1850 American Gold Tycoon

Chapter 614 The world’s power

January 25, 1861, Sacramento, the capital of California.

It's been a full month since Christmas, and the holiday spirit in California is still strong. People in the west are busy preparing for the Spring Festival of 1861.

In the western region where the Chinese population dominates, the Spring Festival is the most solemn festival.

Compared with the tension and anger in the eastern region, the western region seems much more peaceful.

In the living room of Weixiu Residence, there is a huge map of the United States hanging. The states on the map have been painted in different colors according to the recent situation.

Different colors on the map represent the areas currently controlled by different spheres of influence.

The three states on the West Coast: California, Oregon, and Liangzhou are dyed deep red. These three states are the core areas of the West and can be regarded as the basic base and base camp of the Western power.

The Western Mexico Territory, Nevada Territory, Utah Territory, Colorado Territory, Arizona Territory, New Mexico Territory, and the Platte Valley were painted light red. The light red territories in these areas are also under the control of the West.

The six southern states that have officially declared independence: South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana are painted dark blue.

As for the remaining ten southern slave states, they are still in a wait-and-see mode.

Eight of the ten wait-and-see states are border states between the northern and southern borders. The eight states are colored light blue on the map. From east to west, they are: Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee. , Arkansas, Missouri.

The remaining two southern wait-and-see states (territories) have not yet been colored due to their special circumstances. These two states are Texas and the Eastern Mexico Territory that was annexed to the south after the Second Mexican-American War.

Since the Eastern Mexican Territory is actually controlled by Texas, the attitude of Texas can also be said to represent the attitude of the Eastern Mexican Territory.

The last remaining force is the federal government, which is the fifteen free states controlled by the North. The territory of these free states is painted bright white. These states are Maine and New Hampshire. , Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Oasis, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Iowa state.

"According to the latest intelligence, the top leaders of six deep blue states have gathered in Montgomery, Alabama, to declare the establishment of the Confederate Government and elect the Kentucky country sage Jefferson Davis as the interim president. In addition, the newly formed Confederate Government It has actually controlled all the armies, ports, and customs in the six deep blue states.

Except for a few dangerous military fortresses that are still in the hands of the federal army, the Deep Blue State has taken over most of the military facilities in the state. "

Liang Yao informed the participating western senior officials about the latest developments in the eastern region.

"The South's actions are really fast. In less than a month, a new government has been established?" Robinson asked in surprise.

The six deep blue states went from declaring their secession from the federal government, taking control of the military and customs within their borders, to forming a new federal government at the speed of light.

This set of punch combinations can be said to be smooth and silky without any sloppiness at all. Robinson even suspected that the top leaders of these six deep blue states had begun conspiring to form a new federal government long before the election.

The decisive attitude and rapid action of the six deep blue states in the south deeply surprised the western elites present.

Of course, the people who feel this most deeply are not the elites in the west, but the elites in the north.

The current Constitution of the United States came into effect after the Revolutionary War and was approved by the state legislatures of the thirteen states that founded the country.

It has always been the consensus of the states that the states come first and then the federation. Although the power of the federal government has been continuously strengthened and state rights have been continuously weakened since the founding of the United States, this is a very slow process. People in each state generally identify much more with their states than they do with the distant federal government.

Previously, northern elites stood on the moral high ground and accused southern slavery of being inhumane, uncivilized, and too proud.

When some southern states played the trump card of independence and completely separated from the north, the elites in the north immediately became at a loss and became very embarrassed.

Most northern politicians have no plan for the independence of the deep-blue southern states, let alone any countermeasures. They have long been accustomed to sucking blood from the bodies of southern states, and they stubbornly and stupidly believe that it is impossible for the South to live independently of the federal government.

"From a constitutional and procedural perspective, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the approach of the six deep blue states." Fremont said after pondering for a moment, "I don't know how the federal government will respond to such a crisis."

Since at the beginning of the founding of the United States, the Constitution could only come into effect after being approved by the state assembly of each state, then the state assembly naturally also had the power to veto the Constitution and withdraw from the federation through the motion of the state assembly.

In the South, at least six deep-blue states have completely broken with the federal government and have formed de facto independence. There is no possibility of a peaceful ending to the following situation. It depends on how the Republican Party and Lincoln clean up the mess.

There were only two choices before Lincoln. One was to abide by the Constitution and recognize the fait accompli of the independence of the deep blue states and recognize the Confederate government.

The second is to directly send troops to suppress the Confederacy in violation of the Constitution and safeguard the unity of the United States.

Based on Fremont's understanding of Lincoln, there is a high probability that Lincoln would choose the second path. As for how to explain the unconstitutionality to the northern people, that is what Lincoln should worry about, not what he should worry about.

Of course, the remaining variable in the current situation in the east is the eight light blue states in the border areas between the north and the south. These eight states are currently the targets of both the north and the south.

Especially Maryland and Virginia.

If these two states were completely under the control of the Southern states, Washington, the capital of the federal government, would be completely surrounded by Southern forces. The Lincoln administration will also face the embarrassing situation of having to move the capital as soon as it takes office. The negative public opinion impact this will have on the new government will be immeasurable, and the people in the north will also lack confidence in the new government.

"Virginia hasn't expressed its position yet?" Gwen stared at the light blue Virginia on the map and frowned.

Virginia is the most powerful state in the South and the undisputed leader in the South. Without the participation of Virginia, the newly formed Confederate government would undoubtedly be a fool's errand to confront the North.

"Virginia is still waiting and watching? This big brother who takes the lead doesn't look like a big brother at all." Wu Yuanhua was confused by Virginia's behavior. The six younger brothers have already stepped forward. Virginia It’s really hard to explain whether Big Brother has expressed his stance yet.

"Not necessarily." Pan Zhengwei analyzed, "I guess the top leaders of Virginia have not yet reached an agreement. Virginians in the east wear the same pants as other southern states, and small farmers and farmers in Virginia in the west We would rather wear the same pants as the North."

"Buchanan did not act, the Electoral College has not yet announced the final results, and Lincoln cannot be sworn in immediately. This window of time is a great opportunity for Virginia to rectify its military affairs and expel the northern forces. If it continues, it will be disrupted, and the maintenance will be If Virginia's wise men are so timid, Virginia will be in big trouble sooner or later." Wu Yuanhua also elaborated on his views on the current performance of Virginia's top leaders.