The Zenith of Power: Gameplay Thread

[OBD]

A Statement from the Court in New Orleans

Opposition to the Stockholm Conference

Word has arrived in New Orleans of the Stockholm Conference - a plan by a few crowned heads of Old Europe and their allies to carve and divide the African Continent as they see fit for their devises. As a kingdom united in the bonds of fraternity and liberty, the United Kingdom of Louisiana is deeply opposed to this euro-centric colonialism, in the vein of the classical colonialism that had oppressed the New World prior to our fathers and forefathers standing up for our rights and liberties.

What God has given these crowned heads the authority to divide a continent - an inhabited continent - in their own image? What right do these crowned heads have to force their will on already-established sovereign peoples?  What power do these crowned heads have to decide that they are the only peoples fit to decide the governance of the largest continental land?

The United Kingdom of Louisiana  states it’s strong opposition to the carving of Africa as a European plaything - much as they dictated North America in the not too distant past - and declares its support for the right of all voices to be heard in this declaration of overlordship - including those whom will be governed.

I call for either the abandonment of this conference or, at a minimum, the inclusion of a broad scope of voices, including the Africans and those recently under colonial yokes, at the table in a new round of discussions.

- Henry-Philippe, King of the United Kingdom of Louisiana

I find myself in agreement. It is not our right to divert the people of Africa from their God-given destiny. The Lord has a plan for all of us, and that plan for the people of Africa must not be interfered  with by the men of this mortal plane.

-King Charles VIII

New England would like to join the esteemed nations of Louisiana and Naples in expressing displeasure regarding the Stockholm Conference. The time for imperialism and the subjugation of free peoples is over - Africans, like the Americans before them, deserve the right to blaze their own path free of nefarious influences.

The Declaration of the Rights of African Self-determination
Jointly Issued by King Henry-Philippe of the United Kingdom of Louisiana and King Charles VIII of Naples

We, the undersigned, jointly and wholly condemn the partition of Africa and the African people, beyond the established and recognized boundaries, without the inclusion and consent of the African people.

We, the undersigned, believe that the Stockholm Conference of 1871 is an inappropriate forum for deciding the governance of the African continent and, further, believe that the appropriate decisions makers were not included at the Conference.

We, the undersigned, are alarmed by the belief of some that crowned heads of states many thousands of miles away - who will never set foot upon the land they claim to have authority over - are the universal arbiters of people’s futures.

We, the undersigned, encourage the people of Africa to be allowed to choose their path for themselves, in the eyes and light of God.

We, the undersigned, recommend the people of Africa ignore the Stockholm Conference and encourage those that took part to recant their claims over native African land.

Signed with my hand and seal this day,
x Henry-Philippe de Bourbon-Orleans, King of the United Kingdom of Louisiana

In solidarity with the people of Africa and the loyal citizens of Tunis,

x Charles VIII Bourbon, King of Naples.

x Chairman Henry Wilson, New England Confederation

[OBD]

The Atlantic Treaty (1871),
A Treaty between the United Kingdom of Louisiana and the New England Confederation

The signatories, in the belief that the North American continent is blessed with strong men, fertile lands, and endless opportunities, urge greater cooperation and everlasting peace in the name of progress. Therefore, they commit to the following:

1.) Full recognition of their present borders and territories, and a recognition of the present boundaries across the North American continent.

2.) A mutual understanding that war is not in the best interest of the Atlantic North American region.

3.) A mutual recognition of the dangers posed by colonialism and the oppression of local populations.

4.) Free and unfettered access to the territorial waters of each nation for the purposes of trade and commerce.

Signed with my hand and seal this day,
x Henry-Philippe de Bourbon-Orleans, King of the United Kingdom of Louisiana

x Chairman Henry Wilson, New England Confederation

[OBD]

THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL

Wilson proposes loosening immigration restrictions

In a bombshell out of Boston, Chairman Henry Wilson introduced an act in Congress, with the support of the Centralist Party, significantly loosening the immigration restrictions of the New England Confederation in a major reversal from past Administrations. In a speech to Congress, Wilson emphasized the need for further economic growth and development across the Confederation, with the ultimate goal of shaping New England into a peaceful, prosperous "shining city on a hill" untouched by the dark clouds of poverty and conflict. Loosening immigration restrictions, he argued, would spur growth in both population and the economy, vastly increasing the potential of New England's industrial sector and by extension, the welfare of her populace. Specifics of the proposal include the abolition of most all immigration restrictions to the Pine Tree Republic and an overhaul of New England's broken naturalization process with the aim of making it more streamlined and accessible, though the government will prioritize the entry of immigrants who are fit to work.

