The Mayor: Fernando the Magnificent?
On January 6, 1861 New York City’s mayor, Fernando Wood addressed the Common Council and broached the possible secession of New York City (everybody’s doing it!). Here’s a paragraph from his address:
Much, no doubt, can be said in favor of the justice and policy of a separation. It may be said that secession or revolution in any of the United States would be subversive of all Federal authority… California and her sisters of the Pacific will no doubt set up an independent Republic and husband their own rich mineral resources. The Western States, equally rich in cereals and other agricultural products, will probably do the same. Then it may be said, why should not New York city, instead of supporting by her contributions in revenue two—thirds of the expenses of the United States, become also equally independent? As a free city, with but nominal duty on imports, her local Government could be supported without taxation upon her people. Thus we could live free from taxes, and have cheap goods nearly duty free. In this she would have the whole and united support of the Southern States, as well as all the other States to whose interests and rights under the Constitution she has always been true.
You can read more of Mayor Wood’s address at Teaching American History. The New-York Times lampoons the idea; the editorial can be read in The New York Times Archive. I laughed at parts of the editorial, but I will say that the idea that the City would be food-less is not necessarily true – especially if the secession movement is peaceful.
Mayor Wood is at least as rankled at the New York State government as he is sympathetic to the Cotton States and the Cotton Trade. Even in my lifetime there has been talk at various times of splitting the City from upstate. Apparently, I’m not hallucinating: Secession in New York.
And why not a New York City-State. Athens and Sparta. The medieval Italian City-States, including the de Medicis running Florence. The possibilities are endless. Lorenzo the Magnificent ruled the Florentine Republic during the 15th century.
Ancient Athens a possible role model
de Medici: Lorenzo the Magnificent
