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Resurrection: Rebirth of the United States

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Powerful speech by Heyward, but it's rather light on any kind of evidence. More an appeal to emotions. Of course, Pinckney's case is pretty weak itself and this isn't a court.

At least Heyward seems to be much more in control of himself, so I expect he will be able to shape events much more than he used to be. I hope it's enough to get him free from the treason charge.
 
CatKnight: .."..You must decide whether, given what you know of me, I conspired to betray this country... or if, for whatever reason, Mister Pinckney is grasping at shadows."

hmmm. for some reason, i suspect that shadows has a hidden meaning ! ! ;)

CatKnight: ..."We have lived in fear for so long that pain has become normal. Evil has become acceptable." He looked at Adams, leaning forward and frowning intently. "It will be hard. It will take the rest of our lives, but one day we will realize there's nothing left to fear. We will stop doubting each other." To Waymouth, who paled: "We will forgive ourselves." Lastly, to Stone: "And serve as an example to the world."

these words can give a goal to the young nation, and probably will ! ! :)

CatKnight: ...Tom turned to face Jefferson. "That is why I am not a traitor. Because I believe in our country, and with time, patience and faith, we can do anything."

those are very powerful words ! ! :D

magnificent update ! ! :cool:
 
Bravo! Masterful begining! It seems to me that Heyward is guaranteed to be aquited of charges, the Carolinas and maybe virgina will secede and we'll have an early civil war... how that will end?... I wouldn't count black out yet, he probably still has a few tricks up his sleeve
 
Fulcrumvale: Thanks!

Chief Ragusa: I assume slavery was abolished around 1807 as in OTL. Britain holding the US South wouldn't really signify as they had a lot to lose economically anyway. At worst it might have delayed things by a decade or so.

You're right about Britain's territorial ambitions..but that's an acceptable alternative to Black's plan. Remember in Heyward's Timeline (HTL?) the American Revolution FAILS. A nation that barely made it eleven years is almost as good.

J. Passepartout: Possible.

Stuyvesant: As you say, it was more an appeal to emotion than anything. All the evidence I assume is out there at this point, so it wasn't far from a closing argument. :)

Ghostwriter: Thanks! I took part of that speech from a book....I don't remember the title anymore. Basically King Arthur gets reincarnated in modern New York. He says..paraphrasing:

You have lived in fear for so long that pain has become normal. Evil has become acceptable. No more. It will be hard, and it will take a long time but one day we will conquer our fears and stand in the light of our own perfection. This is my promise to you.
Click to expand...

Naturally the media doesn't take him seriously.

I figured part of it's too over the top even by Tom's inexacting standards so I toned it down slightly.

Maximilliano: Oh you're right, Black's not done yet.
 
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-= 191 =-​


Pennsylvania
September 1784


"I object!" called Charles Pinckney. "Mister President, General Heyward offers no evidence at all but simple platitudes. He says we will provide an example to the world. We thank him for his foresight, but he's not the first man to claim such. Why would we be here otherwise?"

"Mister President," Adams interrupted, "General Heyward offers testimony which is all we can really require of him. We earlier offered evidence from Captain Jones, but Mister Pinckney tore it up." He smirked at the South Carolinan. "Yes, yes, don't trouble yourself. Speculation. Hearsay. Well there was only one witness to much of what happened, and he's just testified. Certainly no one else is fit to judge his intent."

Jefferson nodded. "Very well. Bailiff, please escort General Heyward back to his...residence. We must discuss." He raised his voice. "Constables, clear the room!"

The crowd grumbled as the police began herding them out, women with platitudes and men with occasional shoves. Someone cried 'Tyranny!' a few glared, and all rumbled with discontent but soon the room was clear. A moment later Heyward followed with the guard.

"Gentlemen, what do you say?"

"South Carolina repeats her demand for extradition!" Pinckney snapped. "The Articles are clear on this point." Spaight nodded emphatically and pounded his table.

"The gentleman in correct," Jay said solemnly. "Though I am certain General Heyward's intent was honorable, South Carolina has a right to try this on their soil."

"And will it be a fair trial?" Adams demanded. "Come on, John. There's a bounty on his head down there. They've already convicted!"

"Be that as it may..."