New England Football League arrives - to feature six teams

Football, a fledgling sport rapidly gaining popularity around the globe, has found a friend in the New England populace. With local leagues gradually gaining membership and footing, and with King Henry-Phillippe of Louisiana's call for a Global Summit on football brining the sport to international prominence, Congress unanimously passed a Resolution laying the groundwork for the creation of a New England football league, while Chairman Wilson has appointed a delegation of New England's foremost sportsmen to attend this winter's Summit in New Orleans.

While standardization for this League - which will begin operations in 1872 or 1873 - will likely be based at least in part on rules agreed upon in New Orleans, the fluidity of the situation has not discouraged potential players from up and down the Confederation from aiming to join the league. Currently, six teams - one each from Boston, Providence, New Haven, Worcester, Portland, and Manchester - are expected to join the league, with a draft of New England's finest players determining the personnel for each team.

[OBD]

The Treaty of Halifax (1871),
A Treaty between the Kingdom of Quebec and the Confederation of New England

1.) The signatories hereby confirm their peaceful intent towards each other, and their desire for a long, prosperous and mutually beneficial relationship. Therefore, they agree to the following:

2.) The Nova Scotia territory shall be purchased by the Kingdom of Quebec, by a sum equivalent to what the Confederation of New England paid for the territory under the 1841 Richmond Settlement.

3.) The Kingdom of Quebec will guarantee the rights of current Anglophone inhabitants of Nova Scotia, including legal protections regarding language and cultural matters, as well as the granting of Quebecois citizenship and the rights that come with it.

4.) A defensive alliance pact, binding each signatory to war against any foreign aggressor upon written request by the power under threat.

5.) A commitment to work towards long-term economic cooperation and participation in joint economic and development ventures.

6.) New England businesses will retain the ability to participate in economic ventures in Nova Scotia, and Quebecois-New Englander trade within the province will not be subject to unilateral tariff increases on either side.

x Henry II, King of Quebec

x Chairman Henry Wilson, New England Confederation

[OBD]

Chairman Wilson Addresses Congress, January 1872

Friends, countrymen, lend me your ears.

A storm is brewing on our fine continent. After years of peace, it appears that the prevailing wind now blows another direction. British troops are being flooded onto American soil, threatening the sovereignty of our fellow American nations. From Boston to Roquefort, Mexico City to New Orleans, the people of North America pray for peace, but these prayers may not be answered. But, you may ask, where does New England stand in this rapidly shifting landscape?

New England is first and foremost an American nation. And we Americans are a proud, strong people. Once upon a time, a wise man said that 'only Americans can rule America', and never more have those words rung true. Especially here at home, it is crucial that our republican values of self-determination and independence remain protected.

Thus, so long as British troops threaten the frontiers of our neighbors, our American brothers, we cannot in good faith accept any trade deal between our nations. New England stands for peace and prosperity, but we also stand with justice. Against the creeping tentacles of colonization. And arm in arm with our fellow American states, our new allies. New England prays that Britain sees sense, and ceases her bellicose actions, for the sake of peace on the North American continent. Perhaps in that case would a greater understanding between our nations be possible.

But until then, the volatile state of affairs requires a series of military reforms, to ensure the security of the Confederation in a rapidly changing world. Senator Sumner, on my behalf, has sponsored a legislative package to that accord. The minimum age for military service shall be lowered to 18. Each state shall establish a National Guard for the purposes of self-defense. And, a recruitment campaign will be launched to encourage New Englanders to assist in the defense of their nation - stipends for New Englanders serving in the armed forces shall be increased, and immigrants who enlist shall receive accelerated, priority naturalization for themselves and family members with up to one degree of separation. For the moment, conscription will not be enacted, though we hope our nation's finest young men do choose to stand up for the sovereignty for New England and the continued freedom of North America.

Thank you, gentlemen. May God bless the New England Confederation.

[OBD]

The Treaty of Charleston (1872),
A Treaty between the United Kingdom of Louisiana and the Confederation of New England

The signatories hereby reaffirm the principles of the Atlantic Treaty of 1871. Therefore, they agree to the following:

1. A mutual defense and cooperation pact shall exist between the United Kingdom and the Confederation.

2. Tariff-free trade shall exist for trade conducted between the United Kingdom and the Confederation.

3. The United Kingdom and the Confederation shall work towards deeper bonds between the two, through cultural exchanges, economic cooperation, and infrastructure development.

4. A team representing the Confederation shall take part in the New Orleans International Tournament of Football in its first staging.

5. The rights of any subject of the United Kingdom or citizen of the Confederation to travel safely and unmolested within the borders of the other shall be protected.

Signed with my hand and seal this day,
x Henry-Philippe de Bourbon-Orleans, King of the United Kingdom of Louisiana

x Chairman Henry Wilson, New England Confederation

[OBD]

The North American Treaty (1871), as Amended by the Boston Agreement (1873)
A Treaty between the United Kingdom of Louisiana, the Kingdom of Mexico, the Kingdom of Quebec, and the Confederation of New England

1.) The signatories, which share a common heritage, history, and aspirations towards the future, reiterate their belief in mutual cooperation as the best means to secure stability and prosperity across the North American continent. Therefore, they commit to the following:

2.) Full recognition of their borders and sovereign territory.

