Dark Lanterns:
Secrets, Sedition and
Conspiracy in
Antebellum America
“Rumor is a pipe
Blown by surmises, jealousies, conjectures,
And of so easy and so plain a stop
That the blunt monster with uncounted heads,
The still-discordant wavering multitude
Can play upon it.”
- William Shakespeare, Henry IV Part 2
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Dearest Delegates,
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the heart of the Midwest, St. Louis,
MO, site of the debate between Hillary Clinton, Donald J. Trump, and the true
representative of the people, Mr. Ken Bone. This election, perhaps the craziest in
recent memory, pales in comparison to the mid-1800s’ where there were almost
as many candidates for president as there were Republicans running for the
nomination this year. It’s that world that we will be diving into this chilly February
weekend. I hope you are ready for mayhem.
Before we get too deep into one of the most challenging times in our nation’s
history, let me take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Neil Stein and I
am a senior at Wash U majoring in future underemployment and general
mockery from Rush Limbaugh’s red-faced little henchmen (Environmental
Engineering and Environmental Policy with a focus in International Development
respectively). My Model UN career has been colored by frequent usage of overthe-top accents and foreign curse words that I may or may not know the real
meaning of. Given that English is my second (or third?) language I’m rather
pleased when I have the honor of working with delegates who are willing to push
themselves and be ambitious. I hope that, with your help, we can navigate the
tumult and outright bedlam that was the Civil War.
In the context of this committee, each of you will be stepping into the shoes of
real historic figures in the world of Washington, D.C. in 1860. The South is feeling
threatened by the rise of the Republican Party and the North is in disarray with so
many groups vying for power in the politically stagnant 1850’s. With full-scale
conflict looming on the horizon, the leaders of today gather to decide how to best
maintain the delicate bonds holding the United States united.
There are of course those who do not want peace. Those who would unleash the
horror of civil war for profit. While you are gathered here today, in the closing
days of the Buchanan Administration, ostensibly to attempt to safeguard the
peace in the Union, you can be assured that all sides are sizing each other up for
war. Tread carefully with these secret societies; they will do whatever it takes to
achieve victory. On that note, I wish you the best of luck keeping the fabric of our
nation together while also surviving this world of deceit and treachery.
If you have any questions on your character, the topics, or simply want to chat
about the significance of the advent of Minié Bullets to the creation of the
Springfield 1861 Rifle, feel free to send me an email to [email protected]. I
would like to close with the question posed by the French silent film director,
Jean Renoir: “Is it possible to succeed without an act of betrayal?
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Neil Stein
Committee Mandate
This committee is a special advisory group to assist President Buchanan with navigating the
final days of his administration and preparing to alleviate and, hopefully, repair the immense
tensions dividing our nation. We will begin late in October of 1860, with the Southern states,
lead by South Carolina, grumbling about the upcoming presidential election. With talk of
secession and rebellion on the tip of every Southern tongue, we must prepare for the horrifying
possibility of violence and bloodshed of brother taking up arms against brother, though we hope
that it will never come to civil war. But as we work to move on from the contentious election, we
plunge into even more uncertain depths trying to restore civil peace. With so many conflicting
interests seeking to shape the future of the nation you must be true to your people while still
working together.
You’ll find your path to national unity blocked at every turn by hidden forces. Clandestine
interests and nation-spanning conspiracies to subvert the government and bring about radical
change must be faced and dealt with. The United States is a powderkeg and you are charged
with preventing the spark of revolution from blowing all we’ve built apart. President Buchanan,
in the interest of being as balanced and fair as possible, has pulled representatives from all walks
of life. Northern and Southern, Black and White, rich and poor, key businessmen and simple
tribal leaders all have their place in this council as per the will of the President. In your hands
you hold the power to shape the future of this country, and you can be certain that there are
those who will twist this future to their own desires. Every one of these groups has conflicting
interests and desires, and you will have to do your very best to represent your interests or else
see your rivals empowered. Friendships and alliances will be tested as the threat of war are
divides the country and the uncertainty of the future is determined in the coming deliberations.
A free piece of advice for you: tread carefully. There isn’t any one way to solve this issue that will
satisfy everyone, and you can be absolutely certain that the groups that stand to lose the most
will fight the hardest to hold on. There’s even rumors of secret societies being formed,
promoting their own vision of the future for this great nation. I would say that only the strong
survive, but in these dark and uncertain times, it is the most persistent who will win out.
Preparation and strategy can only take you so far, this committee calls for you to have the
strongest will. And perhaps a strong stomach, for the betrayals and intrigue will begin to take
their toll as the fear and mistrust rule these times, more so than any one group. Amidst the
chaos and confusion, it will be up to you to fight for your faction.
