Chapter 626: Washington's Safety

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 troublesome enough, and Lincoln did not want problems in the West.

Although the Western region's presence in the United States has never been as strong as that of the Southern region, Lincoln, who had personally been to the West, clearly understood 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 wait until 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, it 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; some wanted to remain in 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 Gotta 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, Maryland's largest city.

If Maryland was 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 vigilance and even built fences and pulled up 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 will 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 are basically no plantations in the rural areas west of Maryland, but only farms, and these farmers do not support slavery. Supporters of slavery in Maryland are mainly concentrated in Baltimore, the largest city in the state. Therefore, it is relatively easy to control Maryland.

"Mr. Lincoln, what a rare guest."

When Lincoln came, Secretary of War Scott was reporting to Buchanan. Buchanan was surprised by Lincoln's sudden visit, and he did not know the purpose of Lincoln's visit.

"Since the two presidents have important matters to discuss, I will not disturb you. I will take my leave first." Seeing this, Scott stood up and was about to leave.

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

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

"Regarding the security of Washington," Lincoln said 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 attitudes towards the new government are wavering. Virginia and Maryland still have great trust in my old government, which is about to leave office." Buchanan did not want to intensify the tension between the North and the South before leaving office, so he shirked the responsibility.

"Sending troops to Maryland, do you know what this means? It means war!"

"You keep compromising with them and indulge them in their misdeeds. Of course they trust you." Lincoln mocked Buchanan unceremoniously.

"Lincoln! Watch your words! I am still the president of America now! Not you!" Lincoln's mockery made Buchanan furious.

"Mr. Buchanan, listen to Mr. Lincoln's ideas. Arguing can't 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 was even unwilling to call Buchanan the president now.