"Gentlemen," William Ellery of Rhode Island stood. "Before we discuss the treason charge, we need to talk about his desertion. It's a separate matter, and as he's a general officer and not a colonel this is most definitely a national issue."

The delegates rumbled in agreement.

Adams spoke: "General Heyward's said, and we never denied, he left the army in mid campaign. He also concedes he could have handled it better. Nonetheless his intent was honorable..."

"So you say!"

"...and so we ask for Congress's understanding. Desertion implied he intentionally, or at least through his disappearance, left the Army in disarray. He did not. The army was en route to a siege, he knew there would be no more field battles. The army was left with an experienced commander..."

"Who turned around and betrayed us as well, Mister Adams," Pinckney retorted. "Your diligence for your client is remarkable, but your inability to see patterns is more so. General Heyward, feeling contempt for Carolina returns home and tries to assassinate Mister Rutledge. Rutledge dies meeting with General Allen, who then returns and attempts a coup. God's Death man, they were in it together!"

"So now we're to try General Allen also?" Adams demanded.

"No, but I appeal to your sense of logic! General Heyward is a traitor! The evidence is incontrovertible."

"I disagree. I say General Heyward went home to help South Carolina after a number of problems that..."

"South Carolina is not on trial!" Pinckney repeated. "Further, with all respect to my companions the affairs of South Carolina are none of your business!"

"Unless they affect the republic as a whole, in which case..."

"Thank you, Mister Adams. You've made your point." Jefferson banged his gavel. "Regarding the desertion charge, are there any motions?"

Roger Sherman of Connecticut stood. "I want to make sure I understand. We concede General Heyward left his army without leave, but Mister Adams argued it did no harm?"

"No material harm," Adams answered coldly.

"Then he didn't do a good job." A few chuckles. "Gentlemen, strictly regarding the desertion charge I would propose a compromise. Anything overly harsh or forgiving will only highlight the morale problems affecting our military. We want this matter to die. I recommend we discharge him without honor from the army, which will also deny him many higher offices. Let him simply fade from the public eye."

Waymouth considered. "I can agree to that. Seconded."

Spaight looked at Pinckney questioningly, but the South Carolinan merely folded his arms. This charge didn't interest him.

"All right," Jefferson said. "Master Clerk? Call the vote."

"New Hampshire!" He looked around. Still no Andrews. "Massachusetts?"

"Aye."

"Rhode Island?"

"Aye."

Connecticut naturally followed their own proposal. New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey declined, feeling that sweeping this under the rug didn't serve justice. Maryland and Delaware voted with Connecticut. At this point Pinckney leapt up and shouted. "Nay!"

The clerk paused and moved his hand past several states. "Uh...South Carolina votes Nay. North Carolina votes Nay."

5-5. James Monroe of Virginia pondered. "Virginia abstains."

"What?" Jefferson demanded.

"Virginia abstains, sir. We believe that as the treason charge takes precedence, being more severe, we should discuss Mister Pinckney's request."

Adams grumbled.

"Fine." Jefferson banged his gavel. "Regarding South Carolina's request to extradite. Remember you are not being asked to determine guilt or innocence, but the validity of Mister Pinckney's request. Master Clerk?"

The young man in charge of congressional records wasn't the sharpest in history, but he wasn't a complete loss. He pushed New Hampshire to one side and continued. "Massachusetts?"

"There are far too many questions," he answered. "Nay."

Connecticut and Rhode Island followed. John Jay said "The law is clear." "Aye."

Thomas Miflin of Pennsylvania disagreed. "How does one commit treason against just one state and not the entire union? Nay."

New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware were huddled. At the clerk's call Delaware flipped a hand at him, as if discouraging a pest.

"Virginia votes aye!" Monroe shouted. "The state's rights must take precedence." South and North Carolina concurred. 4-4. Finally the middle states broke off talks.

"New Jersey votes aye!"

"Maryland votes aye!"

"Delaware votes...."

The door to Independence Hall slammed open and "John Andrews," aka Major John Andre, stormed down the middle aisle waving papers over his head like a disciple of Adams' paper religion.

"Mister Andrews, welcome," Jefferson rose. "We were just discussing..."

"Mister President." Andre slammed open the gate to the common floor. "I have something to read to everyone."

"Mister Andrews...."

Adams half stood, confused, but wisely kept quiet.

"To Mister Charles Pinckney, Representing the State of South Carolina, etcetera etcetera..."

