The Man Was Good (2)
The position of United States President Buchanan, with the general election looming, was truly between a rock and a hard place.
Let’s briefly summarize those who disliked Buchanan.
Those who hated Buchanan the most were, without a doubt, the Republican Party and its supporters.
The only thing he had done since becoming president was interfere in Supreme Court cases, and he had failed to take any measures against the economic panic, dealing a severe blow to the Northern economy. On top of that, reports of serious corruption among government officials emerged, causing Buchanan's already low approval rating to plummet even further into the abyss.
I said "abyss," but you might ask if there was any room left to fall.
In theory, a politician's approval rating can keep falling until it hits 0%.
No matter how much of a disaster Buchanan was, he hadn't yet broken through the 0% barrier, but I could guarantee that his current approval rating was lower than any other president’s up to the 19th century.
It wasn't just the Republicans who were cursing him, either.
The people cursing and criticizing Buchanan after the Republicans were, without question, the Northern Democrats.
They were the ones who had contributed the most to Buchanan becoming president within the Democratic Party, but as the saying goes, there is nothing more terrifying than a fan turned anti-fan.
The Northern Democrats, once his most fervent supporters, had turned their backs on him to the point of shuddering at the mere mention of his name.
Originally, the Northern Democrats had expected Buchanan to leverage his Northern roots to mend the rift between the North and the South.
But unfortunately, social integration and conflict resolution are incredibly difficult tasks.
This wasn't just a 19th-century problem; it was nearly impossible even in the 21st century.
Yet, they had entrusted this difficult task to none other than Buchanan, a man whose only merit was that he was "a good person." How could anything go right?
Buchanan might have had his own excuses, but what could he do?
"Please, do something. Whenever the president is mentioned in a debate, there's nothing we can do."
"If we want to survive, we have no choice but to cut ties with the president."
"I suppose we must. We have to protect our seats first."
The fact that a politician's own seat is the most important thing in the world is a truth that hasn't changed from the past to the present, nor will it in the future.
The moment it became clear that continuing to side with him would cost them their seats, the Northern Democrats cut Buchanan off with the speed of light.
"To be honest, I never liked that man Buchanan from the start."
"Exactly. If he became president, he should have done his job properly instead of playing games with the judiciary. Tsk, tsk."
Finally, the Southern Democrats, the extremist slave advocates, also began to treat Buchanan with increasing coldness.
"I thought this man had some sense during the Dred Scott ruling, but I really don't like how he's acting now."
"That's right. Whether the Northern bastards bark or not, he should just stamp it down: the United States is a country that recognizes slavery. That's what his supporters elected him for, but now he's acting neutral, acting kind, acting like he has a conscience. Isn't this the politics of betrayal?"
The reason even the Southern Democrats didn't support Buchanan was slightly different from the other two.
It was because he didn't support slavery *ferociously* enough.
If he were a Democratic president, he should have raised his voice for Southern interests and slavery, but after taking a bit of heat in the North, he had immediately shriveled up, repeating the phrase "the freedom of each state" like a parrot. How could they not be frustrated?
"Come to think of it, the reason Peters went on a rampage is because Buchanan kept doing useless things."
"Exactly. If Buchanan had declared that the Union was a slave-holding nation, Peters wouldn't have had any reason to do something this crazy, would he?"
The John Peters treason incident that erupted this time became an indelible shame for the Democratic Party, but they even tried to pin this on Buchanan.
It was to the point where—!
Yes, to the point where one might wonder why Peters had committed such an act of treason.
The Southern Democrats chose to bury Buchanan to cover up their own flaws.
As politicians started coming out like this one by one, the citizens who supported the party naturally followed their lead.
"Buchanan! Explain yourself!"
"President who condoned violence! Take responsibility!"
"Take responsibility! Take responsibility! Take responsibility!"
It was a bizarre logic where they were the ones who incited the rebellion, yet they demanded the president take responsibility, but the Buchanan administration, with its approval ratings already at rock bottom, couldn't mount a proper response.
A president hated by the Republicans, cut off by the Northern Democrats, and condemned by the Southern Democrats.
Wait? He’s been abandoned by the entire United States, hasn't he?
And sensing this atmosphere, the Republican Party finally uttered the forbidden word.
"President Buchanan has ignored his duties as president and the Constitution of the Union. Despite clear signs of violence and treason in the South, he has abandoned the Union's duty under the pretext of 'the freedom of each state.' Does such a man deserve to hold the presidency?"
"What is it the Republican Party wants to say?"
"Step down. Otherwise, we have no choice but to propose an impeachment motion."
"What is that..."
"The Democratic Party, the ruling party, won't agree, so it won't pass, but we Republicans will make this our official campaign pledge. We will impeach the incompetent president who has abandoned the economy, security, and political stability. So, please give your strength to our Republican Party in this election!"
In 1858, no presidential impeachment motion had ever been passed until now.
However, the majority of citizens were sympathizing in their hearts.
If a president had to be impeached, Buchanan was the one most suited to be the first in history.
Confirming that even the Southern Democrats weren't that enthusiastic about protecting Buchanan, the Democratic mainstream secretly contacted the Republicans.
"How about... compromising with a resignation?"
The Buchanan administration thus met its end much faster than in the original history.
* * *
"What, what? Is Buchanan really resigning?"
