For the entire United States, the second Presidential election in 1783 was the most important one. Although its history is not long, this statement doesn't explain much. Yet, the special nature of this election was still fully evident.
The first Presidential election was very simple; one could say that if you were elected, you became President, and if not, that was it. Nobody knew how many days the Presidential seat would truly be occupied. But now, after more than four years of stable development, a stable United States was about to form. The smooth election of the second government would mean that the United States had truly become a normal, stable country, holding special significance for a nation.
And the benefits that the position of President could bring were becoming increasingly apparent, so the competition was naturally very fierce. Furthermore, the surrounding and domestic situations were relatively tense, and all parties were very concerned about the political views of the elected President, naturally making this Presidential election even more intense.
As the election progressed, France, Great Britain, Spain, and even Prussia, whose influence in America was relatively weak, formally or informally sent officials to the United States' high-level officials to express their concern for this election. However, the United States' influence was still limited; apart from Great Britain having caused a small incident in the South, attempting to interfere with the election, other countries basically only inquired through official channels and did not specifically expend effort to interfere in other aspects. This also ensured that this election was basically not interfered with by external forces.
Due to the Southern Militia Incident, this Presidential election was greatly affected. It not only forced all Presidential candidates to clarify their attitudes towards the United States and secession, but most importantly, it also boosted the reputations of Washington and Jefferson, who successfully resolved the Three Southern States issue, making their election prospects look better than before.
If the Democratic Party and the Federalist Party could have put aside their differences and cooperated at this time, the outcome of this Presidential election would have been truly hard to predict. So, after Washington and Jefferson happily returned to Philadelphia to report the good news to Franklin and others, the Republican Party members, while relieved that the crisis was successfully resolved, secretly worried about the electoral changes brought about by Washington and Jefferson.
After Washington and Jefferson left, Charles, as the Party Chairman, reluctantly announced that a special study would be conducted on this matter to formulate an appropriate response.
However, Mr. Madison, the Vice President candidate this time, had a different opinion.
"Charles! Actually, I don't think there's anything to worry about. Although Mr. Washington and Mr. Jefferson made great contributions in this matter, their influence in the South will not increase because of it. I even guess it might decrease."
Everyone listened and nodded in agreement.
Although this secession crisis was successfully resolved because those Southern congressmen turned on General Greene, Washington and Jefferson, after all, chose to side with the Northern Federal Government to suppress the Three Southern States in this matter, which still caused ill will among many conservative, stubborn Southern plantation owners. It's hard to say that they will support the two men more because of this incident.
"But many democrats and federalists in the North have remembered their achievements in this matter and might sympathize with them because of it, leaning more towards them in the election!" Charles was merely being more cautious.
"Many people in the North will indeed remember their achievements in this matter, but the two of them also have a natural disadvantage, which is that because of this Southern confrontation crisis, Northerners have become more concerned about those Southern politicians and dare not allow major power to be controlled by a President from the South. This back and forth naturally negates their achievements this time."
Mr. Madison did not shy away from the fact that he was also a Southerner, directly stating the difficulties Southerners would face in elections after this incident.
Among those present, only he, the Vice President candidate from the South, was suitable to say this. If other Northerners said it, it would inevitably make people feel that they had discriminatory views against Southerners, which would certainly cause internal disharmony. Now that Mr. Madison said this, everyone just chuckled, neither able to agree nor disagree.
"We still need to be prepared for all eventualities. After all, they both have a political party supporting them. If this matter is properly utilized and publicized throughout the entire United States, it will definitely cause us a lot of trouble." Charles still leaned towards a more cautious choice.
"What Mr. Madison just said is very true. Actually, we can use their identities..." Morris suddenly stopped as soon as he interjected.
Because he was about to say to use Washington and their identities as Southerners, but before the words left his mouth, he realized that this would offend Mr. Madison, so he quickly stopped.
However, everyone present was a shrewd individual, and they naturally understood the meaning of Morris' latter half of the sentence from his first half.