Pinckney rose. "My papers," he hissed.

"I have become aware that General Thomas Heyward will speak before Congress, there to be challenged for crimes against our people. I do not need to tell you that justice demands he be tried and put to death here in Charleston."

"Those are private communications!" Spaight raged. The fight seemed to go out of Pinckney though, who simply sat with his head in his hands.

"I am also aware that your estate is in arrears to this government by seven thousand pounds. This means your family's welfare and your livelihood depend entirely on the good will of the state."

Waymouth stood slowly, shocked. So did three other delegates.

"You will bring General Heyward home, in chains, invoking the Articles. If you fail, we shall see how your pretty wife and daughter fare living out of charity boxes."

Andre folded the letter and stared at Pinckney. Spaight fell to his seat as if shot. Jefferson lowered his gavel. "Let me see that."

The Brit obeyed.

Jefferson scanned the letter. "Yes, that's his seal." He looked up. "Signed William Moultrie, Governor."
 
Of course, Britain's need for ships to transport troops to fight nappleon had absolutely nothing to do with the abolition of slavery?

I wonder if there's any mileage in arguing that South Carolina's actions are leaving the country vulnerable to conquest by Britain and therefore their actions are treason?
 
CatKnight: ...Jefferson scanned the letter. "Yes, that's his seal." He looked up. "Signed William Moultrie, Governor."

most damaging to both Moultrie and Pinckney ! ! :)


it appears that all hell will soon break loose ! ! :D

magnificent update ! ! :cool:
 
This AAR has quite a few moments that make me want to yell “Yes!” loudly. That was one of them.
 
Well then, that certainly took the wind out of the Carolinans sails, now didn't it?

It shall be interesting to find out how Congress reacts to that little letter, eh? I agree with Director, it appears evil (a.ka. Mr. Black) has overreached himself... again. But will it be enough this time? Let's find out, Cat!
 
"Congress had scouts in Levittown, if not Morrisville," Waymouth replied. They'd finally abandoned their search for Anne Foster (and the cat), leaving him in a black mood. "They knew we were coming."
Click to expand...

I'd just like to point out that no Levittown would exist for another 180 years, and I'm not quite sure Morristown was around at the time, either (it's named after a hero of the Revolution and, historically, the Revolution only ended half a year earlier than the current date). It might have existed under a different name, though. It's one of those backwards parts of Bucks County that no one really cares for the history of :p

Newtown and Yardley work just as well, though.

"Order!" Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States Congress, beat his gavel on a desk covered with papers. "The delegate from Delaware will please refrain from calling the delegate from New Jersey vulgar names. We are gentlemen!"
Click to expand...

Anyone who's ever spent any time in Jersey can tell you it really is the Devil's shitter ;)

Great AAR you've got going. I was apprehensive when you started dropping in the spiritual stuffd really heavily, but its working well enough. Bravo!
 
Well, well... A nasty letter by Moultrie/Black, but what's so bad about it? He's just attempting to properly motivate Pinckney by reminding him of his debt, and the likely outcome if said debt is not properly repaid. I mean, yes, it's a little heavy-handed, but it's not technically illegal, now is it? Eh? Eh?

Ah, never mind. Black's doing his usual evil routine and he got caught. Tee-hee, sucks to be you right now, Moultrie!

I hope this will cause a change in opinion in Congress and will lead to some deeper digging into what's been going on in the Carolinas.

Nice update!
 
Chief Ragusa: I honestly wouldn't know. I'm not up on the details behind Britain's decision to abolish slavery. Regardless I'm assuming the Napoleonic Wars DID happen in Tom's TL. I don't see a successful American Revolution as a prerequisite to the French. If anything, I'd expect the French Revolt to be even more bloody and chaotic if they thought they couldn't win.

Your argument regarding SC is pretty good, though even harder to prove than the charges Tom faces(d).

GhostWriter: Yep, all hell will start breaking loose very soon. The gloves are coming off all around.

Director: Let us hope. This was definitely a punch to the stomach, but Black still has a few rounds left in him.

Fulcrumvale: Thanks!

Draco Rexus: Yes, let's find out. :)

J. Passepartout: :blinks: Sounds like you're propogating the species, J. :)

You're right of course about reputations. I think you're the one who mentioned Rutledge's reputation was irreparable some time ago. Unfortunately no one would believe the truth.