3.) A defensive alliance pact, binding the four powers to war against any foreign aggressor, or to intervene against any powers seeking to undermine the stability of any of the signatories, upon the written request from the power under threat.

4.) A long-term commitment to building a large-scale railway across the North American continent, linking the signatories together.

4 (a): The North American Rail Commission is hereby established to oversee this project and the subsequent network. Each signatory shall appoint one member of the Commission to represent their Nation and their interests. The Commission shall develop and implement a plan to connect the four capital capital cities, and each major center of population or industry, by 1880. Each signatory shall contribute 1/4 the cost of the project, raised through whatever means each signatory shall determine proper.

5.) The establishment of a single, tariff-free, North American marketplace for goods, raw and processed, traded, sold, and exchanged at an agreed upon rate in the native currency of each signatory.

Signed with my hand and seal this day,
x Henry-Philippe de Bourbon-Orleans, King of the United Kingdom of Louisiana

Signed By
x King Luis de Bourbon

x Henry II, King of Quebec

x Chairman Henry Wilson, New England Confederation

[OBD]

The North American Treaty (1871), as Amended by the Montreal Accord (1875)
A Treaty between the United Kingdom of Louisiana, the Kingdom of Mexico, the Kingdom of Quebec, and the Confederation of New England

1.) The signatories, which share a common heritage, history, and aspirations towards the future, reiterate their belief in mutual cooperation as the best means to secure stability and prosperity across the North American continent. Therefore, they commit to the following:

2.) Full recognition of their borders and sovereign territory.

3.) A defensive alliance pact, binding the four powers to war against any foreign aggressor, or to intervene against any powers seeking to undermine the stability of any of the signatories, upon the written request from the power under threat.

4.) A long-term commitment to building a large-scale railway across the North American continent, linking the signatories together.

4 (a): The North American Rail Commission is hereby established to oversee this project and the subsequent network. Each signatory shall appoint one member of the Commission to represent their Nation and their interests. The Commission shall develop and implement a plan to connect the four capital capital cities, and each major center of population or industry, by 1880. Each signatory shall contribute 1/4 the cost of the project, raised through whatever means each signatory shall determine proper.

5.) The establishment of a single, tariff-free, North American marketplace for goods, raw and processed, traded, sold, and exchanged at an agreed upon rate in the native currency of each signatory.

6.) The establishment of the North American College of Science to promote a greater shared understanding of scientific advances between the signatories. To this effect, each signatory shall designate a Chief Scientific Envoy to each other signatory to serve as their liaison for all scientific or technological matters.

7.) A long-term commitment to the electrification of the North American Continent. To this effect, each signatory shall develop a plan for an inter-connected network of electric generation stations and power relays across the continent.

Signed with my hand and seal this day,
x Henry-Philippe de Bourbon-Orleans, King of the United Kingdom of Louisiana

x Henry II, King of Quebec

x Chairman Henry Wilson, New England Confederation

[OBD]

TREATY OF ALBANY (1876):
A Treaty between the Francophone party and the British Union,
under Russian mediation,
putting an immediate end to the American War

GENERAL:
• A ten-year non-aggression pact between the Francophone signatories and the British Union. Complete cessation of all hostilities upon the agreement of all parties.
• Demilitarization of the borders in North America between all signatories to deter further conflict.
• An end to trade barriers in the Mississippi River preventing British commerce and navigation.
• An end to the Atlantic blockade on the Francophone party.
• All other economic and transport connections otherwise blocked due to the war shall be removed.
• The release of all prisoners of war, hostages, and other detained persons to their respective party, including dead bodies.
• A pledge from each party to not intervene in the domestic and internal affairs of each respective party.
• Arrangement of an accord in 1876 to regulate or greatly limit the use of chemical weapons in warfare.
• The inclusion of the British Union in a special version of the North American Treaty, excluding Article 3 and the defensive alliance requirement between the Allies and the British Union.
• The British Union, Louisiana, Québec and New England subscribe to a non-discrimination provision, binding them to provide equal treatment under the law to white Anglophones and white Francophones of equal stature and behavior.