As a Southerner, Mr. Madison showed no expression on his face, but he felt a little awkward in his heart.
Charles immediately raised another question, diverting everyone's attention.
"The election only needs sufficient preparation; even without this incident, we must go all out. In fact, the performance of George and Thomas this time has indeed contributed greatly to the stability of our Federal Government. If possible, I would still like to invite them into our new cabinet."
Franklin finally spoke the words he had hesitated over for a long time.
The others naturally looked at each other, not expecting Franklin to bring up the old topic again, wanting Washington and Jefferson to join the cabinet.
Charles, who was becoming increasingly powerful and more mature, secretly wondered if Franklin intended to bring in Washington, Jefferson, and other non-party members to curb his influence as the Republican Party Chairman over the current government.
However, this time he didn't need to speak, as Mr. Madison appropriately stepped forward to object.
"Mr. President, raising this matter now is probably inappropriate. This would not only affect the morale of our party members, but even if Mr. Washington and Mr. Jefferson knew, I would think we have ulterior motives, suspecting that we want to shake their resolve in the election."
Franklin smiled:
"I'm not prepared to make such a request immediately. I'm just asking for everyone's opinions first, so that when the election results are out, I can directly extend an invitation to them!"
Seeing the old President's persistence, Charles finally had to speak up again.
"Mr. President, this cabinet is centered around you, and we certainly must respect your opinion. However, we still ask you to prioritize comrades from our own party under similar circumstances!"
"Of course, I have no intention of overturning the original arrangements. We can arrange other positions for them!" Franklin smiled gently, not minding the subtle opposition in Charles' words.
After all, he was also an experienced, independent politician. Although Charles was the Party Chairman, he also had to follow basic political rules, but he had already made up his mind and decided on matters, and he remained firm and unshakeable.
Hearing that their original positions in the cabinet would not be shaken, the others naturally breathed a sigh of relief. Establishing new departments was not such a simple matter; even if Washington and their ranks were set very high, by the time a department was maturely established, Washington and Jefferson's term would probably have ended.
So Morris and others immediately abandoned their objections and tacitly approved Franklin's decision.
Charles looked at the attitudes of those around him, sighed inwardly, and could only smile tolerantly and nod, indicating his agreement with Franklin's arrangements.
Jefferson and Washington were both very good friends of his, and the Federalist Party was already within his annexation plan. Franklin bringing these two figures into his new cabinet would not necessarily have much adverse effect on him. Moreover, the most crucial point was that Franklin was, after all, old. Many things, even if he wanted to manage them, he was already starting to feel powerless. He had already made arrangements in this regard, so he was not worried about Franklin's precautionary awareness towards him.
The Presidential election of 1783 proceeded as scheduled at the end of October. The election period was only one day, but the time it took for the statistical results to be compiled and delivered to the campaign headquarters in Philadelphia varied by several days. The westernmost regions even had to vote a few days in advance, and then continuously send the election results to the East by mail coach.
On November 1st, the election results were officially announced.
The Election Committee, at Independence Hall, in front of representatives from all major political parties, announced that the combination of Franklin and Mr. Madison as running mates had won all seven Northern States, plus the Western United States and the Southern State of Georgia, winning the Presidential election with an absolute majority, and officially being elected as the second President and Vice President of the United States of America.
As soon as the news broke, the Republican Party naturally cheered with joy. The Democratic Party also secretly rejoiced that Jefferson, who participated in the Presidential election for the first time, won Three Southern States and two Northern States, believing that they would achieve better results in the next election. Only the Federalist Party, participating in the Presidential election for the second time but failing to win a single state, naturally had no enthusiasm for cheering in such circumstances.
And the President-elect, Franklin, at the moment the Election Committee announced the official results, immediately extended an invitation to Washington and Jefferson to join the cabinet again.
Although the two did not accept on the spot, they only said they would consider it carefully and did not refuse.
While Charles watched Franklin form the new cabinet and new government, he also began to mobilize the party machinery to start encroaching upon and annexing the Federalist Party.