[A Duel of Pride]
As expected, Buchanan's inauguration ended in a display of sheer mediocrity.
I don't know exactly how it went in the original history, but he must have finished his speech looking like a puppy desperate to find a bathroom, legs crossed and trembling.
They say even his beloved nephew, whom he cherished like a son, died while clinging to life, so the inauguration—which he attended thinking it would be a festival—must have felt more like a funeral.
In short, it is no exaggeration to say that the reason this inauguration went off without a hitch was entirely thanks to me, from start to finish.
And Buchanan is the winner of the "He was a nice guy" award, a label given to almost every incompetent leader in history.
Even without me having to make it obvious, he took care of my convenience on his own.
"Don't worry about building the hospital in New York. Saving human lives is a task that requires bipartisan cooperation, regardless of party lines, so no one will oppose it."
"Thank you, Mr. President!"
"I should be the one thanking you. If you ever run into any difficulties, feel free to contact me through my secretary."
Before I left Washington D.C., Buchanan personally summoned a cabinet member and gave strict instructions that the establishment of the New York branch of James Clinic must not be hindered by any bureaucratic procedures.
Ah, the warm grace of the President. Honestly, it’s not like I’m trying to get ahead through the power of authority; I’m just trying to build a few hospitals across the country, so what does it matter if I get help from the Republicans or the Democrats? If anyone tries to tackle me on this, I can just snap back, "Are you saying I should choose who to treat based on their political stance?" and that would be the end of it.
If Buchanan or Breckinridge push for my hospital, they can rack up political achievements, so this is a win-win for both sides.
Why on earth is such a reasonable person criticized as the worst president in American history?
Just as I was starting to feel a shred of sympathy for him:
March 7, 1857.
Having finished my schedule in Washington and visited New York, I was able to confirm the exact reason why.
Behold this incredible power, splitting the nation's public opinion in just three days after taking office, as if Moses were parting the Red Sea.
No, seriously, what do you have to do to make things literally go to hell in an instant like this?
As soon as I checked into the hotel, I grabbed a newspaper, and my jaw dropped in shock at the President's astonishing achievement.
"Is he a madman, or what?"
Reading the article, I vaguely remember hearing about this when I was in the modern era.
The Dred Scott decision—they said it was one of the most shameful rulings in American judicial history, remembered even into the 21st century.
To summarize briefly, it was a case where a black slave, Dred Scott, brought his wife and daughter to a northern free state and filed a lawsuit in federal court to be granted the rights of an American citizen.
But our Supreme Court didn't rule in Scott's favor, using the logic: "Nope, you slaves are private property, so you can't be protected by the Constitution. You are non-citizens."
The reason this ruling is so absurd is that it meant blacks would not be recognized as citizens even in northern free states, and it meant slaveholders could freely carry their slaves anywhere, whether in the South or the North.
This was a ruling that completely ignored the North's decision to view blacks as citizens, even if they were second-class, and it was tantamount to declaring to the whole world that the United States was, in fact, a slave state.
"Look at this crazy man Buchanan, dropping this bomb as soon as he takes office?"
What should I call this? It’s a mystery that can't even be explained by the word "absurd."
Leo, who could read well enough, looked at the newspaper I had tossed on the desk and asked.
"But Master, isn't the verdict made by the court? Why is the President getting cursed at?"
"It's obvious to anyone. Do you know what our President Buchanan said in his inauguration speech just three days ago?"
The issue of slavery in the territories would be settled "speedily and finally" by the Supreme Court.
That was the exact phrase the President spat out of his own mouth three days ago. Since the Supreme Court then immediately nailed down that blacks were not citizens as if they had been waiting for it, even a three-year-old child would suspect that the President's influence was behind this ruling.
Republicans and critics of slavery poured out raw criticism, saying Buchanan was regressing American history, while Democrats and slavery advocates held their heads high, asking if they were ignoring the court's ruling.
And since New York City was the hellish place where both sides were gathered, the scene I saw a moment ago was no exaggeration to call a microcosm of the current United States.
"But Master, New York is in the North, so aren't they on the side of abolition?"
"The state of New York leans toward abolition, but New York City's public opinion is fiercely divided. There are many financiers here with ties to the South, and they are secretly inciting public opinion from behind the scenes."
Even just looking within the city, people who curse or praise Buchanan are dizzyingly mixed, and newspapers with polar opposite editorial tones are springing up everywhere.
Perhaps Buchanan expected that by making this ruling, the southern slave states would be satisfied and the public opinion about seceding from the Union would disappear.
But the fact that he overlooked the simple reality that this would inevitably consolidate northern public opinion behind the Republican Party is beyond my understanding.
With this one ruling, the North and the South have effectively crossed a river from which there is no return.
Even the President openly threw out a message that he had intervened in the Supreme Court's ruling—it would be strange if things didn't go up in flames.
"My goodness... how is the first thing you do after taking office judicial intervention?"
Seeing the President's insane political ability to turn the nation's public opinion into a mess in just three days makes me dizzy.
Well, I suppose you have to be capable of this much to be counted as the worst president in American history even in the 21st century.
No matter how poorly born into an era you are, I've realized once again that the title of "the worst in history" isn't something just anyone can earn.
As expected. The best strategy is to take the hospital subsidy and cut ties immediately.
Even while I was organizing my future plans and checking my schedule,
The streets of New York were heating up fiercely.
