Free The Dominion's Dilemma: The United States of British America by James F. Devine Page B

resistance,” Bratton reluctantly replied.
      Adams, who had been sitting erect, his hands clutching the conference table tightly, fell back in his chair, a look of victorious satisfaction on his face. “I fully concur.”
     
    ___________
     
       This time the silence did exceed 60 seconds. In fact, almost two full minutes passed before Lord Melbourne spoke.
   “So gentlemen, the dreadful possibility we had previously hoped would be negated by the USBA electorate suddenly must be faced. The tool we will use to eradicate this blot on humanity in other parts of the Empire may not be effective in the USBA. The culture of slavery may be too embedded among too large a portion of the population to simply be bribed out of existence. In the USBA, as we have come to realize, slavery is a political, as well as an economic, issue. Therefore it must be addressed politically as well as economically. Fortunately, we have also planned for this contingency. I suggest we put our plan into operation as soon as possible.”
    “Is that the consensus of this Committee?” asked Lord Palmerston. “That, as discussed, we send the Duke to Georgetown as soon as the Royal Navy ship which brought us this plebiscite dispatch can be readied for a return run? And that he briefs as soon as he sees fit the current Governor-General to ascertain his acceptance of His Majesty’s Government’s emancipation plans? With full authority from the King under the terms of the USBA constitution to remove the incumbent if he refuses to enforce said emancipation?”
    Bratton’s jaw had dropped, but the concept was apparently a contingency fully discussed at previous meetings. Slowly, each Committee member voiced his approval…some more reluctantly than others.
    Lord Palmerston began replacing his papers in his pouch. “I will go immediately to see the P.M. Thence, I expect, to Buckingham Palace. Meanwhile, Sir Arthur, I suggest you begin packing for an unpleasant journey. The North Atlantic is bound to be brutal, but we must resolve this crisis before it can escalate into bloodshed. God willing, we are underestimating Andrew Jackson’s commitment to the Colonial Compact and all it represents. That will be up to you to ascertain…and to take whatever measures are deemed appropriate.”
   As the meeting broke up, the Duke motioned the Colonial Secretary and Bratton to the side. “Frederick, I believe it is mandatory that the American Office become mobile. Don’t you agree?”
   “I certainly do, Sir Arthur. Harry, pack your own luggage. You’ll be going back to your old duty station with the Duke of Wellington.”
     

 
     
     
    CHAPTER FIVE             
     
     
    Georgetown, D.C.
    December 23, 1832:

   The Residency had not regained the puritan fastidiousness of the Quincy Adams’ tenure after its near demolition by celebrating Westerners the night of Jackson’s inauguration. Despite the best efforts of the G-G’s niece---his wife Rachel had died soon after the 1828 plebiscite---the old house had neither quite regained the look of the fine Southern mansion that Dolly Madison had rebuilt after a devastating fire early in her husband’s second Administration.
    No, thought Lieutenant Wilder. I’ve been to ‘real’ Southern mansions; including a huge one in Westminster, Maryland. He grinned to himself. The Residency simply doesn’t compare. He looked around the oval room where the formal reception would be held before everyone moved into the main dining room for a buffet-style supper and dancing. Now this room, at least, offers a great view of the Potomac River and the blue/green Virginia hills of Arlington. Including, he thought somewhat enviously, the Custis plantation, which Robert Lee stands to inherit, now that he’s finally married Mary. This house, though, reminds me of the Nashville Inn, where I stayed last Spring when General Jackson stopped off at his plantation on the way back from