IMAGI-NATIONS : PART 4.

THE FOUNDING OF A NEW NATION.

By 1852  Russian civilisation had advanced to the Volga river. Like all rivers in TIAN it is very broad, over two miles in places, fairly shallow but with a very powerful current. The Russian advance had been facilitated by construction of a railway, in effect Russian control had followed the tracks. The Russians were well aware of the small farming settlements in the south of Ukraine and fully intended to establish some form of control over the Ukrainian people. However, of far greater interest to them were the stories of a rich, rapidly developing land further to the west. They decided to continue their westward expansion and constructed, with great difficulty, a bridge over the Volga and continued track laying to the west. At the same time small army patrols were sent on the long trek to the south to establish some form of loose control over the settlements in the south of Ukraine.

Much like the Russians, the French and Germans had also become very aware of the rapid development of the new people to the south of their colony and were much attracted to this new rich territory which seemed to offer so much more than their own, rather backward, rural colony.

By 1852 in the new territories, development was rapid but proceeding with no central control. Each community did as it pleased. Railways and roads were built only to meet local interests, goods and machinery were imported , mostly via Mexico, just to meet immediate needs and factories were built catering for local wants only without the benefits from mass production.That said most communities had instituted some form of local government based on universal franchise and  were electing a Mayor to lead civic development, a Judge to dispense law and a Sheriff to enforce basic laws of which there were many variations. However a number of prominent people across the land were now realising that some form of central government, indeed the founding of a nation, was urgently needed not only to make the best use  of the country and its riches for the people but also to forestall the rumours frequently now being heard of Russian and French/German interest in the new territory and the risks that represented to the independence of the people.

These leading citizens  agreed to form a committee to consider a way forward which would include representatives of as many of the various communities as possible. Each community was invited to send a representative to a Congress to discuss a way forward for the common good. The Congress met and it was soon demonstrated that the founding of a new, united nation, would be in the best interests of all. Much discussion followed with many sub committees being formed to consider specific questions pertaining to the founding of a new nation. In 1855 a draft Constitution was agreed which would create a new nation to be called THE UNION. A new capital city, called Rio Diego, was laid out just north of Manhattan, the biggest city at that time , and a national flag was designed based on a blue field representing the sky with a single white star in the first hoist area representing a single united nation under that sky. A  referendum was held throughout the land by all the communities and by an overwhelming majority the Constitution was agreed. The Congress immediately made A Declaration of Independence and THE UNION was created on 4 July 1856.

The basic system of Government instituted consisted of a representative being elected every five years from each community or group of small communities to a Congress. Local communities were renamed Districts and reorganised in terms of population to ensure equal representation for all. The members of that Congress would  choose one of their number to be President for a period of 5 years. The President would then form an executive and use the newly established civil service to create a government. The national government would be represented in all its departments in a Federal building in the main town or city of each community. Local government would continue much as before with an elected Mayor to manage local affairs including the law via a District Sheriff. Judges for each Districts were  appointed by an Attorney General who would lead a government Justice Department. Many of the existing judges were confirmed in their existing positions.

It was resolved to form a part time citizens Militia to defend the new nation. Gun ownership was universal in the new UNION although prior military service was unheard of in that generation. The new Militia was founded in battalions based on each new Federal building and volunteers sought, who after joining up, elected their own officers who were then commissioned by Congress. These new officers were actively encouraged to deeply study their new calling. A Federal Marshals service was also formed to provide both a national police force but also to provide security services to the UNION. More information on the Militia will be provided in the next post "The War of Independence."

Following the inauguration of the new UNION government, another of the early priorities agreed was to formally establish as far as possible the borders of the new nation. Mexico was the first country to be approached and with the friendly relations that already existed  at a local level these negotiations quickly concluded a formal border agreement based as before on the Rio Grande River.  Negotiations with the Chinese government were more difficult but a border was eventually established centrally in the mountain pass between the two countries. The attempt to negotiate a border with the French and Germans totally failed to agree any solution due to the French and German refusal to recognise the new UNION. In fact they claimed that all the country to the south of their colony was free land open to all, especially the French and Germans !!!!!! This created a strong sense of alarm in the UNION and prompted a redoubling of efforts to establish the Militia. A delegation was dispatched on the long journey to the Ukraine to seek agreement on a border. The delegation was astonished to find within only four  hundred miles of the UNION town of Richmond a Russian railhead with hundreds of workers and a Russian army detachment. Attempts to open negotiations failed totally with the Russians claiming also that the land to the west was open to all and they absolutely refused to recognise the UNION as a nation. The delegation returned as fast as possible and work on the new Militia took on an even greater urgency.

By this time, mid summer 1858, it was clear to the UNION government that the new nation faced a battle possibly on two fronts to maintain its existence.  Militia recruitment and training had progressed well but it was clear that substantial quantities of weapons especially artillery would be needed together with much greater supplies of ammunition than could be made in the existing small munitions factories operated by the companies of Winchester, Remington and Colt. With the major international weapons manufacturers being in Germany, France, Russia, China and Britain it was clear the UNION would have little chance of purchasing the weapons it needed. Approaches were made to the Mexican government for assistance. The Mexicans had little weapons production capacity but were more than willing to make purchases overseas secretly on behalf of the UNION. Thus was born the close future relationship between the UNION and Mexico. Contracts were placed for rifles, pistols and artillery together with ammunition for all.  In addition the Mexicans sought out foreign mercenaries to provide military expertise to help train the UNION Militia for the upcoming battles.

It only remained for the UNION to hope that the military supplies would arrive before the Russians reached Richmond or  the French and Germans decided to march south or maybe even both.