The Dominion's Dilemma: The United States of British America (41 page)

      Leaning on his cane, Jackson stood at the window of the second floor private dining room and watched the snow fall furiously. After a two-week warm spell that had appeared to signal the coming of spring, the weather had now turned mulishly, even vengefully, colder and nastier.
Well
, he thought with a grin,
whoever does turn out tomorrow for the Inaugural will be hoping for a short speech. Which is exactly what I plan to deliver…

        Burr had arrived, as requested, about two hours ago, through the Rear Portico, though the steadily falling snow had provided sufficient camouflage in and of itself. He was now charming Eliza Blair, who had apparently never heard of him, as they awaited the arrival of Sarah Polk for dinner.

           Frank Blair had been astonished when the Colonel had been announced into the kitchen cabinet meeting, the G-G thought, still smiling.
I’ll have to remind him that
Burr’s stay in town is not grist for that newspaper of his
, The Globe
. Though the paper will again be a vital Administration tool in this new crisis
. 
Polk, who of course knows of the Tennessee legends concerning Burr and myself, did not seem totally surprised. Lewis Cass, however, was floored…

     Perhaps James’ capacity for astonishment has already been exceeded by the weekend’s events; he had sat back quietly to see what new surprises were in store after being introduced to Aaron. Cass, meanwhile, had stared at Burr as if the Colonel was Lazarus exiting the tomb…

          Without disclosing the whereabouts of their meeting
(I must remember to question
young Wilder tomorrow),
Burr had reported that Wellington approved of the plan to call the 23
^rd
Congress into session in early June to deal with the crisis.
That will allow plenty of time for all factions in the new Congress to get a handle on the people’s opinions before opening the debate here
. The Colonel had added, seemingly off-handedly, that Chief Justice Marshall was “confident” a majority of the Court would rule, if called upon, that Parliament was well within its rights under terms of the Compact to impose emancipation…and that the Constitution required the G-G to enforce it.

       
We were all caught by surprise at the mention of Marshall and the Court, though I should have anticipated it.

         “His Grace has been thorough, Colonel Burr,” Blair had said, “lining up the Court well in advance of any legal challenge. What other ‘allies’ has he lined up, may I ask?”

       Polk had also moved quickly in: “Yes, especially what about Mr. Van Buren? He has been most conspicuously absent these past few days…”

        Burr had smiled (
how the Colonel is enjoying this
!): “I have spoken with the incoming Vice G-G. He finds himself in an unusual and delicate position. He has been a key member of the Administration and expects to remain so throughout the second term. However, he fully supports the Compact…and the Constitution.”

         Everyone present had immediately grasped the old man’s meaning. Cass, in particular, had seemed outraged, but I wasn’t particularly upset…or surprised:

       “I understand Matty Van’s position, Colonel. In his shoes, I would probably feel and act likewise.”

       
Wellington has sent multiple messages tonight: the Court will rule in London’s favor, which will influence public opinion, especially in the MidAtlantic and Western
states; my new Vice G-G also supports London and is thus both available and ready to
replace me, unless I go along; and I have until Congress convenes to convince the South
to accept emancipation
.

         Yes, my old commander, it looks like a rout at the moment. But you’ve
had the benefit of surprise. Now it is up to me to turn that surprise to my advantage…

___________

          The G-G broke his reverie and turned around at the sound of Sarah Polk’s arrival to face his guests. “Well ladies, I’m afraid we’ll be breaking my usual rule about limiting political talk at Sunday evening supper. We spent so much time this afternoon listening to Colonel Burr here tell us about his discussions last evening that we never had time to tell him what went on with the Leadership earlier today.

         “It was actually quite interesting, Colonel…”

___________

The Capitol

Georgetown, D.C.

March 4, 1833, 12 p.m.:

      The snow continued to fall sporadically and the heavy gray skies seemed matched by the mood of the small, tense crowd that was gathering on and in front of the steps leading to the Capitol’s main entrance. A dais and temporary seating, now being dug out by teams of civilian and USBAA workers, had been constructed on the steps of the entrance, which, illogically, faced southeast…away from the city.

      There had been talk about moving the ceremonies inside but Jackson had rejected it. So a crowd limited mainly to members of Congress, high Administration figures and heartier members of the diplomatic corps, as well as the press, were on hand as Jackson’s carriage and Marine honor guard pulled up to the steps. (Wellington was seated in a place of honor among the dais’ dignitaries, to the incoming Vice Governor-General’s right.)

        Assisted by the Marine officer, Goodwin, Jackson climbed carefully up to the dais, where Van Buren and Marshall greeted him. “Well Mr. Van Buren. So the rumors of your demise are unfounded. We have much to talk about. I’ll expect you in my office 10 a.m. sharp tomorrow.”

        Matty Van flashed his trademark noncommittal smile and bowed his head quickly. “As you wish, Governor-General.”  Marshall, looking judicially formal in his long black robe, merely shook Jackson’s hand and gestured him to his seat.

        The ceremonies proceeded quickly: Marshall administered the oaths of office, first to Van Buren and then to Jackson, without placing special emphasis on any word or phrase in either oath. To the uninformed, it would have appeared an impressively solemn though less-than-dramatic performance.

      That was how Count Renkowiitz, wrapped in a heavy fur great coat and standing in the crowd with Count Ignatieff, perceived the scene. Nicholas, however, studied the proceedings with a professional eye. As at the two previous Capitol Building speeches, the lack of armed soldiers surprised him
.  If I had been in charge of security arrangements, Jackson would have come out from the Capitol Building to a dais built on the top landing. The crowd would have been kept considerably farther away. And the steps would have been filled with troops armed to the teeth…

         Now Jackson, who had stood facing the Chief Justice behind the dais’ podium for the oath, turned and looked out at the politely cheering crowd. The snow had, at least momentarily, stopped but there were no breaks in the dismal overcast. The G-G opened the folder that had been previously placed on the podium and quickly ran through the customary dignitarial acknowledgements before pausing.

