The Continental Tripartite Stew
It is a tradition as old as the Greek and Roman eras for politicians to bicker over election results. There have been many cases where people truly cried foul, refused to accept the outcome, and rose up in protest; the end for such people was almost always ruin. Yet, despite the countless historical failures, it is human nature to fall into the delusion that "I am different."
Breckinridge and the Southern Democrats possessed a firm conviction and belief that they were different from the common rabble of election-denying agitators.
"Slavery is the justice desired by all in the South and a core element of our social safety net. Refusing to comply with the demands of those who seek to forcibly abolish a system desired by half the nation is a right guaranteed by our Constitution!"
"We have no need for a representative who does not follow the will of the people! Douglas is not fit to represent the South!"
"Invalid! It's all invaaaaalid!"
The situation was now racing at full speed toward a direction no one could control. The Charleston convention hall, where the Southern delegates had collectively walked out, had become an absolute scene of chaos.
"Mr. Chairman! Mr. Chairman! What are you going to do about this situation!"
Stephen Douglas's supporters were furious, but at the same time, they saw this as an opportunity. Historically, there are almost no cases where a group that breaks away from a party while refusing to accept the primary results has fared well. Rather, it had opened a path to purge the extremists and perfectly reorganize the Democratic Party around the Northern Democrats.
However, there was one problem. Even with the South entirely gone, the rule for nominating a candidate remained two-thirds of the total delegates. In other words, it meant they had to exceed two-thirds including the ghost votes of the South, who were not even in attendance. The Southern delegates who had staged the mass walkout must have calculated this before confidently kicking the doors open.
"I move to change the rules! We must change the candidate nomination rule to two-thirds or more of the *attending* delegates, not the total!"
"Hear, hear! That is reasonable!"
"Why should we care about the votes of traitors!"
The Northern Democrats did not meekly bow to the South's coercive actions. They were the majority to begin with, so they couldn't understand why a loud minority was trying to seize control of the party. The remaining Northern Democrats passed this reasonable amendment in a flash.
And the subsequent vote followed. Stephen A. Douglas was nominated as the official presidential candidate of the "Democratic Party of the United States" with the near-unanimous support of the remaining delegates.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
With the crisp sound of the gavel, came the sound of a single, massive political party splitting in two.
The news reached the Southern side in an instant.
"...What?"
William Yancey’s face twisted with rage upon hearing the news. "They treated us like we didn't exist and changed the rules? The core spirit and values of the Democratic Party lie in the South, yet those rotten Northerners dare to hijack the party!"
Conversely, legislators like Robert Toombs, who had been seriously considering Southern independence, chuckled and raised their glasses high. "Good! Very good! Haven't they proven themselves to be the 'fakes'? Now is the time to show the whole world who the *real* Democratic Party is!"
The secessionists rose up as if they had been waiting for this moment. They looked so dignified, as if they had prepared everything for this very day. Anyone watching might have thought they were freedom fighters standing up against unjust oppression.
"We will not follow Douglas's theory of popular sovereignty, but will defend the sacred 'Federal Slave Code'!"
"We hereby resolve to establish an independent 'Southern Democratic Party'!"
"Waaaaaah!"
"And our candidate! Not that traitor Douglas! But the only leader who will protect the convictions of the South! President John C. Breckinridge!"
"Breckinridge! Breckinridge! Breckinridge!"
It wasn't just a simple refusal to accept the primary results; they were founding an independent party and nominating their own candidate. Thus, the Democratic Party was perfectly split into two, and everything proceeded exactly as it had in the original history—or perhaps, even faster and more violently.
That night, when the Southern Democratic Party's resolution of independence was proclaimed, I was summoned to the temporary office in the White House. I stood quietly watching Breckinridge pacing in front of the burning fireplace. His face was a mixture of the agony of a man carrying the fate of the entire South and an inexplicable excitement.
His campaign staff stood by his side, egging him on.
"Mr. President, you must make a decision. The entire South—no, everyone who seeks to defend the Constitution is waiting for your decision."
"Douglas is already finished. He won't get a single vote in the South. You must step forward, sir."
Breckinridge slowly turned his head. He gestured for the other staff members to leave, leaving us alone.
"Seuret." The President's voice was low and serious. "What do you think? Looking back, your advice has never once been wrong amidst all this chaos. Many were suspicious of the rehabilitation center project, but didn't it turn out to be a huge success?"
Yes, yes, it’s finally here.
I gazed steadily into Breckinridge's eyes. This man wasn't really asking me to judge whether his actions were right or wrong. He just needed one final confirmation. He wanted the praise that he was not a divisionist, but a guardian protecting the Constitution. He wanted to be confirmed as a strategist who could turn a faint possibility into reality, not a fool walking into a pit of certain defeat.
Since he wouldn't stop even if I fed him the "red pill" here, wouldn't it be better for me, for Breckinridge, and for the South if I just gave him the answer he wanted? This was the completion of a world where no one gets hurt.
"Mr. President." I caught my breath, then put on my most sincere, most agonizing expression. "Honestly, I am just a simple planter from Mississippi with almost no knowledge of politics. How could I possibly offer advice on your great decision?"
"But your insight has been a great strength to me time and time again. It's alright, I would like to hear your honest opinion."
