The Federalist National Convention of 1872 had finally arrived, with news of Lincoln securing the Liberal leadership being the main theme at that time, the event had been highly anticipated from the very start, after all the Federalists were now growing into the most prominent opposition to the Liberals, while the Democratic-Republican Party were collapsing.
The convention would be held in Philadelphia, where a few Federalist politicians had been elected during the midterms, although their candidate for the mayorship John Newton Van Lew had been beaten the previous year by the Liberal Hector Tyndale, regardless of that, the convention aimed to select a candidate who could take down Lincoln, by no means an easy task, but one that had to be accomplished if the Party intended to finally rise from opposition to power. Three prominent candidates emerged as frontrunners, all of them had already spent years gaining influence within the Party, that if they didn't have it already from long before, like Webster. The candidates were Daniel Fletcher Webster, Lucian Swift and Elisha Reynolds Potter Jr. we shall now give the details of all three members.
Elisha Reynolds Potter Jr.: A few years ago few would have predicted that the Rhode Island congressman would turn into a prominent figure in American politics given that during most of his youth his image was of nothing more than a young Liberal Politician who came from a Federalist family, however his career changed when Potter, just like many other New Englanders, threw his hat into the Federalist Party's 1868 candidacy, had that gamble failed it's possible that he would have essentially been forced to retire from politics, but the move was successful (or, at least didn't really fail) and thanks to it he quickly became a Party leader, and one who rose in prominence quickly by presenting himself as a ''Radical Federalist'' who rallied against those who went against the law and order of the nation (it also certainly helped him that the South was going through a period of racial violence that radicalized many Liberals in regards to the use of State power).
Speaking about his past before he became a member of congress Potter's life was pretty respectable even before he got involved in politics, just like his father Potter took on legal studied, going to the very prestigious Harvard, where he graduated in 1830. After completing his legal studies, Potter returned to Rhode Island practicing in South Kingstown's Township this legal work would go on until 1838, when he was elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives.
As said before, his political career would start in 1838 when he was elected to the State House, running as a Liberal with the support of those called ''Neo-Federalists'' who made up much of the Liberal leadership in the region. He became a member of the US House in 1842, which was overall a Democratic-Republican landslide, but that still saw the Liberals retaining their domination of the region, at this point in time the country was at war with Great Britain, Potter would join the anti-war voices in the Party, as they were in control of the New England faction of the Party, this, in addition to his opposition to universal male suffrage would make him hated by Democratic-Republicans in the State, who would even nickname him ''The Aristocrat'' with one newspaper even saying that Potter supported Britain, and calling him a traitor.
Following that he would be a minor figure for decades, he would even go as far as to lose his House seat during the Democratic-Republican obliteration of 1854, but would return in 1856 thanks to Brown's landslide, after that he would be a very obscure congressman until 1871, when Potter made headlines as he infamously introduced a controversial proposal to reinstate the Seditionary Act—which was by far the most infamous law ever passed by President John Adams. Potter argued that such legislation was necessary to address the rising threat of groups like the White League and the Knights of the White Camelia, which had essentially caused several Southern States to devolve into chaos and mass lynching, all while saying that any Governor who was supportive of the groups should be jailed. While his proposal faced significant opposition and ultimately did not pass, it also gave Potter a lot of recognition, all while many Liberals who had previously criticized him for going against President Douglass were now warming up to him and his firm anti-terrorism.
Furthermore, his efforts to combat domestic terrorism continued well beyond his proposed legislation, he became actively involved in advocating for the federal government to establish military rule under the south, remove and imprison ''traitorous Governors'' and ban those parties that were tied with the groups, being one of the first white members of congress who argued for the removal of Jefferson Davis from the Senate (unsurprisingly African-American representatives were the first ones to do it).
Potter now stands as a major candidate, and possible future President, but can he truly make history and become the first Federalist elected to the White House since the party was bought back to life?
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Congressman Elisha Reynold Potter Jr. of Rhode Island
Daniel Fletcher Webster: The name of Daniel Webster is not new for any American, neither is the one of his son, Daniel Fletcher Webster, Fletcher has been a major figure in the politics of the nation ever since he broke with President Douglass over his socialist economic plans, that, as most would remember occurred in 1868, at a point where many began to believe in the possibility of the Liberal Party turning the nation into a one party State (or, at least essentially turning it into one), as both the Democratic-Republicans and the National States Rights Party were very weak.