       “Fellow Americans…” Jackson began, and a gasp raced through the crowd.

        The Duke looked up in puzzlement as the buzzing continued. Van Buren understood, but dismissed the thought to explain that Inaugural Addresses traditionally began: “Fellow citizens of His Majesty’s Dominion…”

        By chance, Henry Clay stood no more than ten feet from the previous Vice G-G. The new Senator from South Carolina nodded shortly to Representative Polk, who had turned to him, as the G-G resumed his remarks.

        “…my original intention was to share with you today plans for a revision in our banking system and to announce the comprehensive, systematic program for Western expansion which I will be sending to London shortly. Such issues are still of vital…”

        The incoming Senator from New Jersey, Samuel Southard, nodded his own head and muttered to those around him: “Damn right the bank issue is vital. Unless the old fool wants to lead us into a crash…”

         “…48 hours ago, an issue of such grave magnitude was announced to the Congress, after having been brought to my attention for the first time the previous afternoon, that all other issues must...”

         Burr, standing in the rear of the crowd, turned to the attending Lieutenant Wilder. “Here it comes, with the vinegar still on, as they say out West…”

           “…therefore, I will call the 23
^rd
Congress into existence on June 3
^rd
, 93 days from today, to deal with the emancipation issue. This timeframe will allow those members of Congress here today to travel back to their districts and consult with their constituents. It   will as well allow new members to likewise consult, once the news reaches their respective districts. By the time Congress convenes, news of the progress of the legislation through Parliament…”

       
Along with a self-congratulatory epistle from the great Quincy himself
, thought Webster.

          Jackson had again paused, as the crowd’s murmurs increased and visions of a historic Congressional debate formed in most minds.

          “…As I wish the citizens to carefully consider the ramifications of this issue in every possible context, I will refrain at this time from delivering myself of an opinion concerning it…”

          Good
, thought Frank Blair,
that’s placing yourself above the fray for the time being. Wellington certainly can’t act to remove you, if you haven’t announced a   position, publicly or privately. Let’s take the people’s temperature first...

          “…Our Dominion, fellow Americans, was forged in the white-hot heat of 1776. The Compact written by Franklin and Burke has benefited those on both sides of the Atlantic. The Constitution our forefathers drew up has guided the Dominion to internal prosperity of a degree not conceivable 57 years ago.

         “Yet these two beloved and prized documents skirt an issue that has lurked in the shadows for more than 150 years…”

         Representative McDuffie looked over Floride Calhoun’s head and at her husband. A single word formed on Calhoun’s lips: “Exemption.”

          “…thus, for better or for worse, the issue is placed in front of us. Even if the heat rising from it becomes itself white-hot, we---the generations of British Americans active today---must confront it.

     “That process will begin as the members of the 22
^nd
Congress arrive back in their home states. In three months, the members of the 23
^rd
Congress will convene in the building behind me to determine the will of the people.

      “Meanwhile, we will continue here in Georgetown with the business of government. God Save the King! And God Bless America!”

___________

The Residency

March 4, 1833, 8 p.m.:

    This time the Tennesseans, who had mostly foregone the snow and cold of the Inaugural ceremonies for the warmth of the city’s numerous taprooms, were limited in their admittance to the mansion.

     Emily Donelson had been firm with her uncle: order and decorum would be maintained during the reception. She had even commandeered a squad of USBA Marines to regulate entry to The Residency.  Lieutenant Wilder was on duty tonight in his social aide capacity but Arthur Goodwin, after placing his Marine honor guard in ceremonial positions along the walls, had also assumed responsibility for the entrances.

        So it was that the social chaos of Jackson’s first Inaugural was replaced by the quieter---though deadlier---chaos of high-stakes politics:

         Despite their eagerness to depart for their various homes, most of the Congressional leadership passed through the mansion, worriedly conferring with other members of their own parties and sectional factions as well as members from other sections with whom they were personally friendly.

         The Duke of Wellington, attended by Captain Bratton and Sir John Burrell, appeared cordial and remarkably serene to all factions: he chose to project an air of  confident complacency that Parliament’s intentions, once announced, would thus automatically be initiated. Only the two aides were aware how deeply troubled he was, not only by Jackson’s maneuverings, but also by the overall reaction of the USBA political and economic governing classes to the emancipation concept.

         Though gravely worried, General Scott utilized his tried-and-true public posture: the USBA military never commented on civilian legislative matters.

       The diplomatic corps buzzed among itself. Jacques Jean-Claude expressed it best to a group including Prussia’s Van Benes and the Mexican, Valenzuela: “It is like watching a Shakespearean drama unfold in place of the comedy previously promised.”

        Jackson himself was the picture of composure: he stood with his niece welcoming all his guests and accepting congratulations and good wishes, occasionally turning to whisper some comments to Blair or Cass. Only the kitchen cabinet was aware of the conflicting pressures tormenting the G-G.

        The Vice G-G was also continuously circled by well-wishers; only those at the highest levels had yet thought through the crisis far enough to realize the inevitable deterioration of his relationship with Jackson.

        Only Colonel Burr, standing quietly anonymous in the crowd, seemed to be truly enjoying the reception: the old adventurer was relishing his role as secret go-between and advisor. And now Lieutenant Wilder had just introduced him to a most remarkable creature: Candice Samples
. Andy had it right after all,
the Colonel thought with a chuckle:
God Bless America!

___________