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Background
Early National History and the Rise of Slavery
To truly understand the depth and breadth of this conflict, as well as the core issues that
instigating this great internal divide, we must reach back to the very beginnings of our great
nation. Slavery has existed since the earliest days of Britain’s North American colonization. In
1619, the first slaves arrived in the Jamestown Colony in Virginia, the first permanent
settlement. They were originally captured by slave traders in West Africa, sold to a Spanish slave
ship bound for Cuba, then Dutch privateers commandeered the vessel and cargo, selling them to
the nearby English colony at Jamestown. Though the Virginia colony started off primarily using
indentured servants, slaves grew to outnumber servants in conjunction with the rise of tobacco:
Virginia’s most lucrative export.
Capitalist pressures and the increased investment by England in her colonies following the
Glorious Revolution (1688) led to a massive boom in tobacco crops, and this economic thrust is
often credited with replacing the the indentured servitude system of the colonies with slavery.
Tobacco crops are very labour and land intensive, leading to the growth of massive plantations
especially in the Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina colonies. Slaves were essential for
these large plantations: the indentured servitude system only worked on a paid-volunteer basis
and the grueling conditions of harvesting tobacco in the South Carolina sun dissuaded many.
As the Colonies grew and developed, the issue of slavery began to draw a line between the
Northern and Southern colonies, setting the stage for the conflict that would fester at the heart
of the new nation. In fact, during the deliberations of the Continental Congress in the summer of
1776, the entire debate was nearly stalled because the delegates from Massachusetts and
Virginia disagreed over whether or not the Declaration of Independence could truly be called
that if it did not recognize its own call: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are
created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that
among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Despite overwhelming odds, the United States won its freedom from the British Empire
following the surrender of General Cornwallis at the Siege of Yorktown in 1781. In the years after
the end of the war, the United States attempted to hold itself together with the Articles of
Confederation, a weak unicameral legislature that did little to unite the states and ultimately
caused serious economic issues. Therefore, the Constitutional Convention was organized in 1787
to create a more powerful federal government to bind the states together. Although historians
may debate when the national schism began, the Constitution Convention undoubtedly
illustrated the beginnings of the growing rift between the North and the South.
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Two main issues marred the otherwise successful convention: the Question of Slavery and the
Representation of Slaves. The question of slavery, posed by the Puritan ideologues from
Massachusetts, pitted many of the northern states against their southern brethren. The northern
states were, primarily, densely populated and economically based on manufacturing, fishing,
and timber industries, all of which had no reliance on slaves. Indeed, there were virtually no
slaves in the New England region due to the Puritans, who deemed slavery immoral. The
Southern states were more sparsely populated, with economies based on slave labor in massive
plantations harvesting cash crops such as tobacco, and later on, cotton. Thus the question of
slavery underscored a fundamental economic difference between the northern states and the
southern states. The mid-Atlantic states caught in the crossfire, but in the end these states sided
with the South, letting slavery continue (though the Quakers from Pennsylvania did raise moral
objections similar to those of the Puritans). Following this decision, the further question about
how to represent the slave populations, which in many Southern regions exceeded that of the
free population, arose. The Southern states wanted the slaves to count in terms of the
assignment of representatives to the national legislature (Congress), yet didn’t want them to
count in terms of taxation. The Northern states fought them fiercely on this issue, saying that
they could not value human lives two different ways and ultimately, the first of many
compromises in the history of this issue was reached: slaves would count as 3/5ths of a person.
Broken Promises and Unwelcome Compromise
With the Constitution ratified and the nation whole, America lulled itself into false peace and
complacency. Though the hatchet was publically buried on slavery, both sides soon came back
with renewed fury. And I do mean that literally. In 1856, Senator Charles Sumner of
Massachusetts personally insulted Senator Andrew Butler of South Carolina and one of his
relatives; Representative Preston Brooks beat him with a metal-topped cane until the two were
forcibly pulled apart.
Starting with the 3/5ths Compromise, there is a repeated historical pattern of conflict every 5 or
so years in correspondence with the ever-expanding American nation. This expansion, which
was structured under the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 under the old Articles of Confederation,
banned slavery in the Midwestern Territory north of the Ohio River. However, when President
Jefferson acquired the Louisiana Purchase from France in 1803, this ban was not expanded after
an intense legislative battle, allowing each territory to self-determine if they wished to allow
slavery or not. This self-determination was limited to territories below the Mason -Dixon Line,
the northern border of Maryland, at about the 39th Parallel.
