The trip back to Washington was quiet. Trist was obviously agitated, silent the whole way. "The President is furious," was all he would say when asked.
America didn't doubt that. All he could do was make vague assurances, trusting that everything would be all right. Surely Polk would be at least somewhat pleased with the Treaty, for it had secured all of his requested criteria.
On their arrival to the White House, however, America was soon proven wrong.
"We could have gotten more out of them," Polk vented, a statement, not a wonder. "I called you back, Trist, and you deliberately disobeyed orders."
"If he had come back, Mexico's government would have dissolved in his absence," America defended, a tone of equal bitterness creeping into his tone.
"Of course, you would play a part in this," Polk frowned, directing his anger towards the young Nation. Vaguely, he motioned for Trist to leave the room before he continued. "I don't know what it is that makes you think this way, but you are not always right. Just because you thought it best to go ahead with negotiations does not mean you should have or had the authority to do so. I'm the leader, not you, and I expect you to respect my decisions."
"Sir," the blond grit between his teeth, hands clenching uselessly by his sides. He took a deep breath, before voicing a train of thought he never imagined he would. "As our Nation's personification, my opinion is that of the majority of our people. I reflect how the people would act in such a situation, and because of this, I think I should have at least some authority in decision making. You represent your own interests and little more."
Polk bristled, "America, I won't stand for this. Stop—"
"And if you're going to blame someone for the Treaty, blame me. I convinced Trist to stay in Mexico," America continued, the words only a slight exaggeration. Trist had been reluctant.
"I don't like heroes," Polk responded, a condescending expression gauzing over his visage. "They're unrealistic and idealistic. Trist will pay for his mistake. He's an impudent and unqualified scoundrel…contemptibly base. I've already sent out an order for his arrest. I can't avoid submitting that damned treaty he's forced us into, but he will pay."
Bastard! America wanted to shout. He wanted to shout all the bad words England had ever slipped up and used in his presence, all the foul terms he had heard from his years among the more crude of his people. But there seemed to be an invisible force holding him back, urging him to let it go and keep his tongue in check before he said something he would regret.
So instead, he turned away, biting his bottom lip, and retreated to his usual window post. When he heard Polk's satisfied breath, he tasted blood.
"You don't know how glad I am to see you," America smiled, when Taylor entered the office. "Though I have to say, I never marked you out for the office type."
"It wasn't my idea," Taylor admitted, a sheepish smile crossing his features. "But it's just a further extension of my duty to my country. I only want what's best for our people."
He paused for a moment, before adding, almost as an after thought: "You've got glasses."
"Yeah," the young Nation felt the lenses, as if surprised they were there. He'd taken to wearing them since the end of the conflict with Mexico, though he couldn't really put a reason behind it. They just compelled him, with that aura of their's, urged him to push them up his nose and behind his ears. "They're…Texas."
"Texas?" Taylor repeated, half-amused, half-perplexed, as if trying to guess whether America was being serious or not. When the blond did not laugh and let him in on the joke, Taylor went on a bit awkwardly. "That's…interesting. You Nations have some bizarre little quirks." A laugh and a pause. "How have you been since the War?"
"I went to California for a few months to get away from Polk," Taylor picked up on the trace of unmistakable bitterness in the blond's tone, but did not question it. "It was insane. So many people, and hardly any of them have found anything."
"It's the hope that keeps them going," Taylor sighed. "They'll be at it for awhile yet. And why not? Free gold, quick money—the answer to all their problems."
"Nothing's ever that simple," America returned the sigh.
"No," Taylor agreed. "It never is."
Historical Notes: When Polk found out that Trist had ignored his orders, he seethed, calling him "contemptibly base" and an "impudent and unqualified scoundrel". He ordered Trist placed under arrest and had him fired from his State Department job. (Trist was retired to private life without being paid for his time in Mexico. In 1970, when he was on his deathbed, Congress finally awarded him about $14,300.) Polk had no choice but to submit the treaty, as insisting on more territory would mean more fighting, and the war was rapidly losing popularity. The fairly easy military victory made some people ashamed: America was "bullying a weaker nation". Abolitionists, led by William Lloyd Garrison, called it an "invasion…waged solely for the detestable and horrible purpose of extending and perpetuating American slavery." The Senate, under the same pressure as the president, ratified the Treaty 38 to 14.
The Wilmot Proviso, proposed by Democratic Congressman David Wilmot of Pennsylvania, stated that neither slavery nor any other form of involuntary servitude should exist in the new territory. Calhoun countered this with resolutions arguing that the government had no right to bar slavery from the territories, as territories belonged to the state. Neither was passed. The Senate was dominated by Southerners, and the House by Northerners. Two compromises were proposed: one plan would extend the Missouri Compromise to the new Territory (supported by Polk) and the other would let the local settlers chose, freeing Congress of the decision (supported by Senator Lewis Cass of Michigan).
In the Election of 1848 the Whigs ran Zachary Taylor, the Democrats ran Lewis Crass, and the Van Buren wing of the Democrats (called "barnburners" for their radicalism) joined with the antislavery Liberty Party to form the Free Soil Party, running Van Buren. Van Buren knew he would not be elected, and so he made a stand against slavery. Neither Taylor or Crass expressed strong views; when chosen to run, Taylor had flatly refused to state his opinion on any current subject. Despite the opportunity to get public opinion, sectional issues were avoided to keep votes. Between an honest, yet naïve Taylor, and a cynically opportunistic Crass, voters chose the former. Slavery was barred in Oregon, shortly before the Election.
The Gold Rush, started in 1848. Thousands of Americans, Mexicans, South Americans, and even Europeans rushed to Southern California, madly searching with anything on hand. Nearly all of them were men. Minorities—all but "native" white Americans—were discriminated against. Men became very violent; many were wild and greedy and began to gamble. Taylor proposed that California be admitted directly as a state and allowed to decided on slavery for itself. Californians reacted favorably, opposed to slavery because of the competition it would bring should slaves be sent to work the mines. Southerners had been sure Taylor, a southern slave and large plantation owner, would try and fight for slavery in the territories. But he was a military man and a nationalist above all else, opposed to the sectional divisions slavery debates would bring.
I'm sorry this took so long to get out. This weekend sort of just…died…and when I revived yesterday, I had all this school work to do. I did well on the test, for those of you interested :]
just another fma fan: Awwww :] I'm just glad you've kept with this story for so long. Glad you liked his Spanish…I just hope the translations are correct. And Texas…I completely forgot about him. Er…it. I don't know where him came from. But thank you very much for the luck ^^ I feel much better now. Glad you liked the chapter, and thank you for the review as well.