If anything, Allen might be slightly forgiven at least. After all, he 'tried to stop' Moultrie.

Judas Maccabeus: Nope. I guess having a master spy in Congress is a good thing :)

Plushie: Hm. You're definitely right about Levittown. Morrisville, PA ... I probably mistook it for Morristown, NJ founded in 1715. Still, both wars against Britain ended some time ago. It's possible Morrisville exists by now.

I'd looked at a map of NJ/PA from 1780, but apparently I forgot the details. At the time the towns I'm thinking of would have been Bristol, Middletown, Newtown and down towards Germantown.

As for the spiritual stuff, it sort of...happened. I hadn't planned on it when I started the AAR. Or Black. Or pretty much this entire good/evil motif we have going here. It sorta turned out that way.

If I'm worried about anything, it's not that I might get preachy (I hate that), but I might go so far over the top pulp heroes like the Shadow start looking realistic in comparison :)

It might be worth noting this isn't necessarily my own take on spirituality. It simply provided the answers I needed to keep the story flowing. After all, I'm pretty sure Bast isn't on the official list of angels :)

Stuyvesant: LOL! Illegal...maybe not, but it does cast a big shadow over Pinckney's entire argument, and seems to endorse Tom's 'version' that something weird is happening in Carolina.

-----------
This next chapter took far too long to put together, so if it feels choppy.. you might have a point. :( Ah well, Excelsior! Er...Onward :)
 
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-= 192 =-​


Pennsylvania
September 1784


Anne Foster stood a half block from Independence Hall biting into an apple she'd "borrowed" from the market place. She straightened as constables pushed out a reluctant crowd that jeered at them. Time? She pocketed her apple and watched two soldiers lead Heyward back to his tower.

That would complicate things. Not impossible though. After the past few months she concluded nothing was impossible.

Few noticed her except as one who really needed help with her hair. It hung loose and wild along the shoulders of a simple blue homespun dress she'd taken from a farm outside Trenton. For forty miles she'd shadowed him into Pennsylvania and now followed the trial as closely as she dared.

Why...was a very good question. Foster didn't know what she'd do when they met again. She owed him a debt for curing her though, that much was clear.

She joined the traffic leading towards the Delaware River keeping her quarry in view. He made no move to escape, which was rather odd. Foster knew trials had little to do with justice and less with the truth, and once politics were involved... He couldn't be confident of winning.

Men and women jostled her, children ran along all sides. Foster lived solely by what she could take now. No prospects either: Britain would hang her if they could, and without money how did one start over even humbly? Maybe she'd ask Heyward. He had powerful enemies that wanted him dead. She could help.

The soldiers led him into the fort. Anne memorized its layout days before - a parapet with cannon, three or four stories. She'd seen him peering from the top window once. Two men through most of the day, one at night. No one contested America's control of the Delaware River so no need for a gun crew.

"I have to get in there," she muttered studying the fort for any obvious weaknesses. She bit savagely into her apple. Looked down. Smiled.
------

"Who's there?" the guard demanded.

"A servant of Mister Adams," a woman replied.

The soldier opened the thick wood door and scowled at a woman in her thirties. A bonnet bound her blond hair, and in both hands she held a basket of fruit.

"What can I do for you, miss?"

She looked nervously behind her. The constables would be looking for her by now... "I came with food for the prisoner."

"He's...hey!" The woman pushed past him into the common room, then turned as he continued. "He's resting."

"Mister Adams believes he fell ill last night because he isn't eating his fill." She lowered her gaze. The entire town knew of his 'nightmare.' "He wants to make sure his client stays healthy."

He shut the door and frowned. "I will take the food myself."

"No!" Foster flushed. "If you please, I must see that he gets them myself. Mister Adams was... he insisted. Of course, if you want one," she held up an apple.

The guard peered closely into her face, guessing her age. General Heyward would be...thirty-five? Of course. He grinned, proud he'd pierced her deception. "Yes, I'm certain you'd like to spend some time with your..master's client."

She frowned at his tone, then curtseyed low to hide it. "If you please."
------

"General Heyward!"

"Yes?" He sat up in bed.

"Visitor!" Then, in quite another tone, "It's a lady."