As the Northern states began to abolish slavery, the lines in the sand became more firm
demarcations dividing the North & Midwest from the South, inviting a 50 year long battle within
the Senate to keep a balance between slave and free states. Ohio (1803), Indiana (1816),
Louisiana (1812), and Illinois (1817) all joined before the conflict came to a head with the
Missouri Compromise. Missouri, a state north of the Mason-Dixon Line, wanted to come into
the United States as a slave state, both upsetting the 11 vs. 11 balance in the Senate and
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overriding the traditional demarcation line between slave and free states. For over a year the
senate deliberated on how best to bring Missouri into the United States until Maine joined at the
same time to keep even the balance between slave and free. This premise of compromise to deal
with Senatorial imbalance was revisited with the Compromise of 1850 and the especially
contentious Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854), which saw actual violence between pro- and antislavery supporters that swarmed into the territories to swing the vote. “Bleeding Kansas”, as it
came to be known, marked a turning point in the slavery debate. It marked the point at which
the debate went from being civil discourse among politicians to ideological civil strife.
Dark Lantern Secret Societies
One of the most unique features of Antebellum America was the prevalence of local and national
groups, ranging from benevolent community organizations to mysterious clandestine societies.
The name, Dark Lanterns -- frequently used to describe these secretive organizations -- derives
from the Sons of Liberty and their usage of lanterns in certain positions to send signals to their
members as one of their earliest members, Paul Revere, once did to warn the colonial
minutemen of the British troop movement. In the years leading up to the war, as it became clear
across the country that no number of political compromises could settle this conflict, various
secret groups began to form in every major city in the US. Secret societies dedicated to proslavery ideology became especially prevalent among states that sympathized with the Southern
Cause such as Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio, who, while not holding slaves of their own, profited in
trade with their slave owning neighbors. An equal number of counter-organizations, founded to
oppose the expansion of slavery, sprang up throughout the Border States and major cities to
zealously defend the anti-slavery ideology embodied by the new Republican Party. Historians
have often termed this era to be the “Golden Age of Fraternalism”, placing the estimated
number of members as high as 40% of the total population. Indeed, some of the nation’s early
leaders, such as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin (Freemasons) were involved in such
fraternities. Interest and intrigue in these organizations reached a peak when William Morgan
published a literary exposé on Freemasonry, then was arrested under suspiciously trumped-up
charges and summarily executed. The combination of this heightened intrigue and weak
political will in regards to community organization led to the proliferation of these groups in
Antebellum America, the most influential of which are described below.
Knights of the Golden Circle
For those of us who have studied the great history of American Secret
Societies, there is perhaps no group more prolific nor more emblematic
of the Golden Age of Fraternalism than the Knights of the Golden
Circle. Their rise and subsequent disappearance following the Civil War
has lead to many a conspiracy theory about the group’s current
whereabouts, with theories ranging from hunting for the lost treasure
troves of gold (see: the critically acclaimed Nicholas Cage film National
Treasure 2: Book of Secrets) to orchestrating a plot to build the Denver
6
International Airport so as to welcome alien life on this planet. While some of these theories are
far-fetched, there is a grain of truth behind the grand aims of the Knights of the Golden Circle,
founded by perhaps the greatest con man of the Antebellum Era, George W. L. Bickley.
Born and raised in rural Virginia, young George ran away from home at the age of 12, relying on
his skills as a smooth talker to get by. During his travels, he met a county doctor in Indiana and
allegedly studied medicine under him, though throughout his lifetime he claimed he received his
doctorate in medicine from the University of London. A compulsive liar through and through,
Bickley quickly worked his way up in the medical world to become a renowned faculty member
at the prestigious Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati in 1851.
Bickley, having founded his life on lies, only continued this secret and manipulative behavior
when he became involved in the Order of American Knights, the forerunner to the Knights of the
Golden Circle. He copied their codes, styles, and traditions when he founded the KGC, a crime
that, by its nature, went completely unreported though it earned him the enmity of many
powerful men in Cincinnati. Bickley then began to travel the nation, recruiting thousands of
influential men across the country, indoctrinating them to the KGC’s philosophy.
The Knights of the Golden Circle are
base upon the pro-expansionist
ideology that pervaded throughout the
United States at that time that called for
the expansion of the nation’s empire
throughout Latin America, forming a
“Golden Circle” encompassing all of the
Map of the
Caribbean, Central America, and the
Knights’
northern countries in South America
Expansionist
(see map). This exact ideology was not
Aspirations
as common as the Manifest Destinybased belief that the United States
should expand westward, yet it was also
fairly common, especially following the
American victory against the corrupt and inefficient Mexican government that secured
territory that would later become the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah,
Colorado and California. There are many alleged members of the KGC in all levels of
government, and there are those who would caution against another costly war with Mexico.
There are, however, many more who say that it is
our duty to bring the principles of good governance
and freedom to the Golden Circle, whether it wants
these principles or not.
