The Sett Rehabilitation Center (3)
The White House Cabinet Room.
The room, which had been filled with an air of optimism only a short while ago, was now heavy with a suffocating silence. The reports pouring in from the South—the string of mass slave escapes, the activities of the Freedom's Arrow, and John Brown’s sermon on the Trojan Horse—all pointed toward an inevitable catastrophe.
President Breckinridge stood with his back to the roaring fireplace, his expression solemn, as if he were bearing the full weight of history upon his shoulders.
“I trust you have all heard. It is, for all intents and purposes, an accepted fact that the Freedom's Arrow is an organization led by John Brown. And that man has publicly declared that he has brought a Trojan Horse within our gates. It would be correct to interpret this as a declaration of war, intended to shake the very foundations of Southern order by utilizing the slaves we have repatriated.”
The Attorney General swallowed hard.
“Mr. President... the anxiety among the Southern states has reached a breaking point. Planters have begun to fear the very act of receiving repatriated slaves. If this continues, the Fugitive Slave Act itself may be rendered powerless...”
“Do not worry. I already have a plan.”
As the cabinet members realized Breckinridge’s voice remained calm, a sense of relief naturally washed over their faces.
“Scattered sparks are unpredictable, but if you gather them in one place, they can be controlled. Therefore, we shall construct a massive facility to gather and manage these Trojan Horses. We shall call it a ‘Rehabilitation Center.’”
“A Rehabilitation Center... you intend to gather them all in one place to manage them?”
“Precisely. It will be a place to isolate those tainted by the corrupt ideologies of the North and to help them rediscover the order of the South and the sanctity of labor. Even if those scoundrels of the Freedom's Arrow have planted spies, what could they possibly achieve if we keep hundreds of them confined in one location under strict surveillance?”
He turned his gaze toward the Attorney General.
“General, the legal review is complete, I presume?”
“Yes, Mr. President. Just as I reported yesterday. We have prepared a legal interpretation stating that federal cooperation in special management for the effective enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act and the maintenance of order in each state does not infringe upon the rights of the states guaranteed by the Constitution, but rather aligns with the duties of the federal government. There are no grounds for unconstitutionality.”
Breckinridge nodded with satisfaction. The legal justification was secured.
“Good. Now, all that remains is the budget, but we know those Republican bastards in the House wouldn’t toss us a single dollar even if we begged. We shall make an official request for the sake of appearances, but if they refuse, we shall use that as our pretext.”
He had never harbored any delusions about securing a budget from the House in the first place. However, the federal government was the most advanced system in the world, capable of managing budgets independently within each state. If the House wouldn’t provide it? Then they would simply cooperate directly with the South.
“The actual funds will be covered first by ‘emergency reallocation’ from the Department of War and the Department of the Interior—specifically from the budgets for domestic security, fortress construction, and strengthening federal law enforcement—and the remainder will be shared by the Southern states that will be the beneficiaries of this program. Since it is for their own safety, they will surely be willing to open their wallets, will they not?”
As Breckinridge predicted, the first region to respond was Mississippi, which had been hit directly by the flames.
Jackson, the temporary State Capitol.
As Governor Macrae finished his impassioned speech, the hall erupted in cheers.
“That madman John Brown is trying to set our land on fire! We can no longer stand idly by!”
“The establishment of the Rehabilitation Center proposed by the President is the only way to protect our Mississippi!”
“I agree! I agree unconditionally!”
With Senator Parer—a hero who had helped James Sett thwart Peters’s terror plot—joining the fray, those who held dissenting opinions dared not even raise their heads.
The ‘Special Zone Designation and Budget Allocation Plan for Repatriated Labor Management and Social Stabilization’ was passed with record speed and overwhelming approval.
However, the reactions of other Southern states were not as fervent as Mississippi’s. Cautious concerns were raised in influential states like Virginia and South Carolina.
“We agree with the intent of the construction a hundred times over. But... who will manage hundreds, or thousands, of agitators confined in one place, and how? If we are not careful, we might end up building a powder keg in the heart of the South.”
“That is correct. There is no law saying another maniac like Peters won’t emerge. The qualifications of the person in charge and the operational plan will be more important than anything else...”
