to develop the basic goals and objectives of the formative nation. Six staff members-PhD’s, lawyers, and one noted economist-were appointed by Montclair to attend this first gathering. To Dan’s surprise and great pleasure, the new chief executive officer of Montclair Advocacy, Major General Robert Del Valle, Dan’s former commanding officer in the California National Guard, was also coming. When the secession had been announced, Del Valle, strongly opposed to the intended divorce, had resigned as Adjutant General of California, and retired. Two months ago, Montclair had announced his appointment as chief executive, effective May 1 ^st.
All in all, twenty-eight people were expected to arrive by dinnertime. The Montclair team, four men and two women, were all of moderate to conservative persuasion, in line with the philosophy of the emerging political leaders.
The decision to meet outside the United States, and, if possible, in confidence, was driven by the committee’s desire to keep the press at bay, at least until they had developed a basic outline of intent. Since Governor Jefferson’s announcement, every member of the leadership of the secession movement had been besieged by press. It was not expected to decline, and a meeting such as the one planned in Mexico-essentially to lay out the foundational format for the Republic of Western America-would draw media like flies.
The working seminar was scheduled to last five days. The male and female spouses or partners who accompanied the delegates knew that their respective companions would be involved every day. When selected by the group to chair the committee, Dan Rawlings had quipped that during the original American constitutional convention, John Adams might have survived on letters from Abigail, but he preferred that each attendee have someone to whom they could personally complain each night after a long day’s debate. The partners knew they’d see nothing of their companions for most of the working day, but once they arrived at Emerald Bay, the beauty of the resort facility quickly convinced them that being on their own wasn’t such a bad deal, especially those who enjoyed basking in the sun, lying by the pool, playing golf, or just being waited on hand and foot.
Dinner the first evening started the process. With a soft Sea of Cortez breeze wafting through the portico of La Cordeliere, the oceanside dining facility at Emerald Bay, Dan Rawlings rose to welcome the guests as the bevy of waiters scurried around the room, displaying their finest Mexican hospitality.
“Good evening to everyone. My name is Daniel Rawlings. I’m a state legislator from northern California and have been appointed to chair this sub-committee. This is my wife, Nicole, who tells me that after five days in the Mexican sun, I won’t recognize her when we leave to go home. I hope everyone here who will not be sequestered indoors for the next few days will take advantage of the beautiful Mazatlan community. We have arranged several optional tours and activities for non-delegates, so please, enjoy yourself, either in the community or around the pool.
“I don’t think everyone knows everyone else, so please take some time this evening to at least meet those at your respective tables. By the time we leave here, I suspect we will have made some new friends, and, if history is any guide, some new enemies,” Dan said to a response of laughter. “So, enjoy the evening and I’ll see everyone in the morning, 9 A.M., in the Cardenas Conference Center. With any luck, we will manage at least the first few days without the press getting wind of our gathering.”
As the dinner concluded and attendees began to filter out to their rooms, General Del Valle and his wife met Dan and Nicole Rawlings outside on the walkway leading to the cabanas.
“Dan, how very nice to see you again. I wasn’t certain you would be part of the delegation to this committee. Nicole, from the zest in your smile and the energy you project, one would assume that you’ve recovered well from your injuries at the hands of the Shasta Brigade.”
“Thank you, General. Perhaps getting married was the key,” Nicole said, holding tight to Dan’s arm. Dan pulled her closer.
“General,” Dan said, “are you here for the entire five days, or just to kick off the seminar? I admit to being surprised at your presence, given your earlier opposing stance on the issue.”
Del Valle nodded. “You were opposed too, Dan, as I recall. What changed your mind?”
Dan thought for a moment, looking toward the moonlight reflecting off the Sea of Cortez. “No single event, General. But the momentum generated by several other states inviting me to meet with them regarding our progress in California had significant impact on my thinking. The concept is far more broadly accepted than I thought. And my earlier meetings with Dr. Chambers from your Montclair staff opened my eyes to how far we’ve actually distanced ourselves from the Founding Fathers.”