"A lady?" Tom's eyes narrowed. He stood and swung his arms back and forth to loosen them. "Come in."

The guard's key rattled in the lock and a moment later the door swung wide, creaking. Heyward recognized his guest at once and stepped back, startled. "Mrs...!"

"Thank you," Foster said to drown out his exclamation. She stepped close to Tom with only the basket between them. She smiled at the guard. He chuckled.

"What's going on?" Heyward demanded.

"I brought you some fruit," Foster replied shyly.

"Indeed she has!" Laughing, the soldier slammed the door shut.

"Mrs. Foster, what are you..."

She covered his mouth with her hand and glared at the door as footsteps receded down the corridor. "Insolent puppy," she swore. "If I had my way, I'd..." She stepped back, knelt, upended her basket, and came up with a file.

"What are you doing here?"

"Getting you out."

Heyward sat, stunned as she moved to test the bars: Tight in the mortar, too thick for any immediate effect. She crossed the room to study the door.

"Mrs. Foster, I appreciate the effort, but I don't need a rescue."

She ignored him. There was a flaw in the door frame... "Do you have a pin?"

"What? No!"

"No matter." She took her file and started digging at the wood.

Tom stood and covered her hand. "I don't need a rescue," he repeated softly.

Foster snatched her hand back and glared. "Of course you do. These are terrible men you're up against. Even were this a court of law I would be wary, but you stand against men whose very duty is to look after their own interests."

"Don't we all?" he asked.

She turned back to digging at the frame.

"Mrs..." He grabbed her wrist. She whirled. "Let's say you do break me out. What then? I'll be hunted anywhere I go. What am I supposed to do then?"

"Let go of me!"

He obeyed, but folded his arms. "You haven't answered my question."

"Do whatever..." She shrugged. "Whatever you are supposed to be doing. In Carolina. Somewhere."

His eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

She paused and lowered her file. "I don't know. I just felt, for a moment, when you hit me back in Trenton..."

"I didn't hit..."

"Here we are at the door," the guard called loudly, shaking his keys. "I will open it now!" Foster squeaked in surprise and stood, hiding the file down her front.

Philip Waymouth gave the guard a queer look as the door opened. "I don't know what you're talking about," Philip Waymouth was saying. "Mister Adams didn't order fruit brought for him."

"I'm sure he didn't." The solder indicated Foster and grinned.

"You!"

She bit her lip and said nothing.

"Thank you," Heyward told the guard, who slammed the door shut and left.

Waymouth stared. "What...what are you doing here?"

"She's rescuing me," Tom replied mildly.

"From who?" he asked, still staring.

"Congress."

"Ah, about that." Waymouth continued looking at her. "Right. You can thank Andre when you see him."

"Major Andre?" Foster asked sharply.

"How do you know him?"

"Never mind," Heyward said. "Go on."

"Andre found out Governor Moultrie blackmailed Pinckney into going after you. Congress is in an uproar. There's going to be an investigation."

Tom grinned. With Rutledge gone he hadn't known where to look for Black. He'd start with the governor.

"Ah...the desertion charge - we re-voted and dropped the matter. Treason's another story. They want you to stay with me for awhile under house arrest until Governor Moultrie answers our demand for information."

Heyward shook his head. "I cannot stay here."

"Somehow I thought you'd say that." He stared at Foster for a moment, then turned back. "All right. I'm gathering our friends at my rooms. We'll pool our resources there."

"I'm coming too," Foster said.

Waymouth opened his mouth. His eyes flickered to Tom questioningly, who nodded. "Fine, you can come too."
 
Mrs Foster makes her return... and as an ally? Interesting.

I see that something is afoot since Waymouth has already gathered people to assist Tom outside of his "prison". Very interesting.

If I allowed the romantic streak in my mind free reign, I'd see a possible coming together of Mrs. Foster and Major Andre. But seeing as even when love is allowed to flourish, Cat has a tendency to make it go through hell (see John and Cassie) maybe I shouldn't wish that on those two, eh? :p
 
Well, going along that 'line' from North Jersey/Pennsylvania to Philly, your best bets are Newtown and Bristol. Germantown works just as well. Middletown sort of does, but it was more just a political entity at the time, whereas the actual grouped settlements inside it were places like Langhourne and Parkland.
 
Tom still is on trial for treason….something he would do well to remember.
 
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