In the end, all questions converged into one.
Who would take on that dangerous mission?
Of course, the President had prepared the answer to all these concerns.
“Naturally, there is only one person fit for the job. The hero of Mississippi, the greatest slave trainer of this era, the slave master himself: James Sett.”
The name was expected. After all, who else could take on such a grand task? But once it was officially mentioned by the President, a mixture of strange relief and resentment rippled through the Southern states.
Of course, if it were Sett—that cold and capable young man—perhaps it might be possible. But was it right to entrust such a grave mission, managing every Black person repatriated to the South, to a young man in his early twenties?
The Mississippi planters would all agree, but Mississippi was not the only state in the South.
Of course, Breckinridge, who had coordinated with James beforehand, had already guessed that such concerns would arise.
“As this is a grave matter upon which the fate of the entire South rests, a transparent process is necessary. I shall hold an official confirmation hearing to personally verify Sett’s qualifications and his specific operational plan for the Rehabilitation Center. We shall invite representatives from each state to listen to his vision and judge for themselves.”
Breckinridge immediately sent a telegram to James, politely requesting his attendance at the hearing. As expected, the reply came back swiftly.
[It is an honor, Mr. President. I shall gladly attend and explain my vision in detail before all the leaders of the South.]
The review of the necessity for a massive facility to be built by the federal government and all Southern states. The curtain had risen spectacularly on the hearing surrounding the establishment of the James Rehabilitation Center.
* * *
Some time later.
I stood before dozens of senators and representatives. I did not have to take a formal witness oath, as this was not an official testimony in the Capitol. In the first place, this hearing was nothing more than a show put on by the Democratic Party and the Southern states for their own benefit.
In fact, it was clear evidence that the conflict and division within the United States had already crossed a line beyond repair.
Perhaps that was why. Strangely, I wasn’t nervous.
Just last year, if dozens of lawmakers had been glaring at me with fire in their eyes, my legs would have been shaking uncontrollably.
“James Sett, you are here today to be verified on whether you possess the qualifications to resolve the grave problems facing the South.”
“Yes. It is an unparalleled honor just to stand here.”
“I understand that you have already acquired numerous farms, including the Cedar Grove plantation, and that you are highly acclaimed for having them under perfect control.”
“I am not sure about the ‘acclaim,’ but it is a fact that not a single runaway has emerged from my farms. It has also been verified that the revenue and profit margins are significantly higher than those of neighboring farms.”
The reports I had prepared in advance were distributed, and low murmurs of admiration flowed among the lawmakers as they reviewed them.
“Ho, to this extent...”
“I had heard the Sett plantation was overwhelming, but I didn’t know there would be such a difference compared to other farms in Natchez.”
“Other lawmakers might find it hard to believe, but those who have watched Sett for a long time in Mississippi know very well that all of this is true.”
“That is correct! That is right!”
As Jefferson Davis stepped forward to take my side directly, voices of agreement erupted from here and there.
Hmm, as expected. Others might not know, but it would only be normal for the Mississippi lawmakers to unconditionally boost me up.
“I have one special talent. It is the talent for handling Black people. I believe this was already proven by the Will incident, the runaway slave who stirred up Boston so much last time.”
“Speaking of which, how on earth did you make that Will submit?”
“I wanted to know that as well. I heard that a prominent Boston newspaper was completely branded as a traitor because of that incident.”
“It is simple. The important thing is to make the slaves constantly reflect on the discrimination they received in the North. And you must make them satisfied with their current situation by continuously letting them indirectly experience how bleak their future would be if they were not slaves.”
“Ho...”
As I poured out all the plausible brainwashing methods I had picked up somewhere, along with the secrets of gaslighting actually used in the modern era, I could feel the light of suspicion fading from the lawmakers’ faces.
Good. The atmosphere isn’t bad.
“Then, James Sett, does this mean that if you establish the Rehabilitation Center, you are confident that you can reliably re-educate the Black people repatriated from the North as the chief supervisor?”
“Of course. However, my conditions must be perfectly met.”
“Let us first hear what those are.”
“First, like my farms, that facility must be perfectly cut off from the outside. No interference or intervention from anyone will be allowed. From operation to management, I must be able to exercise perfect, absolute control.”