TERRITORIAL:
• The British Union shall cede:
•   New Cornwall and the upper half of the Illinois territory to Quebec.
•   The bulk of New York territory east of the Hudson to New England (excluding counties Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk and the whole city of New York) and half of the New York territory west of the Hudson.
•   Belize, Barbados, and Guadaloupe to Mexico.
•   Jamaica, Bermuda, half of occupied Tennessee, and a part of Kentucky (all territory west of Lake Barkley) to Louisiana.
• Louisiana shall cede North Carolina to the British Union.
• Apart from the cessations aforementioned, the pre-hostilities border shall be retained. Each party shall withdraw military presence from areas no longer in their occupation.

x Philip I, King of Québec

Signed with my hand and seal this day,
x Henry-Philippe de Bourbon-Orleans, King of the United Kingdom of Louisiana

x King Henry X of Hanover

x Chairman Henry Wilson, New England Confederation

[OBD]

End of the War!

My friends,

Today, after nearly four long, arduous years of war, North America and New England are once again at peace. We have concluded negotiations with the British Union, and have arrived upon a fair and just treaty to end the conflict that has raged across our continent for the better part of a decade. I would like to thank the fellow signatories of the Treaty of Albany, as well as President Aleksey Suvorin of Russia, for assistance in reaching this settlement.

New England has much to be proud of. We have proven our mettle against one of Europe's most established powers. We have endured much hardship, yet despite this, we persevered. And now, alongside our Quebecois, Louisianan, and Mexican friends, we have shown the world the power and the camaraderie of the American continent, working together as one. It is this unity that will help us rebuild our cities and win the peace, as well.

I have introduced legislation that will end wartime price controls, rationing, and other regulation as soon as resources allow, and I am proud to announce that the Confederation government will commit to helping businesses get back onto a peacetime footing and assist reconstruction efforts in Boston, along the southern coast, and across our newly acquired territory in the west. Together with our allies, we will build back stronger than ever before. We will work together to spread the endless benefits that electrical power promises, and connect our great cities with rail to further facilitate trade and cooperation.

Countrymen! The future of our Confederation is bright. Let us move forward and rebuild, together!

Bill: Administration of the Confederation's Newly-Acquired Territories

i. The land passing to New England control under the Treaty of Albany shall be divided into three territories and administered as thus:
 a. The Poughkeepsie Temporary Administration (PTA), consisting of Dutchess and Putnam Counties, shall be placed under the administration of the state government of Connecticut.
 b. The Upper Hudson Temporary Administration (UHTA), consisting of Columbia County and Rensselaer County excluding the towns of Schaghticoke, Pittstown, and Hoosick, shall be placed under the administration of the state government of Massachusetts.
 c. The Territory of Adirondack, consisting of Cayuga, Onondaga, Oswego, Madison, Oneida, Jefferson, Lewis, Herkimer, Montgomery, Fulton, Hamilton, St. Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton, Essex, Warren, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Washington Counties, as well as the towns of Schaghticoke, Pittstown, and Hoosick, shall be placed under autonomous administration under the supervision of a Transitional Council appointed by the federal government. Elections for the territorial administration will be held at the earliest possible convenience, and a seat of government for Adirondack shall be established in the city of Utica.
ii. In the year 1880, the PTA and UHTA will be integrated into their respective states and granted full enfranchisement, provided the consent of the Connecticut and Massachusetts state governments.
iii. In the year 1880, with the consent of Congress and upon a positive advisement by the Transitional Council, the Territory of Adirondack shall be granted full status as a constituent state of the New England Confederation.
iv. Congress will provide assistance in reconstruction efforts across the PTA, the UHTA, and the Territory of Adirondack. Additionally, as what will eventually become a component in the North American rail plan, construction of rail from Syracuse to Boston through Utica, Schenectady, Clifton Park, Troy, and Springfield, will be high priority.

[OBD]

Scando-New English Commercial Agreement of 1876

The Kingdom of Scandinavia and the Confederation of New England agree to the following terms:
I . To reduce tariffs between their nations by 15%.
II . To reduce docking fees for New English ships at Reykjavik, Gothenburg, Oslo, and Copenhagen.
III . To reduce docking fees for Scandinavian ships at Boston, Providence, and Portland.
IV. To facilitate cooperation between Scandinavian and New English merchant vessels in navigating ice and other treacherous conditions along the North Atlantic trade routes.

xCatherine II, Queen of Scandinavia

x Chairman Henry Wilson, New England Confederation

[OBD]

Russo-New English Commercial and Diplomatic Agreement of 1876

The Russian Republic and the Confederation of New England agree to the following terms:
I. To reduce tariffs between their nations by 15%.
II. To reduce docking fees for New English ships at St. Petersburg and Konstantingrad
III. To reduce docking fees for Russian ships at Boston, Providence, and Portland.
IV. To facilitate cooperation between Russian and New English merchant vessels in navigating ice and other treacherous conditions along the North Atlantic trade routes.
V. To establish diplomatic embassies in Boston and Moscow for each country to facilitate ease of communication and cooperation
VI. To guarantee a property of the New England government in the International Settlement of Konstantingrad

xAlexsey Suvorin, President of the Russian Republic

x Chairman Henry Wilson, New England Confederation