The Theosophical Society
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One of the least well-understood organizations in American history was the Theosophical
Society. Even their name, derived from the Greek for theos and sophia (god and wisdom), is
mired in shadows and murky understanding. Based in New York City, this group of religious
intellectuals has long evaded understanding and remains a mystery to this day.
The society’s origins date back to 13th century Spain, to an ancient Kabbalah (Jewish Mysticism)
text called the Zohar, a book so holy in its nature that Jews are discouraged from reading it until
they’ve attained a significant enough level of holy textual study. Building from that work and the
long history of repressed Gnosticism in ancient religion, Renaissance thinkers began to lay the
foundations for the Theosophical Society. Its message of truth and study to comprehend the
higher mysteries of the universe resonated particularly well with Enlightenment Era thought,
and in 1857, the society was founded in New York City with the following core tenants:
1. To form a nucleus of the universal brotherhood of humanity without distinction of
race, creed, sex, caste, or color.
2. To encourage the study of comparative religion, philosophy, and science.
3. To investigate the unexplained laws of nature and the powers latent in man.
Sons of Liberty
When talking about the groups that turn the wheels of
revolution in the United States, the Sons of Liberty is
never far from the discussion. Founded in the 1760’s in
response to the increased British demands for taxation
from the colonies, the Sons of Liberty were born from
anti-government, pro-democratic ideology. Their
dogmatic approach to personal liberty and limited
government led to colonial authorities swiftly banning
and condemning the Sons, which naturally only further
polarized the group. Their impact upon the history of the
American Revolution was far-reaching and often
misunderstood.
Their motto of “No taxation without representation” was
extremely powerful throughout the colonies given the strong anti-British sentiment, a sentiment
borne out of years of salutary neglect followed by a sudden swing into strict governance and
monarchical crushing of the burgeoning democratic legislatures. Sons of Liberty movements
began to form, the most notable of which was based in Boston and was responsible for a little
incident called the Boston Tea Party.
The staunch anti-British position of the Sons of Liberty made them an powerful bastion of
support for the American Revolution, a sentiment which continues on to today. The Sons of
Liberty continues to exist in this Golden Age of Fraternalism, acting in defense of so called
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“Native Americans” against the massive influx of immigrants -- primarily Irish and German -- to
America. Many have attributed this stance to the close affiliation between the Sons of Liberty
and the Know-Nothing Party, a political organization whose goals were to “purify” American
politics by removing the Catholic influence and eliminating slavery, inciting aggression directed
at the Irish and Southern slave owners. There have been several notable incidents of antiimmigrant violent riots erupting, especially around New York City’s predominantly Irish
neighborhood of Five Points. It is also rumored that John Brown, who led an ill-fated raid on the
Federal Arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, was, along with his children, a member of the Sons of Liberty.
The Union League
The Union League, founded in Chicago in 1854,
was a major focal point in the massive wave of
Northern pride and anti-slavery zealotry. This
proverbial tidal wave of patriotism was greatly
bolstered by the rise of the Republican Party in the
election of 1858. The league, though relatively new,
has quickly spread throughout the major cities of
the north, with chapters in Baltimore,
Philadelphia, Boston, and New York City. Their
motto, “Love of Country Leads” concisely
encapsulates their organizations external image
and ostensible beliefs. Yet, in this age of secrets and sedition nothing is quite as it seems.
Their sudden rise and aggressive community involvement, while possibly benevolent, has been
flagged by several Democratic politicians as decidedly undemocratic. There have been rumors
that the Union League has engaged in voter intimidation and fraud, which could explain the
surprising and overwhelming victory for the new Republican party in the 1858 election. No one
has been arrested or accused, and it would make sense that the Democratic opposition to the
Republican Party would accuse them of vote tampering, yet the Union League’s meteoric rise
has greatly increased tensions in cities across the country due to their mere existence. Lincoln’s
Presidential campaign has been known to rely heavily upon the support of the league as they are
very effective in community organizations and getting all the votes in for their party. As the
Chicago saying goes, “In Chicago not only your vote counts, but all kinds of other votes--kids,
dead folks, and so on.”
The Freemasons
From the earliest days of this great nation, the Freemasons
have hand in the shaping and growth of the United States.
Though the first formal chapter of Freemasons was granted
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its charter in Boston in 1733, there is strong evidence and correspondence written by such
influential figures as Benjamin Franklin that place their American origins at a far earlier date.
Regardless, Freemasons were among the most important leaders and figures during the
American Revolution, spanning the entirety of the war, from Paul Revere to George Washington.
A key fact to note about the early days of the Freemasonry in America was their acceptance of
free Blacks, an extremely progressive notion then.
