

Secondly, the lieutenant governor can also serve as the speaker of the state Senate.

Thirdly, the votes and public opinion of California voters are in his hands. If he wants to be governor, he only needs to use some means to force the current governor to step down, even skipping the election.

No matter who becomes this governor, he will be the one who actually controls California.

However, he definitely wanted to be the lieutenant governor. No matter how busy he was, he still had to be the lieutenant governor. He wanted to set an example for the Chinese immigrants, lead by example, and encourage them to actively participate in California politics.

"Thank you for your support. I have little talent and no experience in politics. I cannot take on the post of governor." Liang Yao declined very humbly.

As soon as Liang Yao said this, the representatives exploded one after another.

If Liang Yao doesn't serve as governor, who will? Who dares to become governor?

There is no other wealthy country gentleman in California who can rival Liang Yao in power.

As for the local celebrities and aristocrats, they don't even exist. They all come from humble backgrounds and are nouveau riche. No one should look down on anyone else.

If you don’t choose Liang Yao, why should you choose representatives of the old New York aristocratic consortium in Sacramento who want to take away their land and gold?

It’s impossible to elect yourself. Except for Liang Yao, no one here can get enough votes to serve as governor, unless he has the support and funding of Liang Yao.

"Brother Lin, what kind of medicine do you think Young Master Liang is selling in his gourd?"

Chen Baoliang, a representative of the Chen tribe in Quanzhou, asked Lin Taiwei, a representative of the Lin tribe in Fuzhou, for advice.

Lin Taiwei has read books, so he must be more knowledgeable than him and understand the mystery.

Representatives of several Guangdong clans also gathered around, wanting to hear Lin Taiwei's opinion.

"Do you know how to persuade me to come in?" Lin Taiwei said pretending to be mysterious.

"Encourage us to come in?" the clan leaders asked in confusion.

"When the new emperor ascends the throne, the ministers have to come three times to persuade him to join the throne. The first and second times the new emperor will refuse to show humility. Only the third time will he reluctantly agree to ascend the throne. It is just to go through the motions and look good.

Some."

Lin Taiwei stroked his beard and said: "Master Liang is a man who wants to do great things. How can he be like those ordinary people who just accept what others say?"

"That's the theory, but it was in the Qing Dynasty. The United States also practiced this method? I heard that the United States did not have an emperor." Chen Baoliang was still puzzled.

"Then let's also persuade Young Master Liang to come in. Only Young Master Liang can make the decision for us in this world. If we don't choose Young Master Liang as our home in California, who else can we choose?"

Huang Yiming, a representative of the Huang ethnic group in Xiangshan, Guangdong, said.

(End of chapter)