The Signs of Schism

Breckinridge, the icon of Southern love and slave love, was, in truth, a man of a very peculiar background.

He was the epitome of good fortune, having served as the youngest Vice President in American history and now ascending to become the youngest President as well.

Furthermore, while he was a man who shouted louder than anyone that slavery must not be lost and that it was the pride of the Union, he himself did not own slaves.

In fact, it was precisely because of this characteristic that Breckinridge could spout arguments for the preservation of slavery without any hesitation.

When other planters argued for the preservation of slavery, they inevitably faced criticism that they were only doing so because they were stingy about their own property.

But Breckinridge was different.

"I believe slavery must be preserved because it is a right guaranteed by the Constitution."

The most terrifying person in this world is a fanatic driven by conviction. Even if that direction was twisted, Breckinridge’s belief that slavery was a right guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was firmly in the realm of the fanatical.

Moreover, although he was acting like a secessionist to anyone who saw him, he was, surprisingly, not a secessionist.

He was a staunch federalist who believed that the South must remain in the Union, and he firmly believed that all the policies he was currently pursuing were indispensable measures for that very purpose.

"I am submitting the Ordnance Bureau report. We have completed the transfer of 5,000 obsolete Springfield Model 1855 rifles and related ammunition to the Fayetteville Arsenal."

"Good work. Belmont is next, I presume?"

"Yes, Your Excellency. We plan to 'balance the inventory' by next month."

"This is the Post Office Department. The response to the bid announcement for the new New Orleans-Havana maritime mail route is explosive. The participation of Southern shipping companies is particularly..."

"Isn't that a natural result? The revitalization of Southern ports is the revitalization of the entire nation."

Breckinridge received the reports with satisfaction.

No matter what the Northerners blathered about, the strength of the Union came from balance. A weakened South could never achieve true integration. This was not just for the South, but for the entire United States!

But alas, there were not many who understood his profound intentions.

Lincoln looked out the window in silence. The letter sent to Sett must have arrived by now. He, too, would now know that the Republican Party had recognized the gravity of the situation.

A silence of fury hung over the conference room. All these signs pointed to only one conclusion: Breckinridge was... truly preparing for the independence of the South.

This was not just a misunderstanding ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠by the Republican Party.

The South was also drinking toasts, interpreting the situation similarly to the Republicans. They were enthusiastic, believing that Breckinridge was laying the cornerstone for Southern independence.

Of course, Breckinridge, who believed he was practicing true patriotism, merely sighed as he scanned the reactions of both sides in the newspapers.

"Foolish people... Are there really no others, Republican or Democrat, who can follow my vision?"

The lonely genius let out a low sigh and quietly lifted his whiskey glass.

"Why does no one understand this profound intention? Only when the South grows stronger will the North not dare to despise us. Only then can the Union stand upright upon true balance..."

He believed that this entire process of becoming President after Buchanan was the will of God. Was it not? As a man who was young even as a congressman, let alone a Vice President, he was a figure for whom the presidency was impossible from the start. The only scenario in which he could become President was to inherit the vacant office after becoming Vice President. Since this absurd scenario had become reality, he could not help but interpret it as a revelation from God.

He was the one chosen with the mission to reunite this divided Union. He was none other than John C. Breckinridge himself.

"I need a stronger move. A move that will show the Northerners the severity of the law, and the Southerners that the order of the Union is still alive."

A man with the decisiveness to act without hesitation once a decision was made. That was Breckinridge, and he did not hesitate in the slightest.

The next day, in the Cabinet meeting room.

"You want to... increase the number of Fugitive Slave Act enforcement officers by fivefold?"

The acting Attorney General asked back, as if he could not believe it. "Your Excellency! That... that is an act that will completely burn down the North! The talk of impeachment will come up in the House again immediately!"

The Secretary of the Interior also chimed in. "Even now, federal marshals are being beaten in the North. If we increase the personnel by fivefold here, a riot could break out!"

Is it that even the ministers cannot follow my moves? However, Breckinridge wore a relaxed smile instead of getting annoyed.

"Do not worry. I have the perfect witness who will prove the legitimacy of this policy."

The ministers looked at him with puzzled eyes.

"A witness? You mean a person? Who on earth is that?"

Ah, do they not know? Breckinridge took a deep puff of his cigar, exhaled, and spoke the name.

"The hero of Mississippi. James Sett."

It was the absolute move that would prove his legitimacy.

"Breckinridge! That man is truly insane!"

The Republican office, which was already boiling over with the President's recent actions, was in an uproar like a poked hornet's nest. Even Lincoln put down the newspaper with a pale, shocked face. He had thought he would reveal his true colors soon and was preparing countermeasures, but wasn't this even faster than expected?

"Impeachment! We must propose an impeachment motion immediately!"

"Calm down! There is no evidence yet...!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Why is there no evidence! If trying to split this country in half isn't evidence, then what is!"

Unlike the flustered Republicans, the Democrats laughed until their mouths tore, saying that justice had finally been realized.

"Hahaha! As expected of the President! Isn't he a Southerner to the bone!"

"Fivefold increase! Yes, we must make our law enforcement officers swarm the lands of those Northerners!"

"Only now is the country running properly! Indeed, this is the way a country should be!"