It was the future of America that would soon unfold in every corner of the country.
Politics isn't essential for doing business, but it's a fact that things become much easier if you can get the help of a politician.
If you receive illegal aid or support, there will be repercussions, but humanitarian projects are a different story.
In fact, this area is difficult to establish without the help of politics or religion.
Of course, the United States isn't a country that originally does these kinds of humanitarian projects, so it's not easy to pull government money for them.
But now, it's a special situation where the North and South are split, engaged in a fierce battle to prove they are right.
Naturally, the current government and the ruling party were in a position where they had to prove they were by no means unethical people, and one of the alternatives they could show this with was James Clinic.
As proof, the top official of Tammany Hall, who had only sent a letter last time, came to visit me in person.
"Hahaha! Welcome. I was truly sorry I couldn't greet you in person when you came to New York last time. I am Isaac Fowler."
"I am James Sett. I don't know what to do with myself, having the Postmaster of New York City greet me personally."
"Haha, you are someone who will do great things for our New York City, so of course I should welcome you with open arms."
Isaac Fowler, the Grand Sachem of Tammany Hall—the core of the New York Democratic Party—and the Postmaster of New York City.
Seeing a big shot with as much influence as the Mayor of New York City come out in person, it's clear that having power at your back is good for business.
"Even if I've done some business in Mississippi, here in New York, I'm just a country bumpkin from the South, aren't I? I will trust you and follow your lead, Director."
"Hoho, don't worry. It's a matter that the President himself requested through the cabinet member. Besides, New York City is noisy because of that ruling lately, so pushing for a project like this will be a huge help to our image. It's also a project for Tammany Hall, so we will pay even more attention to it."
"Thank you. I, too, will do my best to provide high-quality medical care and take responsibility for the health of New York citizens."
The Dred Scott decision was a trashy ruling by anyone's standards, but the fact that the Democratic Party in the North was caught in a whirlwind of controversy because of it was unexpectedly working in my favor.
Even this Isaac Fowler was trying to help me to gain even a slight advantage in the fierce public opinion war currently happening in New York City.
"By the way, Mr. Sett, what will you do until the hospital construction procedures are finished? Have you set up a separate schedule?"
"Ah... I don't have a schedule for now. It's not that I really have nothing to do, but since I came here for medical work, I thought it would be better not to engage in any other activities so that no noise would be made."
I'm cutting it off in advance so that no one asks me to join in declaring support for the Dred Scott decision.
"Ah... Mr. Sett, you are indeed deep in thought. You're blocking at the source the argument that running a hospital is ultimately an attempt to manipulate public opinion."
"Yes, that's exactly it. Isn't it what those Republicans are best at, picking at flaws even when they see the slightest opening?"
"That is true. Even this time, they are spinning all sorts of conspiracy theories, saying the President's words at the inauguration are evidence of judicial intervention."
I nodded with a subtle smile.
Sorry, but that *is* judicial intervention... A man who knows everything anyway is quite skilled at keeping a straight face.
"Anyway, for that reason, I intend to stay a little away from sensitive political issues. My heart wants to stand at the forefront and shout for justice with you all, but..."
"Ah, no, no. Mr. Sett, you have already given us enough weapons to fight with this time. Still, if your schedule is empty, why don't you come watch a show with me? You don't need to give any speeches at all. We're just going to show our faces where many of our supporters gather."
"Are you talking about something like a rally?"
It wouldn't be a big problem if I just didn't give a support speech, but honestly, I don't really want to participate in a pro-slavery rally.
"It's nothing like that. It's just an enjoyable game. Its popularity has been growing explosively in New York lately, and our supporters are absolutely crazy about it. That's why Tammany Hall officials also visit the stadium often on purpose. Narrowing the distance with supporters is one of the secrets to managing approval ratings."
"It must be some kind of performance that financiers enjoy."
"Not financiers, but lower-class whites like Irish laborers. We've been putting a lot of effort into this side lately."
I didn't need to infer why lower-class white laborers would oppose the abolition of slavery, even if they weren't tied to the New York financiers by direct profit.
"Is the flow something like, 'If blacks are liberated, they'll all flock to the North and drive you out of your jobs'?"
"Exactly. Mr. Sett, you are indeed a talent who should be in politics, just as the President said. You seem to have a knack for public opinion warfare... If you're interested, join the party anytime. Tammany Hall will welcome you."
"I'll think about it in about 10 years when I've gained more experience."
Isaac looked disappointed, but I was surprised in a different sense by the high level of public opinion manipulation these people possessed.
It certainly seems to have a significant effect to incite anxiety in white laborers who live day-to-day by asking who would hire them if a large number of black laborers, who are cheaper than them, were to enter.
Anyway, their brains only seem to work well for bad things.
"Then what is this game they enjoy? If it's just watching a game, I think that would be fine."
"It's a trivial ball game, but it's unexpectedly fun. They've been doing it consistently for a few years, and some kind of association was formed this year, and the scale is growing explosively as the days go by. It's expected that thousands or more will gather at the stadium by next year, so it wouldn't be bad to pretend you're interested from now on."
"It must be very popular. What is the name of that ball game?"
I had a hunch... and sure enough, Isaac Fowler shrugged his shoulders and asked.
"They call it baseball. Have you heard of it?"
Of course I've heard of it. Our farm is an expert at that.