Following the unexpected success of the American Revolution, these Freemason leaders
continued to serve the country in the writing of The Constitution and of course, with the first
President of the United States. This power did not go unnoticed, and as early as 1818 the AntiMasonic Party formed to oppose their strong influence in government. Many viewed them as an
immoral and corrupting influence as they were not a Christian organization. This strong antiMason sentiment is often attributed to the so-called “Morgan Affair”, wherein a journalist
named William Morgan, who had planned to write a damning exposé after infiltrating the
organization, was mysteriously accused of failure to repay a loan and was subsequently arrested,
disappearing just days after his bail was posted by an anonymous benefactor.
This heavily publicized event drove the Masons back from the forefront of the political
landscape, although their influence can be felt and seen in everything from the Supreme Court
Building to the One Dollar Bill. Their power and influence is a force to be reckoned with during
this era, especially given their historically strong connections with the Freed Black community.
The Independent Order of Oddfellows
With their roots firmly anchored in 17th century England,
the Oddfellows represent a rather unique secret society in
the Golden Age of Fraternalism in America. The name,
based on the fact that it was an early guild for those who
performed ‘odd’ professions, has carried through the
generations even if the English connection has not. The Oddfellows did not involve themselves
in the Revolutionary War though some members eventually did join the Loyalist side. It was in
fact during the War of 1812, with the British ships besieging the Chesapeake Bay that the
American branch declared itself separate. Thomas Wildey formally christened the Independent
Order of Oddfellows in 1813 in Baltimore and since then they have spread across the United
States. They still ostensibly represent those workers who do not belong to a formal guild or
union, yet as with many groups of this era, their mere existence suggests a deeper motivation.
Indeed, their membership has included everyone from simple bankers and carpenters to
influential politicians such as Vice President Schuyler Colfax, at one time a holder of the highest
rank of the order, Noble Grand.
In 1834, following the British Empire’s ban of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, the group began to
soften their stance against the United Kingdom. Furthermore, in 1851, contrary to every other
fraternal organization in the United States at that time, the Oddfellows issued their “Beautiful
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Rebekah Decree,” becoming the first to allow women to be members. While many applaud these
actions, there are those who grow suspicious of the perceived coziness between the Oddfellows
and their British counterparts. Additionally, their traditions and customs are anchored in
ancient Judeo-Christian ideology and symbolism, earning them the ire of traditional
fundamentalists Christians.
Ancient Order of
Hibernians
One of the greatest strengths
of the United States
historically has been its rich
immigrant tradition. Perhaps
no city better embodies this
spirit than New York City, the
home of wave after wave of
immigrants from every corner
in the world. The spirit of the
city is marked by all the
nations welcomed there, and
as such it is home to countless
cultural groups. One of the
most prolific groups in New York City in the mid 1800’s was the Irish.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians, founded in 1836 in the Irish neighborhood of Five Points in
New York City, was originally intended to represents the rights of Irish workers. America’s
history books often overlook the difficulty of life for early Irish immigrants: they were
marginalized and mistreated from the moment they stepped off of the boats in New York City
and Boston. Fleeing from the Potato Blight that devastated the Emerald Isle, Irish immigrants
found themselves lost in the New World and were preyed upon by sleazy employers. Desperate
for work, the Irish migrants found themselves forced into hard labor across the industrialized
North, from dangerous coal mines in Pennsylvania to cramped sweatshops in New York. The
AOH stepped in, rising from the crucible of these dangerous conditions to represent the Irish in
an increasingly hostile environment. There are many nativist groups that see the influx of the
Irish (and by extension, Catholic) migrants as a serious issue for the political and social wellbeing of the United States, and thus have thrown down the gauntlet against the Ancient Order of
Hibernians.
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Delegate Positions
Charles F.
Adams, Sr.
Nathaniel
P. Banks
Clarissa
Barton
Henry C.
Carey
An influential scion of the Adams political dynasty, Charles serves in the House of
Representatives on the Committee of Manufactures and Industry for 2 terms. His
strong connections with the diplomatic corps have made him a well-recognized
favorite for nomination to run the State Department. As the son of John Quincy
Adams and the grandson of John Adams, his voice carries great weight among
political elites. His additional appointment to the Harvard University Board of
Overseers greatly adds to his pedigree as one of the leading minds of the
Antebellum Era.
Currently the Governor of Massachusetts, Banks is well-recognized throughout
the United States as one of the best orators alive. Though originally a member of
the Democratic Party, his pro-abolition leanings lead him to leave and join the
newly formed Republican Party in 1858. A millworker by trade, his humble
beginnings and status as a professional politician with no apparent connections
to business or outside legal interests have made him extremely popular. Indeed,
his name was once mentioned on the same breath as Lincoln’s when considering
Presidential nominees. Banks has often voiced his support for the principles of
Manifest Destiny and has alluded several times to be a proponent of women’s
suffrage, a very liberal notion that earns him the ire of conservative politicians.