"What on earth is going on!"
"If the president disappears, then who becomes the next president? Do we have to hold an election again?"
Hmm, truly, it was chaos incarnate.
Even if it was self-inflicted, I felt like things were getting too big.
Whether Buchanan would really resign, or be the first in history to be impeached.
When exactly would that time be?
I could clearly feel that the entire Union was boiling over this one issue.
Newspapers poured out special articles every day, and people on the streets expressed both anxiety and anticipation, imagining America after the president disappeared.
In the midst of this great confusion, I was invited to a secret party hosted by Governor Macrae.
"......"
The Governor's Mansion in Jackson.
As soon as I arrived, I felt in my skin that something was strange.
No wonder almost no one else in the horse racing club had been invited.
It wasn't a flashy, noisy banquet hall. Only five or six people were sipping whiskey in the parlor amidst a heavy atmosphere.
Jefferson Davis, Quitman, Parer. The super-heavyweight politicians who moved Mississippi.
Since I had guessed what kind of meeting this was, I gave a hollow laugh at Governor Macrae, who was greeting me warmly.
"Governor, I think you sent the invitation to the wrong person. I don't think this is a place for me."
Just as he was about to laugh and wave his hand at my jest.
"Haha, if the hero of Mississippi doesn't attend, who else would be qualified to stand in this place?"
The parlor door opened, and today's true protagonist appeared.
The incumbent Vice President, John C. Breckinridge.
His eyes, which had been saved from shitting his pants at the National Hotel thanks to me, were filled with favor toward me.
That shit-stainer strode over and grabbed my hand firmly.
"Nice to see you again, Sett. When that terrible dysentery broke out at the National Hotel, there were one or two congressmen who benefited from the oral rehydration solution you made. I knew it from then on. That you were no ordinary person. I knew you would accomplish something big like this."
"Thank you. Thanks to your efforts, Vice President, I was able to easily expand the hospital in the North. I should have visited you to express my gratitude, and I am only sorry."
"Hahaha, what are you saying. There isn't a person who doesn't know you've been working busier than I have. If I were to feel offended by something like that, I would be a small-minded person. Don't worry about it at all."
As we exchanged warm pleasantries, the party began before I knew it.
No, that's not right. To be precise, this wasn't a party.
As expected, with Buchanan's resignation imminent, this was nothing more than a showcase for Breckinridge, who would become the next president, to appeal for support from the key Southern heavyweights.
Whiskey glasses were filled, and the heavyweights gathered there tilted their glasses, using Breckinridge's speech as their side dish.
"Gentlemen, I am different from Buchanan."
They don't even attach the title of president anymore.
"I am not someone who cares about the North's opinion. I am based in the South, raised by the South, the son of the South!"
As expected of the first Vice President in American history to become a leader of an insurrection, the resonance is different.
He looked around the room and continued.
"If I become president, I will clearly show that I am different from that spineless man. So, please agree to Buchanan's resignation. We must end this chaos in the name of the South."
"But if the president resigns, won't the Democratic Party's approval rating drop even further?"
"If we hold on like that, our Democratic Party's foundation in the North will truly be finished."
Furthermore, he said he would tour other Southern states to gather public opinion.
"I know painfully well that you are disappointed in Buchanan. I myself have been very disappointed. I won't say much. I will show you through action, so please give your strength to my actions!"
The heavyweights of Mississippi responded with applause.
Wow, things are going well, aren't they?
Unlike 21st-century South Korea, where a new presidential election is held if the president steps down, in the United States, the Vice President takes the seat, so the administration isn't completely replaced.
However, naturally, if Breckinridge becomes president, the ministers who played both sides between the North and South will all become unemployed.
The consequences of that are so obvious that I don't even want to predict them.
I sipped my wine, inwardly sneering.
By the time people were freely conversing and enjoying the food, Breckinridge approached me again.
"Major Sett, you really accomplished a great thing. To suppress a fanatic like Peters in that way."
"I was just lucky, Vice President."
"So humble. If I become president, I intend to appoint many young people like you. Shouldn't young blood like us be the backbone to lead the new future of this Union?"
No, why do these Southern Dixies love me so much?
Can't you just pretend you don't know me while I keep sending you donations?
Still, since he was a man who would soon be president, I expressed my refusal as politely as possible on the outside.
However, I was firm.
"That is too much praise. But I have just been promoted to Major in the Mississippi Militia, and above all, it is urgent to correct the regional sentiment shaken by the Peters incident and the education of the newly acquired black people. I cannot leave this place right now."
Breckinridge looked genuinely regretful, but fortunately, he nodded soon after.
"I see. Indeed, that is also an important task. I understand. But if a young hero like you supports me, it will be a great strength to me."
He patted my shoulder and laughed heartily.
"Look forward to the new era I will open!"
A new era... a new era, huh.
Watching him, I recalled the naive words Leo had said a while ago.
'But since such a big accident happened this time, won't everyone live like mice for a while?'
Laughter leaked out on its own.
Live like mice?
We got rid of Buchanan, only for Breckinridge to come along?
The Republicans seem to be calculating that if they win a landslide victory in this general election, the Democratic Party, which even resigned, will disappear, but I wonder.
A new era.
That era of madness, stained with blood, violence, and division.
The premonition that it was approaching much faster than I had expected was already becoming a conviction.