Unconditional Surrender Truman
Harry S Truman
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« on: February 28, 2015, 02:10:32 PM » |
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Abraham Lincoln's last four years would be largely uneventful, though the "rail splitter" president could claim a few important accomplishments as his term drew to a close in 1868. Though Radicals continued to resent his decision to withdrawal federal troops from the South, thereby ending Reconstruction, they were somewhat pacified by Lincoln's dogged enforcement of the Civil Rights Act of 1861. Settlers continued to depart for the West in droves, settling in the new states of Kansas, Nevada, and Nebraska. In the East, an industrial boom in late 1867 offset the damage of the Panic of 1865, leading to both economic growth and unrest amongst the nation's working class.
Despite having served less than two full terms in office, Lincoln declined to seek the Republican nomination in 1868, having only narrowly won in four years earlier. Front-runner to succeed him is Secretary of State Schuyler Colfax, a Radical Republican who supports stronger measures to suppress vigilante groups such as the KKK that have begun to spring up across the South. Colfax likewise supports continued construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, of which President Lincoln is immensely proud. Though considered to be a lock for the nomination, the Secretary of State is challenged by moderate Congressman Andrew Curtin, and Vice President Thomas has also been mentioned as a possible candidate.
The Democrats are attempting to expunge their party once and for all of the tinge of racism, having lost the last six elections in utter landslides. The strongest candidate for the nomination is former Senator Salmon Chase, a former Republican who has made civil service reform his pet issue. Chase's name has also been entered before a caucus of so-called "Liberal Republicans" who object to Colfax's connections to less-than-scrupulous persons (former Secretary of War Charles F. Adams, son of former president John Q. Adams, has also been considered by the Liberals). Challenging Chase at the Democratic Convention are Senator Thomas Hendricks, who supports firm action against the growing labor rights movement, and Congressman Horatio Seymour, who wants to repeal the Civl Rights Act of 1861 and withdrawal all federal marshals from the South.
Then there is the Constitutional Union Party. The party has been in decline since nominating President Lincoln on a fusion ticket in 1864, and though it currently holds the vice presidency and a handful of seats in Congress many have concluded that the party's days are numbered. Vice President Francis Thomas and Senator Andrew Johnson, two of the country's most prominent Unionists, have both allowed their names to be submitted before the convention, though significant movements to fuse with either the Democratic or Republican parties have also gained ground of late.
Who will emerge victorious from this chaotic election? The choice is yours.
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