Clarissa “Clara” Barton, born in Boston in 1821, was a figure of note in the history
of women’s rights and gender equality. After moving to Washington, D.C., Clara
found work as a patent clerk and became the first female government employee
in US history to earn equal pay for equal work. Though laid off by a misogynistic
boss, her story inspired millions of women in America and led her into a career of
humanitarian work as the founder of the American Red Cross. Her work as a
nurse with the American Red Cross earned her the moniker of “Angel of the
Battlefield”, even though nursing at this time was a traditionally male profession,
fanning the flames of the burgeoning women’s suffrage movement.
One of the nation’s leading intellectuals, Mr. Carey is known not just here but
around the world as the leading figure in developmental capitalism. Born in
Philadelphia, PA to Irish immigrants, Carey distinguished himself at an early age
by befriending Benjamin Franklin, even going so far as writing treatises under
the legendary statesman’s tutelage. His most famous work, Principles of Political
Economy (1840), has been translated into many languages and publicized across
Europe and the world. He is a strong supporter of using tariffs to encourage
domestic production and national self-sufficiency, a concept derived from
Alexander Hamilton’s work in economics. He has close correspondence with
Schuyler Colfax, a former Vice President, made public when he printed out a
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series of letters written between them under the title The Way to Outdo England
Without Fighting Her.
Richard R.
Crawford
Abner
Doubleday
Horace
Greely
James
Guthrie
Currently serving as the Mayor of Washington, D.C., nothing gets done in his city
without his say so. Prior to his mayoral campaign, Crawford served on the city
council and oversaw the sale of several large public works contracts to
construction companies owned by his brother-in-law, Budd Dwyer. Though he
was formally cleared of all corruption charges, Crawford’s penchant for gambling
and living large has caught the eye of many. Despite his somewhat murky
background, he is much beloved by the people of Washington, D.C. and has
carefully tread the line of the divisive politics of the Capitol. A personal friend of
President Buchanan, Crawford’s influence should be seen as a force to be
reckoned with and perhaps as a useful tool.
Born in a small town in Upstate New York to a highly religious farming family,
not much was expected of young Abner. The Doubleday family had proudly
served in the Revolutionary War, with his grandfather serving as a personal
messenger to one General George Washington. Abner followed the family
tradition and enrolled in the United States Military Academy, graduating with
distinction in 1842. A veteran of the Mexican-American War as well as the
Seminole Wars, Doubleday is one of the most promising young colonels in the
army today. When not serving his country honorably, Doubleday has been
perfecting a sport he invented in 1839 in Cooperstown, NY called “Baseball” as
well as developing his own philosophy on the metaphysical implications of
religion and god’s relationship with man.
Currently serving in the House of Representatives as a delegate from New York’s
6th district, Greely is perhaps best known for his role as the founder and editorin-chief of the New-York Tribune. Coming from a poor family in backwater New
Hampshire, he lucked into a full scholarship to the prestigious Phillips Exeter
Academy and early on made himself known as a great writer. Moving to New
York City in 1833, he took a job working at the New Yorker until 1840 when he
founded his own paper, the New-York Tribune. Widely hailed as the most
reliable source of news in the country, Greely quickly climbed in the New York
political scene as information is power. His close friendships with many
Presidents and Senators has led some to question what factors may have led to
his meteoric rise.
Guthrie is an influential Kentucky Senator and a powerful figure in the DC
political scene. Descended from Irish and Scottish immigrants, Guthrie’s early
years were strongly shaped by his father, a member of the House of
Representatives in Kentucky and a large plantation owner. Guthrie decided to go
to law school and through his legal practice became friends with Presidential
candidate and fellow Kentucky boy Abraham Lincoln. He quickly rose within the
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Kentucky state political scene, eventually attracting the attention of former
President Franklin Pierce, who nominated him to be his Secretary of the Treasury
due to his financial acumen. He is a huge supporter of a transition to a
centralized banking system and the gold standard and, despite his political
affiliation as a Democrat, there are rumors around DC that Presidential
Candidate Abraham Lincoln will ask him to serve his country as Treasurer once
more.
Benjamin
Tyler
Henry
General
Thomas
Jordan
Rachel
Kinney
Dwight
L.
