**Chapter 62**
**University and Slavery (3)**
Pedro Gonzalez gathered the Republican congressmen from morning.
He was going to tell them about the deal he made with the Crown Prince.
"There's no deal."
He told his colleagues honestly.
He went to make a deal, but the Crown Prince rebuked him. He was angry, but he couldn't refute it because it was all true.
"Thinking about it, he wasn't wrong. I was being too naive."
"We all agreed on it, why is it your fault?"
His colleagues said that, but Pedro thought differently.
He looked around at his colleagues. They were definitely all young. Of course, there were congressmen in their 40s and 50s, but compared to other factions, their average age was at least 10 years younger.
"I was clumsy, as the leader, and made these guys look bad."
Pedro felt ashamed and resolved to be different from now on.
"A secular university is something we Republicans can never give up. If so, we need to be more determined. We can't do it without fighting the church."
Pedro told his colleagues that. His colleagues agreed.
"We need to tell our supporters. It's the real beginning now."
The Republicans' power wasn't just in the number of seats.
Many military commanders in the provinces, especially high-ranking commanders who were veterans of the independence war, had republican beliefs.
That's because the resentment towards Spain, the oppressor who had exploited Mexico for centuries, often led to opposition to the monarchy and support for republicanism.
"That's right. It's going to be a war from now on, so internal control is important."
The Catholic Church.
No one would be unafraid of facing that giant enemy. But if you remember your belief in republicanism, your belief in the people, you can endure it.
That's what Congressman Pedro believed.
His colleagues began writing letters to their supporters, and Congressman Pedro began writing a speech for a public address.
The Republican congressmen, who had been depressed for months, being unilaterally beaten by the Church's superior political skills, were becoming hot again.
Congressman Pedro ran to the square as soon as he finished writing his speech.
There was no publicity, no grand podium, that the leader of the Republicans would be giving a speech.
He found a wooden box and climbed on top of it.
"Citizens of the Mexican Empire.
I am Congressman Pedro Gonzalez.
Today, I want to talk to you about the important issue of establishing a secular university."
Congressman Pedro began his speech in the street.
Only about 20 citizens stopped, interested in his words, but he continued his speech without being discouraged.
"The law on establishing a secular university was passed in parliament, receiving recognition of its necessity and gaining the consent of the majority. However, due to the interference of certain forces recently, the specific organization has been delayed. I am here to talk about the benefits of establishing a secular university.
First, education is the key to a nation's modernization and progress. To keep up with the global trend of development, we too must build an education system based on science and technology. This is essential for the development of our economy and strengthening national competitiveness.
Many secular universities, separated from religion, have already been established in the world's great powers, such as the United States, Britain, and France, and they are still being established at this moment. At this point, where there is not a single secular university, hindering this will have a fatal impact on national competitiveness."
He used examples of great powers.
It's true that the United States and Europe still have a strong influence from religion, so many universities were under the influence of religion, but a different wind began to blow at the end of the 18th century. Universities began to secularize.
In the 19th century, there were even universities established that explicitly advocated for secular education, such as the University of Virginia, founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, and Humboldt University of Berlin, founded in 1810 in Prussia.
"National competitiveness... It's true, if there are more people who have received a university education, there's a higher chance of inventing things like that "railroad."
A criollo passing by muttered that. Congressman Pedro, seeing that the citizens' reaction was not bad, continued his speech.
"Second, its contribution to economic development. A secular university will contribute to the development of science and technology, which will in turn contribute to the development of our industry. This will be the foundation for the creation of more jobs and national economic growth."
This was something that most of the citizens of Mexico City were experiencing firsthand. Why are so many people flocking to Mexico City and it's developing so rapidly? It's because of jobs.
It was becoming a world different from the days when only agriculture and basic commerce existed.
"Third, we need to strengthen national unity and identity. Secular education will contribute to the formation of a sense of community that transcends religious and regional differences.
Finally, improving access to education. Secular universities will be built much larger and more numerous than the existing religious universities, and they will be incomparable in terms of the types and size of departments.
This is only possible in secular universities where anyone with knowledge can become a professor, not just a small number of clergy. It will provide education to ordinary citizens, which is currently monopolized by the clergy and the landowning class."
Congressman Pedro intentionally didn't mention keywords like developing critical thinking, freedom of thought and human rights. Instead, he chose only the key points that citizens would be interested in.
As he intended, the citizens' reaction was positive.
"This secular university thing, it wouldn't be bad, would it?"