“I understand,” Del Valle responded. “America certainly has come a long way from those initial concepts of freedom. Dan, my role with Montclair puts me in a precarious position. It’s possible that my opening remarks tomorrow may seem offensive, both to you and to your other delegates. I don’t mean them that way, but there are some things that need to be said. I hope you’ll hear me out before you form any conclusions. Why don’t we all have a good night’s rest and discuss the issues tomorrow.”
“General Del Valle, there are no opinions I respect more than yours, sir. I’ll give full consideration to any thought you have to deliver. That’s why we invited Montclair to moderate this forum. Now that you’re the director of the Advocacy, it will bear even more weight. Thanks for the heads-up. Mrs. Del Valle, please enjoy your stay. Till tomorrow, General,” Dan said, slipping his hand in Nicole’s as they departed.
At 8:45 A.M. the following morning, eight delegates and six consultants from the Montclair Advocacy had gathered in the conference room. A beautiful Mexican breakfast was set out on the sideboard and the participants were enjoying huevos rancheros, which was a combination of scrambled eggs and potatoes; chorizo, a spicy pork sausage, and a wide assortment of fresh fruit including pineapple, oranges, bananas, and kiwi fruit, or, for the more healthy minded, a simple continental breakfast of sweet roll, plus orange, mango, or pineapple juice, and coffee.
The room was arranged with a large, semi-circular table, open at one end, with a full-sized white board to the front and both sides. A stand-alone podium was placed in the opening of the table arrangement.
At 9:00 A.M. sharp, Dan Rawlings rose from his seat and took a position behind the podium. The room grew quiet, and the few Emerald Bay staff who had been cleaning up the breakfast items left the room.
“Buenos dias, compadres, ” Dan said, mimicking his limited Spanish ability. “And that’s it for my Spanish, except I have actually learned ‘ Donde esta los banos,’ because we all need to be able to find the toilet. I would assume that three months ago, not one person in this room was thinking of spending a week in Mazatlan. Yet here we are, on the brink of forming a new nation and, for the majority of us, I would think, quite sad at the realization that we are considering leaving the nation of our birth. I join you in that confusion.
“My family has been in America for twelve generations, since 1620, and in California for five, moving west after the Civil War. I love America. I love what America stands for, how it has acquired its place in the world, and how it has historically respected individual and even the regional freedom of other nations. We’ve all seen the e- mail chain letters that show America’s contribution to the world, how the only land we ever kept after our wars was sufficient ground to bury our dead. All of that is true. A visit to Europe and the allied cemeteries will demonstrate America’s commitment. What has been referred to as America’s ‘nation building’ has been to the good of the country involved. We never assumed ownership or even governmental control of those nations, certainly not beyond the time required for the formation of their own government. The bustling economies of Japan and Germany for the past quarter century are two prime examples. We’re attempting it again now, in the Middle East, in a region of kings, princes, dictators, and religious autocrats who see no merit in allowing the general populace to elect their leaders. It has always been a strongman rule in that region of the world, and America is having difficulty getting the residents to accept a change which their leaders do not want.” Dan paused for several seconds, took a sip of his juice, then continued.
“We did not come here for a history lesson, but before I turn the time over to our Montclair Advocacy colleagues, let me remind everyone of one more fact of history. The last time America tried this-to draft and enact a constitution-it took them over seven years from the end of the Revolutionary War to get the individual states to agree. We are committed to having no war, but we are also committed to having a constitution. Toward that end, let’s set aside the traditional methods of negotiating, of bargaining for our pet interests. Let’s see if we can reach accord on principles in which we all believe. Once our initial job is accomplished, our final product has to pass the scrutiny of our forty-six state representatives and then the further examination of the legislatures in each of the respective states, however many that turns out to be. As it currently stands, we have twenty-three states set to hold an election to determine approval for the formation of the Republic of Western America. Within those elections, both Texas and California each have separate issues on the ballot to divide themselves into three separate states.