Moody
As one of the few men of science involved in this committee, Benjamin Tyler
Henry provides a unique perspective on the latest technologies. Despite his
talents as a brilliant engineer, Henry is a very misunderstood man who has a
difficult time socializing, and has been known to often consume large quantities
of a substance called “opium,” a plant-based stimulant from the Far East that he
claims heightens his concentration and leads to his best work. His warfareengineering knowledge is unparalleled. His most recent invention, the Henry
Repeating Rifle, has shown great promise and looks likely to change the face of
modern warfare. He has a bitter rivalry with Oliver Winchester, a staunch
Northern supporter, over Oliver cutting Henry out of what he believes to be his
rightful share of profits from their business venture.
Perhaps the greatest military mind serving on the frontier today, Gen. Jordan has
seen action in wars for the United States for over 30 years and has served this
country honorably. His military career, marked by great success in the field
against General Santa Ana in the Mexican-American War, has always been in
service of expansion of the American territory. Born and raised in Virginia and
educated at West Point Military Academy, Gen. Jordan is considered by many to
be one of the most respected figures in the South. While his leadership and
tactical skills are well known, it is a fairly well kept secret that he is a regular
contributor to the prestigious political publication Harper’s Magazine.
Formerly married to George W. L. Bickley, the founder of the Knights of the
Golden Circle, Ms. Kinney is currently a high-flying D.C. socialite. She despises
her ex-husband for cheating on her with the scullery maid and swindling money
from her family, the most prominent group of bankers in Ohio. Using her
financial connections she has invested heavily in the DC hotel industry, making
her party to many backroom conversations with guests both foreign and
domestic. Though not known in particular for her patriotism, her quick wit and
prominent social status were key to her being recommended for this special
advisory commission.
A charismatic and hypnotizing preacher, Moody is one of the most well-known
religious figures in Evangelical America. Raised by a single father on a
stonemason’s salary, Moody was barely able to afford an education in the
Unitarian church he was sent to boarding school at, leading him to take up
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carpentry on the side. Despite these difficult conditions, Moody managed to
become an oft-published figure in religious circles and he has followers all over
the world. Moving to Chicago in 1849, Moody founded the Chicago Avenue
Church (Later renamed the Moody Church) and become an extremely influential
voice in many Christian communities, though never with the Catholics and the
Irish as his church became closely affiliated with the Church of England.
Rose
O’NealGreenhow
Ely S.
Parker
Daniel
A.
Payne
Allan
Pinkerton
Hailing from a large tobacco plantation in Maryland, O’Neal was a wellestablished woman in the DC social scene. Eventually marrying the
Undersecretary of State, Robert Greenhow, in a touching Catholic ceremony,
O’Neal had thought she was set for the perfect life. Then tragedy struck in the
form of Tuberculosis, killing off both her husband and her only daughter. Now a
widow, she spends her days as a trusted confidant to many senators and
influential politicians from both the North and South. She is particularly close
with Stephen A. Douglas, her former son-in-law, who later remarried to a
daughter of Washington D.C. Mayor Richard Crawford, causing a bitter rivalry
between the two for his considerable political influence.
Or, by his Native American birth name, Hasanoanda, was a major leader in the
Seneca Indian community and an accomplished attorney. Raised in New York
State, Parker attended a Quaker missionary school and is now fluent in French,
Spanish, English and, naturally, Seneca. Though technically not a US citizen,
Parker was nevertheless admitted to the New York Bar in 1842, becoming the
first Native American to do so. A respected figure in the Iroquois community,
Parker harbors some anti-government sentiments, though he graciously accepted
the President’s invitation to attend this special committee as he believes strongly
in the power of unity and the importance of peace, emphasized by his Quaker
education.
Payne the most influential figure in the African Methodist Episcopal Church
based in Charleston, South Carolina. Born to a Black father who bought his
freedom and an Native American mother, Payne was educated from an early age
on the pain and prejudice endemic to being a child of two strongly disliked
groups. Though it was technically illegal under South Carolina law, Payne taught
himself to read and studied the classics and theology, eventually working his way
up to being the head of the AME. A strong supporter of the American
Colonization Society, a group that organized the release of slaves and their return
to Africa, Payne traveled the country in search of support. His views on abolition
have attracted the interest and enmity of many groups across the country, and it
is with great risk that he shows his face in committee today.
Through the power of tabloid media, Allan Pinkerton is the most famous
detective in America today. Originally born in Scotland, Pinkerton immigrated to
the United States and settled in Chicago. He credits his British education with
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instilling within him the firm belief that all people have the right to be free, and
has served for many years as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. He was
working as a cooper when he was asked to verify the authenticity of several
counterfeit barrels, inspiring him to switch careers to work in law enforcement.
Founding his own private detective agency, the Pinkerton National Detective
Agency, Pinkerton has been deputized to handle everything from railroad strikes
to uncovering assassination plots. Through his work on railroads he met
Abraham Lincoln, now a close personal friend of his. Pinkerton’s skills as an
effective organizer and intelligence gatherer have been rumored to have
influenced his selection for this special advisory committee, overriding the fact
that he is foreign born in an era of deep mistrust in immigrants.