"Yeah. If we're lucky, we might be able to send our kids to university."
Congressman Pedro gave speeches in various parts of Mexico City, several times a day, until his voice was hoarse.
Meanwhile, the bill to abolish slavery, proposed by the Republicans and agreed to by the Emperor's party, was passed, and the Catholic Church began its full-fledged movement.
***
Samuel, a black slave in Texas, also heard something.
"The plantation owner is dead?"
"Yeah, he got shot and killed for challenging the big guy in the country!"
"Heehee, he was acting like a king, but he ended up dying by someone higher than him. What happens to us?"
"I don't know. It's just a change of masters, I guess."
He was happy for a moment, but then his friend's words brought back the grim reality.
"···Well, I guess so."
The large plantation and ranch that Stephen had built with a lot of money were confiscated as state property.
The government, now used to it, sent officials to manage the plantation, and their slave status seemed unlikely to change.
One day, it happened.
"Everyone gather!"
The overseer's voice echoed.
At the sound of his voice, the blacks scrambled and gathered in perfect order from morning.
They remembered, through experience, that they would be subjected to severe beatings if they dawdled.
The overseer, with a stern expression, looked down at them, and next to him stood the plantation owner, or rather, the official.
The official opened his mouth, looking at the slaves who were thin and poorly clothed because they didn't eat enough.
"Under the great mercy of His Majesty the Emperor and the boundless grace of His Highness the Crown Prince, slavery has been officially abolished in the Mexican Empire. You are no longer bound by the oppression and shackles of slavery. You will begin a free life from this moment."
He spoke in Spanish, so the slaves couldn't understand, but the overseer could.
"What, translate it quickly."
"Is what he said true?"
"Yes."
"Then who will do the farm work?"
"They're going to hire them and pay them wages."
The overseer was about to ask if they wouldn't lose money, but then he realized that the person in front of him wasn't the plantation owner, just a government official.
"Yes, I understand."
He translated what the official had said to the slaves, who were standing with nervous expressions, not understanding what the two were saying.
"By the grace of His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince, you are freed from the shackles of slavery from this moment."
It was a significantly simplified version.
The slaves didn't understand what he just said.
Suddenly, they were freed from the shackles of slavery? Samuel, shocked by the announcement, did something he shouldn't have.
"Is...is it true? This freedom thing?"
"Samuel!"
It was strictly forbidden for a slave to ask the overseer a question. Only words of obedience should come from a slave's mouth. That's why his friend warned him, calling out to him, risking his own safety.
Fortunately, the overseer just furrowed his brow slightly, he didn't get angry.
"Humph, be grateful for the mercy of the Mexican Empire's royal family. You lowly beings are also citizens, they are the ones who gave you freedom."
The overseer added that.
It was an unbelievable thing.
One of the slaves collapsed, his legs giving way.
The official, seeing that, thought the translation was well conveyed and continued.
"You can choose to receive land and farm, or to work for a fair wage."
The former would receive the benefits of pioneer immigration, and the latter would receive the benefits of urban immigration.
Surprisingly, the slaves chose the former and the latter in equal numbers. Those who chose the latter were mostly slaves without families.
The plantation owners didn't care about the black slaves' families and brought them along, so many slaves were separated from their families. They also knew from experience that it was difficult to farm alone, even if they were given land.
This happened not only on Stephen Austin's plantation, but throughout Texas and Cuba.
"Hey, there. Leave the blacks behind."
"Didn't you say you were just confiscating the land? You said we could take the things inside."
"Slavery is now forbidden in our Mexico. Therefore, that person is no longer your property, leave him behind. They will be treated as immigrants."
"···You're going to treat the blacks as the same as us? The Mexican government has gone mad."
"Are you insulting our Mexico right now?"
The immigration official, who had been giving instructions with a blank expression, contorted his face into a fierce one.
He took out his notebook, crossed out the number 120, and wrote 100 next to it.
"Wa...wait, what did you just do? I apologize, please forgive me. I swore to live as a subject of the Mexican Empire. I won't do it again, please forgive me."
The official thought for a moment and said.
"Tsk, I'll forgive you this once. Never forget that I decide the land distribution for the pioneer villages you will go to."
"Thank you!"
***
It's been several weeks since I met Congressman Pedro.
Meanwhile, the bill to abolish slavery was passed smoothly, and officials to carry out the emancipation of slaves left for Texas and Cuba with the army.
"Your Highness, American Ambassador Anthony Butler is here."
"Tell him to come in."
The person I was waiting for contacted me.