Everything in the world is like this, but flattery isn't just about stringing together nice words. Like a 21st-century AI, if you keep repeating "You really hit the nail on the head," the other person just gets annoyed. The key is to act objective while naturally letting them know that they are right without making it obvious.
"Mr. President, watching your brave decision this time, I was reminded of an ancient Asian story."
"Ho-ho, have you studied Asia as well?"
"Even though our cotton is currently sold mainly to Europe, couldn't we open up the Asian market as well? So, I studied Asian history extensively with the mindset of investigating future markets."
"As expected, a prepared person is different. So, tell me what you were reminded of."
"There is a classic piece of literature that Asian people love and cherish most, called the *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*. It is a book based on actual history, where a genius named Zhuge Liang, the greatest strategist in the history of the Central Plains, devised a strategy called the 'Continental Tripartite Plan'."
Anyone with a quick wit would have realized that I was comparing the current situation of the South to ancient China, and Breckinridge to Zhuge Liang. I feel like the resentment of every Asian fan of the *Three Kingdoms* who loves Zhuge Liang will pour down on me, but please, bear with me for the greater cause.
I coated my face in titanium alloy and continued heavily.
"Objectively, the North has more people than the South. So, if it becomes a one-on-one confrontation between the North and the South, the South has no chance of winning the election. However, by separating Douglas from the Democratic Party, haven't you created a multi-party structure of the Republican Party, the Northern Democratic Party, and the Southern Democratic Party, rather than a Republican-Democratic structure!"
"...Hm?"
"At first glance, it seems the Democratic Party has weakened due to division, but that is not the case. In the North, there must have been people who supported the Democratic Party but were thinking, 'The South is a bit...', and would have voted for the Republican Party. Since Douglas has completely split from us in the South, you can bring these people back as supporters."
There is no way Breckinridge had such a calculation, but for now, I provided a theoretical basis with the most plausible-sounding words. And to be honest, this is not theoretically impossible.
"First of all, since all Southern electors will support you, it's as good as securing 72 electors. Now, if Lincoln and Douglas keep each other in check and eat away at each other's votes in the North? Even if you only pick up one or two additional states, you can definitely win."
"...Could Douglas really eat away at Lincoln's votes?"
Breckinridge was truly hooked by my words; I could see him leaning forward. Of course, I had to leave myself an escape route, just in case I laid out such a confident plan and the result turned out to be a disaster.
"That now depends on the ability of the staff who will assist you and the ability of Douglas, doesn't it?"
"...True, that is also the case."
"No matter how excellent a leader is, they cannot do everything alone if they are not supported from below. Zhuge Liang from the *Three Kingdoms* I mentioned also failed in his grand undertaking because the person entrusted with a key strategic point suddenly decided to climb a mountain. Honestly, since you have presented a blueprint of this magnitude, shouldn't your staff be putting all their strength into it?"
Are you afraid you'll be blamed if the results aren't good? This isn't the President's fault, but the fault of the incompetent staff and legislators who couldn't support you, right? You presented a brilliant strategy, but what can you do if the incompetent Southerners aren't ready to welcome a great leader? So, don't worry about anything and challenge yourself to the fullest.
Breckinridge, having heard the words he wanted to hear most until the very end, saw his eyes begin to burn with firm resolve once again.
"That's right. As long as the Northern Democratic Party is encroached upon by the weak theory of popular sovereignty, the only way to save the South is my..."
"Continental Tripartite Plan."
"Yes, it must be the Continental Tripartite Plan. I will reorganize the confrontation structure of this Union into a multi-party structure and bring about a future where our South becomes the final victor!"
If he wins, it's thanks to me; if he loses, it's the incompetent staff's fault. Breckinridge, who had derived the perfect equation for victory, no longer had any hesitation.
"For the future of this country! So that everyone in the South can lead a life protected by the Constitution guaranteed by the Union! I will purify the corrupt Democratic Party and start everything anew!"
And the Southern Democrats, having heard this manifesto from Breckinridge, were swept up in tremendous excitement.
"...If that happens, while Lincoln and Douglas are biting each other in the North, we can unify the South and emerge as the final victor!"
The reaction of the staff who heard the explanation was explosive.
"Ohhh...!"
Robert Toombs slapped his knee with his massive hand. "The President's Continental Tripartite Plan! It is truly impressive! Hahaha! Why didn't we think of this simple structure?"
The biggest problem facing the Southern Democrats—a simple election strategy that only shouted "Invalid!" at every turn—was now able to face a major innovation.
"That's right! The Democratic Party hasn't split! We used them to reorganize the unfavorable structure into one advantageous to us!"
"We must target Pennsylvania and New Jersey immediately!"
"Let's keep attacks on Douglas to a minimum. The more Douglas steals Lincoln's votes, the more it benefits us!"
"Right! Let's let that Douglas fellow steal as many of Lincoln's votes as he can! Hahaha!"
Our Dixie friends' "happy circuit" began to burn again.
"If we follow this strategy well, our winning percentage will rise dramatically!"
"As expected of the South's hope, President Breckinridge!"
"Our Southern Democratic Party will take this presidential election!"
I didn't know it would be to this extent, but it's boiling much better than I thought. The ingredients are Breckinridge, the Southern Democrats, the staff, and the longing for victory growing in the hearts of the Dixies. A very delicious Continental Tripartite Stew was being completed.