Chapter 350: Hot Potato

The black issue was a thorn in Liang Yao's side.

After returning to Tingtao Garden, he immediately sent a telegram to ask Governor Robinson, San Francisco Mayor Strauss, and Sacramento Mayor Sutter to come to Tingtao Garden for a meeting.

"Thank God, you raised $5 million in loans for the state government on Wall Street this time. With your $5 million, I think California can easily survive this year."

Strauss said very happily, his joy was beyond words.

With this $5 million, the California government is enough to make up for this year's fiscal deficit, and perhaps even have some surplus.

"This is not what we are going to discuss today." Liang Yao's face was very gloomy.

Liang Yao's gloomy expression made Strauss feel chilled. He had served Liang Yao for so long and had never seen such an expression on Liang Yao's face.

It seems that what Liang Yao is going to discuss today is very serious.

Strauss really couldn't figure out what could make Liang Yao so angry.

Robinson and Sutter were also puzzled.

"How many fugitive slaves from southern slave states entered California during my absence? How did they enter California?" Liang Yao asked directly, his cold eyes swept over everyone present.

So it was this matter, everyone suddenly realized.

"All free states have precedents of accepting black fugitive slaves. California, as a free state, especially a free state with a fast economic development, should set an example in this matter." Robinson answered irrelevantly.

Robinson's answer made Liang Yao more annoyed, and he suddenly raised his voice while knocking on the table.

"Answer my question directly! Robinson! Do you know what consequences will come to us if we accept these blacks? Why didn't you tell me in advance before accepting these blacks?"

Liang Yao was angry not only because these California politicians took the initiative to rashly accept black fugitive slaves, but also because they rashly accepted black fugitive slaves without telling him in advance, which was what Liang Yao could not accept even more.

This Robinson, it seems, has been the governor for a long time and has become arrogant.

Do you really think that California has achieved rapid economic development under the wise leadership of the governor?

It's time to give Robinson a lesson.

Liang Yao scolded Robinson in front of Strauss and Sater without hesitation.

In other states, it is unimaginable for the deputy governor to scold the governor.

But it is different in California. California can do without Robinson, but it cannot do without Liang Yao.

Strauss and Sater both understand this. Robinson is not a governor with very poor ability, but compared with Liang Yao, Robinson's ability and influence pale in comparison.

Take the $5 million loan as an example. Liang Yao can borrow $5 million from Wall Street, but Robinson can't borrow $5 million.

Faced with Liang Yao's scolding, Robinson did not talk back.

With Liang Yao's current influence in California, it is just a matter of words to make him step down.

Although Robinson was holding his breath, he still chose to endure.

He is the first president of California. He wants to complete this term of office in a complete and decent manner. This is his future political capital, and he does not want to give up this precious political capital.

"I accepted these fugitives because I felt sorry for them. As for how many black people there are in California, there are 650 registered people, and some sporadic fugitives have not been included in the statistics."

After Liang Yao finished scolding, Robinson answered truthfully.

"What a fool! You accept black slaves, your saintly heart is satisfied, and those black slaves will worship you as a god, and you will also receive praise from other free states. But have you ever thought about what this will bring to California? Robinson, you are too selfish." Liang Yao said with great sorrow.

"We can maintain good relations with both free states and slave states, and stay out of the abolition and slavery dispute!"

At this sensitive time, accepting black slaves is a political issue. If you accept these black slaves, you must make your position clear to both the North and the South, and there is no room for maneuver.

If you accept these black slaves, you must give them an identity, right?

If these black slaves were still slaves in California, the free states would definitely not like you, thinking that California was no different from the slave states.

Not only would the free states not like you, but the slave states would also hate California. After all, these black slaves all escaped from the slave states and were the property of the slave owners in Dixie. This was no different from directly robbing them of their money.

Giving these black slaves the status of freemen would win the favor of the free states, but the slave states would hate you even more.

At present, the black escaped slaves were a hot potato for California, and the stupid Robinson took over this hot potato.

"Sir, how do you plan to deal with this problem?" Strauss asked Liang Yao for his opinion.

Since the incident had already happened, the most urgent thing was to find a way to solve this problem.

Sartre was a straightforward person, and he didn't care much about accepting black escaped slaves. After Liang Yao said this, he also realized the seriousness of the matter.

Slave states are also important trading partners of California. The cotton and cotton yarn in cotton textile mills come from slave states, the sugar cane in sugar cane mills comes from southern states, and even the tobacco in cigarette factories comes from southern states.

If the slave state Dixie masters get angry and cut off trade with California, these industries will surely be affected.

And the number of people employed in California who make a living from these industries and related industries is at least hundreds of thousands.

If we count the products exported by California to slave states, such as steam engines, tools, cotton clothes, cloth, steel and other products, the losses will be even greater.

It is not worth offending slave states for some black fugitives.

"Do slave states know that we accept black fugitives?" Liang Yao asked.

"Yes." Strauss replied.

"What is their reaction?" Liang Yao continued to ask.

"The reactions are different. Some slave states don't take it too seriously, but some slave states have stronger reactions. For example, Texas, because most of the fugitives in California come from Texas, Texas requires us to return these properties that belong to them." Strauss replied.

"In my name and in the name of Governor Robinson, I sent a telegram to all states. California follows the spirit of the American Constitution and recognizes the superiority of the free system. At the same time, California also recognizes the legitimacy of slavery and respects the different customs and habits of each state." Liang Yao thought for a while and said.

Then Liang Yao asked Hu Jinchen to go to the telegraph room and apologize to the governor of Texas, Bell, in his personal name, and said that all escaped slaves from California and Texas would be repatriated to Texas at their own expense.

After doing this, Liang Yao called Pinkerton: "Pinkerton, it's time for you to show your business ability."

"Waiting for the boss's instructions." Pinkerton said eagerly.

"Issue a notice to all parts of California, asking all blacks to register their identities at the police station in San Francisco. After these people arrive at the police station, they will be detained first." Liang Yao thought for a while and said.

"As for the remaining fish that slipped through the net, take them all to the police station one by one, and no one can be left behind. I don't want to see black people on the streets of California in a month. Do you understand?"

"I understand, I know what to do." Pinkerton replied.