Fletcher made his mark on the national stage when he announced his departure from the Liberal Party, and the consequent decision to run for the Presidency as a Federalist, which had been restored by New England Liberals who were opposed to the policies of President Frederick Douglass, most namely his support of socialist reforms of the economy. The Federalist Party, now under Fletcher's leadership, sought to stop Douglass from being re-elected, and with that ensure that the Old Guard of the Liberal Party would be replace the so called Radicals who had taken control of the Party Machine. Fletcher's candidacy garnered considerable attention, especially after the Democratic-Republican Party endorsed him.
However, despite winning a few States in New England his bid for the presidency fell short, and Douglass would be re-elected following another landslide. Nonetheless the Federalists would gain a few House and Senate seats, which would be expanded upon during the midterms two years later, where the former splinter became the second biggest party in congress, just behind their own parent party.
Coming into this election Fletcher has kept his influence in the Party the same way he did 4 years ago, however, this time there are actual rivals who challenge him when it comes to the Party leadership, after all, while he had respectable results in 1868 he is nonetheless a man who was defeated in a landslide, and unlike others he does not hold public office despite the fact that the Federalists have grown in influence and power massively ever since he ran for the Presidency (Webster instead became the chairman of the Federalist National Committee) nonetheless, his influence cannot be forgotten either, Webster is the favorite after all, and on the eyes of many he is the father of the New Federalist movement, which is why the Liberals consider him as their most dangerous rival.
Federalist National Committee Chairman Daniel Fletcher Webster.
Lucian Swift: Finally, the last of the three candidates is Lucian Swift, who previously had been Daniel Fletcher Webster's running mate, and the figure that appealed to the more radical members of the party. Born on 1808 Swift had a family which was tied with the Federalist Party from the day that he was born, his father was a prominent Connecticut Judge, and a Federalist who has previously supported John Adams, however history would not be kind to the Party, and Lucian would see its death while he was still just a child, but the fire of the Federalist movement didn't die, it just changed its colors, and so a young Lucian would join the Liberal Party, first campaigning for Webster as a 20 year old in 1828 at that time he was still a minor figure on the politics of the State, but the name of his father and his zealous campaigning managed to make some think that he could be the future of the Party.
When he grew up he joined the Liberal Party and would be elected to the State House, it would be later mentioned that even as a Liberal he would representing the so-called "Authoritarian" wings of the Party, supporting a violent response to the attempts of secession in the South when South Carolina declared itself independent during the late 1830's, even going as far as to argue that the likes of John Calhoun should be executed, and the State legislature forcefully modified. At the time few cared, as he was just a minor figure, but as his career went on (especially after he joined the Federalists) many would go on to say that Lucian had autocratic tendencies, even to this day he defends his actions, saying that those who committed treason should be punished in the strongest of ways.
His career would reach its zenith, at least its zenith as a liberal when he was elected Lieutenant Governor, as the second most influential politician in the State Swift played a critical role in Connecticut's government, it would be noted from the Start that he opposed the socialist wing of the Party, and would criticize President Douglass for siding with them over the Old Guard, which would ultimately lead to his switch into the Federalist Party, where he would be part of the ticket that would finish second and bring back the Federalist Party into national politics after over 50 years.
After that he would continue being a major figure within the Party and in 1870 would be elected Governor of Connecticut, defeating the Liberal Marshall Jewell in a very close race that would be repeated in 1871, with the Federalist leader being elected again.
One of Swift's defining moments after becoming Governor would come during the Southern riots of last year, in a similar way to how it affected Potter. When the Federalist leader was faced with escalating violence and a threat to the safety of the Black community, Swift firmly supported measures to suppress the activities of these groups, including the National States Rights Party, and thanks to his influence he would make sure that almost every federalist voted in favor of banning De Bow's terrorist political party, this would gain him praise from many Liberals, and even President Douglass would thank him for his work.
His stance against these groups and outspoken support for the imprisonment of their members did not come into the surprise of anybody, after all he had already gained fame as a fairly authoritarian politician, and it had even came up as a fairly important issue 4 years prior. In regards to those accusations Swift continues to argue that the nation is in need of a strong central government to protect the rights and safety of its citizens, arguing that only through a strong and firm enforcement of the law will the nation be capable of dealing with groups who wish to overthrow it and replace it with an illegal regime.
Swift's authoritarian stances within the Federalist Party do place him at odds with those more moderate members of the Party who question his adherence to democracy, or to individual liberties, although with the aura of chaos that was caused by the Southern riots many argue that he (and for the same reason, Potter) now stand at a major opportunity to be elected, as many Americans yearn for a strong Government who cracks down on those terrorist groups.
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