As I handed out additional materials containing an overview of the Sett plantation I was controlling, mixed reactions arose.
“Even so, a massive amount of federal and state budget is being invested, so if we entrust everything to one person...”
“But wouldn’t doing so be the most efficient way?”
“There are many concerns about whether it is right to entrust such a grave task to a young man, no matter how capable he is.”
In truth, that was the most natural reaction. No matter how much of a mess the 19th century was, there were more than a few hurdles to overcome to pull off such a large-scale tax-siphoning scheme.
“Everyone, I naturally understand all the worries and doubts being poured upon me.”
“No, no. We are not doubting you. Please do not misunderstand.”
“No. I am also a person who operates a massive farm. I myself cannot tolerate glossing over such a grave task. Therefore, I will make a clear promise here. In the event that a runaway emerges from the facility I am in charge of, I will provide 10 times the compensation to the planter who was scheduled to receive that slave.”
“...10 times?”
“And it is not as if I intend to work them for a thousand years in that facility. The education period will not exceed two years at the longest. In exactly two years, no matter how much Northern influence a slave has absorbed, they will return to being a slave faithful to their nature.”
If any problem arises, I will provide 10 times the compensation. Furthermore, if a riot or a similar incident occurs at the facility, I will cover the entire loss out of my own pocket.
“Great power comes with great responsibility. I will never take the sacred power granted to me lightly.”
Since the war would break out within a year and a half at the latest, a period of two years wouldn’t be a problem at all.
“Then, James Sett, is that the end of the conditions you desire?”
“No. There is one more.”
No matter how large a facility I manage, if I cannot possess actual military power, I don’t know what kind of terrible situation I might face in the coming war. My farm’s combat power was gradually growing stronger, but they were, after all, a Black unit. Since it was impossible for them to move freely throughout the South, I needed to lift this restriction in advance.
“Respected lawmakers, after reviewing the mass escapes of runaway slaves and the Freedom's Arrow, which is presumed to be led by John Brown, I have been able to draw one conclusion.”
“What is that?”
“Isn’t it strange? We doubled the patrol forces of the militia and created a siege net so that not even a mouse could escape, yet they slipped through as if mocking us. Logically speaking, how could those n*****s accomplish something that is impossible even for white men?”
The atmosphere sank, and murderous reactions erupted from here and there.
“...So...”
“Yes. Information is leaking. I do not want to believe it, but there is a spy within our ranks who is leaking information to John Brown.”
“Which son of a b****!”
Indeed. Who could it be? But whoever it was, they must be truly elusive, given that they hadn’t been caught yet.
“I am investigating thoroughly, but I have yet to find a clue. Therefore, until the Rehabilitation Center is completed, I intend to prioritize deploying those who have no fear of betrayal to stand guard.”
“If it is a force that will not betray...”
That would be, of course, my loyal and cute slaves.
“I will not add any more tedious or pedantic explanations. If even a single escape incident occurs from now on, I will take responsibility and step down from the Rehabilitation Center work that will be built in the future.”
“Certainly, this means there must be a traitor.”
“Let’s try entrusting Mississippi to James Sett as a test, at least.”
It would be impossible for the entire South, but after discussions that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to entrust at least Mississippi to me as a test, the lawmakers who had initially shown negative reactions turned toward the opinion of trying it out once.
“It certainly doesn’t seem bad to gather slaves who have been tainted by the North in one place and educate them.”
“If one is a lawmaker representing the South, one should naturally prioritize the stability of the South.”
“Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Let’s entrust it to the best expert for now.”
As if this were all their own merit for discovering an outstanding talent, the lawmakers began to hold forth, each taking a large spoonful of credit.
Grateful for the generous grace they had bestowed upon me, I declared that from now on, I would ensure that not a single n***** would be able to escape the South. In truth, there was no longer any need to run away to the North.
Rather, what would happen if the Black people of the Rehabilitation Center, who had been diligently educated by me, were to spread throughout the South when the war was in full swing?
I didn’t know for sure, but seeing the lawmakers laughing happily, I thought it would probably lead to an interesting result. Wasn’t that why they were all smiling so happily?
Seeing everyone’s smiles, I felt my mood improve as well.