Of course, the Republicans, who had become the majority party, did not just take it lying down. The House immediately launched a counterattack.

"Cut the crap! You want to increase slave hunters fivefold? Do you think the federal budget is some neighbor's dog's name!"

"Go ahead and try! We can just cut the entire budget in the House!"

The enraged Republican lawmakers proposed a bill stating that not a single cent of the relevant budget could be allocated, and even the third party sided with the Republicans, passing the budget cut bill by an overwhelming margin.

However, since the beautiful Congress of the United States was not one, but two, the Senate had not the slightest intention of passing the House's bill.

"Ahem, I believe that the budget bill in question requires more in-depth discussion. We will review it in detail in this committee."

The Senate, which was elected by the votes of state legislators rather than direct election by citizens, was still in a situation where the Democrats held a majority. Of course, opposing the House's bill without any reason carried a high risk of backlash. The Senate resorted to a trick of infinitely shelving the budget cut bill, claiming they would discuss it instead of sending it back to the House.

"What on earth is this!"

"It's an abuse of power! It's the destruction of democracy!"

Republican senators were furious, but the Democrats ignored them, saying they were merely exercising the Senate's legitimate authority. If you didn't like it, you should have won the Senate election too.

On top of this, Breckinridge used his victory in Congress as a stepping stone to announce an official address to the nation.

"Respected citizens of the United States. There seems to be some misunderstanding regarding the recent measures to strengthen the enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act."

It was rare for a President to issue an official statement regarding a bill passed by Congress, but Breckinridge did not care about such trivial matters.

"This law is by no means intended to oppress Black people. Rather, it is for their true happiness. Recall the case of the young man named Will who was in Mississippi a while ago."

The legendary 50-cent incident that no one interested in slavery could possibly not know. Breckinridge relentlessly poked at the sore spot that would get one kicked out if mentioned in the rooms of Northern abolitionists.

"He sought 'freedom,' but what awaited him was hunger, violence, and a miserable life of 50 cents a day. He eventually repented for his mistake and returned to the bosom of his benevolent master. And now, he is living more happily than anyone else. Isn't this a fact acknowledged not only by his master, James Sett, but even by the prominent Northern newspaper that covered him?"

This was not an act of tyranny. It was mercy to restore rightful happiness to the slaves.

Breckinridge declared confidently, as if he were an apostle of justice.

"Slaves have a different growth environment than we do! For them, true happiness is living an orderly life under the warm care of a civilized master! This law is precisely to protect that order!"

It was truly the culmination of pornography that perfectly stimulated the fantasies of the Southern Dixie. His speech received enthusiastic support from the South, and the backlash from the North was dismissed as "agitation that does not know order."

The Republicans, who had tried to respond with a budget cut bill, fell into chaos as their strategy collapsed. It was because they had not anticipated that Breckinridge and the Democrats would act so shamelessly.

"No matter how much we pass a bill in the House, we cannot stop it if the Senate and the President act in collusion like that."

"But we cannot just sit by while that madman is truly tearing the United States apart."

Most of the Republicans were in agony, but those who knew a little more information than others—men like William Seward—knew that there was still one way.

"Lincoln. There is one way."

"...What do you mean?"

"If Breckinridge acts like that, he will inevitably call James Sett to Washington. He is the best evidence to justify his policy."

"..."

"At that time, why don't we also meet him and have a discussion? If it's him, he would know well how to resolve this situation."

Lincoln's brow furrowed. "Wouldn't that be putting too much of a burden on Sett? If it becomes known that the hero of the South is in contact with the Republican leadership..."

"Of course, we must keep it strictly secret. Do not worry."

Seward waved his hand. "And to be honest, I also want to meet that 'Saint James' in person. What kind of person is he to be walking such a noble path?"

Lincoln felt uneasy seeing the subtle anticipation in his eyes, but there was no other sharp solution.

'Will it be alright...'

Lincoln contacted James, half in doubt. But unexpectedly, the answer came back very quickly.

"...He said it doesn't matter, so let's meet?"

Surprisingly, James accepted the meeting. But... the condition was even more baffling.

"He said not to come secretly, but that when he arrives in Washington, we should come to find him openly?"

When Seward heard this, he burst into loud laughter and clapped his hands.

"Kuh! As expected of a young man with such audacity! The confidence that he has nothing to hide! That is what a hero should be!"

Lincoln was dumbfounded, but seeing James act like that, his worry lessened, thinking that he must surely have a plan.

Exactly one week later.

At the National Hotel in Washington D.C., the very place where James Sett had made a name for himself across the country by treating Buchanan and Breckinridge, who had been suffering from dysentery, Seward and Lincoln finally faced him.

Seward approached him first with an emotional face and offered a handshake.

"James Sett! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠As I wrote in my letter, I really wanted to meet you once. It must have been burdensome to come to this place, but to meet us so readily for the abolition of slavery, as expected, you are..."

"Not at all. At a time when the fate of this Union is at a crossroads, thinking only of my own comfort is something only a small-minded person would do. I have merely done what I ought to do."

"The young man is truly deep in thought. It is truly shameful to think about what I was doing when I was your age."

It was truly a mindset that could only be called a saint. In the eyes of Seward, who had consumed a lethal dose of delusion, there was now almost a sense of reverence.