The Presidential Election of 1853
Contrary to what was expected, the talking point of the primaries of 1852 was not predominantly slavery, but shared with the question of continued international action. The debate on whether America should continue to intervene in the affairs of the world centered on the situation of Cuba. This small island off the coast of Florida had been a Spanish possession since the 1500s, but there was now a significant movement for independence.
The movement was created by the Spanish Empire’s troubles after the Napoleonic Wars. As the Iberian Peninsula closed in on itself in an attempt to heal the damage done by French and British war making, the overseas possessions of these nations received increasingly smaller amounts of attention and money. In Cuba, this was especially prevalent, as by 1852 the Spanish government funded naught but the military attachment operating out of Havana.
In both the Democratic and Whig Primaries, the candidates spoke mostly of slavery while the corridors around them erupted with talk of intervention in Cuba. The Whigs reminded each other that the last mission for freedom had cost their party the presidency [1] and thousands of American lives. In the Democratic convention, there was even talk of making Cuba a new slave state, to counterbalance the addition of the Rio Grande a free states.
1. Andrew Fender, the man who proposed the idea of “The State of Cuba”.
The idea of an annexation of Cuba never took off, and as the balloting came closer, the talk moved ever closer to slavery and the South. The talk in both conventions of curbing the SNM shocked General Davis and former members of the SNP deeply, and was the catalyst for an idea which would come to dominate the 1850’s. This idea, brought on by fear of Northern intervention with the SNM leading to abolition, was that of secession [2].
The Whig primary was won by the man who had four years earlier been the Vice Presidential candidate to James Kerr. Jeremiah Brass believed fully that curbing the SNM was necessary, but did not go so far as to conform entirely to the South’s fear that this would lead to abolition. Brass also ended the Whig Party as it was known by running under a new name, one which would eventually shape American Politics more than the Whig Party before it. The Democratic Party was left with no choices but the incumbent president when General Davis withdrew from the race after suffering from a bout of ill health on the second day of the convention.
[1] – Many Whigs believed that the loss in 1849 was caused by a backlash against the Mexican-American War, although popular opinion, contemporary newspapers and other historical sources have proven this assumption to be wrong.
[2] – There was of course, talk of civil war much earlier than 1852, but the idea that it could possibly be more than simply a battle for control of the federal government only emerged in the winter of 1852-3.
The Candidates/Tickets of 1853
The Election Manifesto of the National Republican Party*
Presidential Candidate: Jeremiah Brass
Vice Presidential Candidate: Sebastian Carr
Presidential Candidate: Jeremiah Brass
Vice Presidential Candidate: Sebastian Carr
Other Appointments:
John Boozeman Kerr - Secretary of State
The recently retired Senator Nightmore - Secretary of the Interior
Congressman Ignacio Vallejo - Secretary of Citizenship
Colonel Max Mandrake - to be promoted to Brig. General (Militia) and appointed head of the National Militia
Departmental changes:
The establishment of a Department of the Interior to oversee the use and maintenance of public lands
The establishment of a Department of Citizenship to oversee immigration, documentation, and manage Native affairs
The elimination of the Department of the South
The dissolution of the Southern National Militia back into state militias
The creation of a unified National Militia, led by Colonel Max Mandrake; who is to be promoted to Brig. General (Militia)
Legislative agenda:
The Citizenship Act: Full suffrage to all male and female citizens of 20 or more years, with those same rights applying to the offspring of free people who are born in the US or territories held by the US. The Natives and other residents born after this act is passed will, when they reach 20 years, have full voting rights if they are non-felons in good standing with their taxes.
The Liberty Act: A repeal of the ban on abolition, this law will secure the right of Congress and the Federal government to discuss, issue statements, bring before the courts, and consider legislation related to the issue of slavery.
Interventionist economic policy and free foreign trade
Maintain highest levels (within the interventionist restrictions) of education, health, and social spending
With the above in mind, pursue industrialization and the construction of rail-roads to the best of our abilities to do so in a fiscally responsible way.
No new social reforms at this time.
Gradual plan to modernize and expand the navy
Gradual plan to expand fortification gradually in waves - the first wave focusing on borders, coastline, and the capital
Establish trade and good relations with the Kingdom of Hawaii and look to create economic outposts throughout the Pacific
Supporting democratic governments across the Americas and establishing a doctrine against European interference in the affairs of American nations
Staying out of European entanglements and wars of colonial expansion
*By the will of the Whig convention, the Presidential Candidate is running as a National Republican, in honor of John Quincy Adams and the other founders of the Whig Party.
The Election Manifesto of the Democratic Party
Presidential Candidate: Eldud Walsh
Vice Presidential candidate: Nicholas Gafferty
Presidential Candidate: Eldud Walsh
Vice Presidential candidate: Nicholas Gafferty
Americans, four years ago I promised you I would do all I could to preserve the Union, and now, for four years the Union has been, though I admit it has come closer to splitting than I would have liked, preserved. There are many who say I should take a side in this argument and let civil war take its course, but I am not willing to see innocent people die and war rack this great country of ours without attempting to stop it. I will stand by my policies
Policies:
Economy:
“More effort needs to be made on preventing mass-produced american goods from being exported instead of industrially produced in our country, and also to prevent said goods be wasted. Thus, we would enact a State Capitalist economic policy. Priority would be given to unsold goods produced in America, counteracted by building factories to take up demand, as shall occur with exported goods. This will also improve our employment situation.”
That was my platform last year, and improvement has occurred, but still more effort needs to be made to safeguard American goods and jobs.
Military:
Our army has expanded enough, but we should still press ahead with naval expansion, to make false the truth that has governed us for forty years and more, that “Britannia rules the waves”.
Foreign policy:
We should do all we can to make the new World our sphere of influence, and be very particular about the Monroe Doctrine, as Europeans still hold some weight in the Americas.
Also, if in an authoritarian dictatorship a revolt occurs of people not willing to live without the basic human right to vote any more, then I would declare war on that country and send troops to help overthrow the dictatorship. Once the capital fell I would make peace and withdraw troops from the country.
Slavery:
On the slavery front our main aim would be attempting to prevent tensions from being inflamed.
Infrastructure:
We shall encourage in any way possible business elite of our country to build a great transcontinental railroad. It would be a truly momentous achievement for our nation, and would gain us much prestige.
- Eldud Walsh, President of the United States
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Exceptional Situation(s):
None as far as I know. VOTE.