Thaddeus
Stevens
Maria W.
Stewart
George A.
Townsend
One of the first candidates to ever run under the new Republican Party, Thaddeus
Stevens is a career politician who has made his dislike of the South’s fierce
independence rather well known. Growing up poor in rural Vermont, Stevens
pulled himself up by his bootstraps from meager beginnings to political notoriety.
Along the way, he has often changed political parties, moving from the AntiMasonic (1828 - 1838) to the Whig (1838 - 1851) to the Know-Nothing (1851 1855) to finally the Republican Party (1855 - ). A staunch abolitionist, Stevens
strongly opposed any of the legislation that expanded slavery to new territories
and is one of the loudest voices calling for the escalation of force against the
South.
Born a free, black American, Stewart was raised in Connecticut and grew to be
one of the strongest advocates for the Free Black community in the United States
as well as women’s rights. Close friends with the pro-abolition writer William
Lloyd Garrison, she is well known for publishing several important written works
such as the Sure Foundation on Which We Must Build and Religion and the Pure
Principles of Morality, both of which were widely circulated. A renowned public
speaker, Stewart has spoken out against the Freed Black male community for not
doing enough, stating they “lack the ambition and requisite courage” to instigate
real social change. Her fiery oratory skills and drive have caught the eye of many
prominent political figures, despite her low social standing.
Or Gath, as his pen-name goes, is one of the most well-published journalists in
America. He has worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer, New York Herald, and
the New York World doing various undercover exposés. From illegal factory
conditions to the Underground Railroad, Townsend’s ability to ingratiate and
infiltrate groups is unparalleled. Though a highly devout man, he has no problem
diving through the darkest and the most sacrosanct places of the world in search
of the truth.
Born into slavery on a plantation in Maryland, Tubman was viciously abused as a
child and was sold off to three different plantations until she finally ran away.
16
Harriet
Tubman
William
Tweed
Clement
Vallandigham
Walt
Whitman
Oliver
Winchester
Once, after enduring a particularly nasty beating, Tubman was struck in the head
with a iron brand, causing her to develop visions and hypersomnia. A deeply
religious woman, she began to see visions and attributed them to god, with these
visions telling her to shepherd more slaves to safety. Estimates vary, but she’s
managed to guide about 1,000 slaves to freedom over her many years of work,
never losing a single one. As she has never been apprehended, she is a very
popular figure in the North and is very active in the burgeoning women’s suffrage
movement.
Head of the most influential political machine in America, Tammany Hall,
William “Boss” Tweed is one of the richest and most powerful men alive. Raised
by English and Scottish parents, he originally apprenticed to become a
saddlemaker, but Tweed’s charisma and natural political talent eventually led
him to become the leader of Tammany Hall. He was elected to the House of
Representatives in 1852, and though this was the highest political appointment
he ever attained, through the Tammany Hall political machine he essentially runs
much of the various governmental elements of New York City. His political
connections and vast personal wealth have led to many allegations of corruptions,
though none have stuck.
One of the most powerful political figures in the nation, the Ohio Representative
is widely known for his position as the leader of the so-called Copperheads, a
leading faction of the Democratic Party. His call “To maintain the Constitution as
it is, and to restore the Union as it was” resonates strongly with those who see the
polarization of the nation as a threat to its future. His staunch positions on State’s
Rights and opposition to abolition of slavery have caused many to suspect him of
having pro-Southern tendencies.
Already one of the most famous voices in American writing, Whitman has
cemented his place in history as one of the greatest poets to pick up the pen.
Coming from a strict Quaker upbringing, Whitman’s Humanistic and
Transcendental philosophy hold great influence over the masses. He published
his most recent work, Leaves of Grass (1855), while completely broke, betting all
of his money on the now-successful book. Some of his other works, such as the
teetotaler novel Franklin Evans (1842) have led many critics to suggest his
writing overemphasizes the importance of pan-religionism, abolition, and the
inherent rights of man. Currently residing in New York, he came by personal
invitation of President Buchanan, which some whisper is due to the fact that they
are both involved intimately.
One of the most prominent businessmen in America in the Antebellum era, it was
his corporation that manufactured and sold the Henry Rifle. Primarily based in
New York, Winchester frequently travels to Washington D.C., especially now with
17
the threat of war looming and the ever increasing demand for his repeating rifle,
which was colloquially referred to as “the gun you could load on Sunday and
shoot all damn week”. While Benjamin Tyler Henry has been a long time
employee of Winchester’s, Oliver has effectively cut him out of any of the profit
on his namesake rifle through shady corporate maneuvering.
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