How reliable was Governor Dewney's support for the Union?

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Brev. Brig. Gen'l
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John G. Downey was the governor of California at the start of the Civil War and although at the start of the Civil War he had vowed to support the Union. there was some question about this. Downey had been a Lecompton Democrat who had switched to supporting Stephen A. Douglas for president. It appears that some people questioned just where Downey stood. Downey's support for the Union was rather vague as was his thoughts about slavery. With many southern Californians supporting secession. and Downey being from southern California, just how strongly he might support the Union was unknown. The fact he was born in Ireland was also a factor in how loyal he might be to the United States.

In the end I do not see any proof that Governor Downey had any secessionist leanings and while he was governor California did support the Union. Still the fact that Governor Downey might have limited loyalty to the Union makes for an interesting "what if". So let us say Governor Downey had worked to get California to secede or had he refuse to support the Union, how would this have impacted the Civil War. Withholding the gold from California from going to support the Union war effort would have caused difficulties for the Union. Thoughts?
 
John G. Downey was the governor of California at the start of the Civil War and although at the start of the Civil War he had vowed to support the Union. there was some question about this. Downey had been a Lecompton Democrat who had switched to supporting Stephen A. Douglas for president. It appears that some people questioned just where Downey stood. Downey's support for the Union was rather vague as was his thoughts about slavery. With many southern Californians supporting secession. and Downey being from southern California, just how strongly he might support the Union was unknown. The fact he was born in Ireland was also a factor in how loyal he might be to the United States.

In the end I do not see any proof that Governor Downey had any secessionist leanings and while he was governor California did support the Union. Still the fact that Governor Downey might have limited loyalty to the Union makes for an interesting "what if". So let us say Governor Downey had worked to get California to secede or had he refuse to support the Union, how would this have impacted the Civil War. Withholding the gold from California from going to support the Union war effort would have caused difficulties for the Union. Thoughts?
Interesting questions. Wasn’t the U.S. far west more or less considered a waste of time for both the N and S?
 
Interesting questions. Wasn’t the U.S. far west more or less considered a waste of time for both the N and S?
There was too much gold in California for the far west to be a waste of time for either side. The Confederacy had plans to take southern California but lacked the resources to do so. The Union did not believe the Confederates could take California and thus did not assign many resources to protect California.
 
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