u/Begin_ThePurge

I was rereading the World of Ice and Fire recently and I thought

"Wait, who gets the Westerlands if the Lannisters are cast down?"

So for example if Stannis had won at the Battle of the Blackwater or if Aegon or Daenerys defeat them in the remaining books who would replace them as Wardens of the West? It's often noted how loyal the Lords of the Westerlands are to House Lannister and none of them break with Casterly Rock during either the War of the Usurper or the War of the Five Kings. There's no obvious candidate for Stannis or a restored Targaryen to have takeover nor is there anyone with as much power or wealth to match that of Casterly Rock save perhaps the Lannisters of Lannisport but they're also part of the same larger family so I doubt you'd want to just hand it to them.

Each ruling house seems to have this rival house always chafing under them who look for ways to become the new reigning lords: Starks v. Boltons, Tullys v. Freys, Martells. v. Yronwoods, Tyrells v. Florents, Arryns v. Graftons (not a great example I admit), Targaryens v. Blackfyres, Baratheons v. Conningtons (that's pretty recent and one sided though) and of course Lannisters v. Reynes. The Reynes would've been the obvious choice but they're all dead so who would take over for the Westerlands in the event of a Stannis or Targaryen victory?

Perhaps it doesn't matter in the case of Daenerys because she'll have Tyrion serving beside her, so she might just name him the new Lord of Casterly Rock. Though its hard to imagine he'd have an easy time keeping everyone in line given he's:

a. a dwarf

b. a kinslayer

So who would takeover? The Marbrands? The Crakehalls?

Context

Despite the last minute endorsement of John Palmer by George Julian it seems the Indiana Congressman's influence over the left wing of the party is not as strong as some thought. Cassius Clay overwhelmingly secured the nomination on the 3rd ballot. Clay's moderate positions and reputation for compromise convinced more pro-Greenback delegates that they could get concessions out of him rather than the staunchly conservative Palmer. Clay has already began to formulate the party platform and unfortunately for supporters of tariff reform its expected to include a strong defense of the protective tariff as a means of industrial development and government revenue just as his cousin Henry Clay once sought to use it.

However while Clay and his advisors are already hard at work, the rest of the convention still needs to select a running mate and the Governor's clear disinterest in the process has left it to the major party leaders to put forward candidates. As a Kentuckian, Clay is thought to represent the South and to a lesser degree the West so preferably an eastern running mate would be preferred. In addition Clay's moderate image means he doesn't inflame nor excite any particular segment of the population which may do well in achieving a nomination or negotiating in government but when turnout is often the key to success, a party must have someone who can get men's blood going. The Republicans and Democrats can both call on a strong partisan base to work for them but a young party like the Liberals does not have this yet. So it was that 4 men are placed forward for the nomination to try and cover these critical areas.

Justice David Davis has been a perennial candidate for President and while he certainly has more power on the bench then he would as Vice President, Davis helped found the party and has taken on something of an elder statesman role within it now. He still has many friends in the increasingly populous Illinois and his status as a Judge has kept him away from the divisive economic debates of the day. Next is James English, a man of moderate influence in the party with ambitions on the Presidency but not nearly enough clout to reach it. He proved a capable Governor earlier in the decade and could help expand the Liberals appeal into the traditionally Democratic voting labor bloc. General Thomas Ewing is very a respected soldier from the Civil War and would help with the Veteran vote while his resistance to some of the Republicans' reconstruction policies might win over less diehard Southerns. Finally there is the rising star Samuel J. Randall who has managed to balance support for strong tariffs with resistance to large government making him almost the archetypal Liberal politician.

Character

Associate Justice David Davis of Illinois

A lawyer and close political ally of Abraham Lincoln, managing Lincoln’s 1860 presidential campaign and previously serving as a judge in Illinois. In 1862, Lincoln appointed him to the U.S. Supreme Court, where Davis became known for influential opinions, including his defense of civil liberties in the landmark case Ex parte Milligan. By 1876, Davis has established himself as an independent-minded justice.

Senator James E. English of Connecticut

A businessman and politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut beginning in the 1860s. He later became governor of Connecticut from 1867 to 1869, where he focused on economic development and post–Civil War recovery. His negotiation of a dispute between a railroad shipping industries of particular note. He won the popular vote for reelection 1871 but a later investigation awarded it Marshall Jewel after evidence of fraud emerged marring his support with reformists. He is currently in the first year of his term as Senator.

Bev. Maj. General Thomas Ewing Jr. of Ohio

A lawyer and prominent Union general during the Civil War especially in the western theater, noted for his enforcement of General Order No. 11 in Missouri. He has a good relationship with President Grant and General Sherman despite their political differences After the war, he became involved in politics as a Liberal and was an unsuccessful candidate for governor of Ohio in 1867. He has never served in public office before but could bolster the ticket with veterans.

Representative Samuel J. Randall of Pennsylvania

Serving multiple terms in the U.S. House of Representatives beginning in 1863, representing Pennsylvania, he has become a leading figure among House Democrats and Liberals in the current coalition, known for his organizational skill and influence over party strategy. He has treaded a fine line between support for protective tariffs and resistance to the expansion of Federal power, the ultimate man in the middle.

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Context

It has now come down to a final round between Governor Clay and Governor Palmer. Clay only narrowly missed the required number of delegates to clinch the nomination while Palmer managed to edge out Congressman George Julian to come in a distant 2nd. Julian dropped out of the contest and initially declined to endorse either faction leaving the party's left wing as the deciding vote between the moderate Clay and conservative Palmer. In a last ditch effort to beat the Kentuckian, Governor Palmer met with Julian for 2 hours, attempting to talk him into supporting the Illinoisan's bid for the nomination despite their clear ideological differences. Palmer and Julian are opposed on almost every economic issue save for tariff reform which they both agree must result in lower rates. This kernel of agreement managed to win the Hoosier's nomination for Palmer but it would not have grown had Clay made an effort to reach out to his former opposition. Convinced of his inevitable victory, Clay felt no need to hamstring his own cause with promises and this allowed Palmer to portray him as a man more interested in power than reform to the outspoken Julian.

It now remains to be seen if Congressman Julian's hold on the left wing is as strong as Palmer hopes it is or whether Clay was right to remain aloof from the politicking occurring on the convention floor.

Candidates

Governor Cassius M. Clay of Kentucky

Cassius Clay, cousin to the political titan Henry Clay, has been a prominent figure in his own right for years. A slaveholder who nonetheless became a staunch abolitionist, he helped found the Republican Party and served as Lincoln's Minister to Russia where he was critical in winning the Tsar to the Union's Cause. Following the war he became estranged from the Republicans as he resisted their Radical Reconstruction policies and helped found the Liberal Republicans in 1872. Highly respected in his native Kentucky, he has served as Governor for the last 2 years and helped build up the state's industrial base and remains a respected figure across all political factions. He also was an early supporter of the Cuban revolt so it will be difficult for Republicans to paint him as a dove.

Governor John M. Palmer of Illinois

A man loyal to his convictions over any party, John Palmer has become one of the most prominent members of the Liberals after helping form the organization in 1872. Originally a Unionist Democrat, Palmer served in the Civil War and rose to the rank of Major General and was placed in charge of Kentucky as its military governor. During this time he successfully achieved the end of slavery in the state independent of the Emancipation Proclamation and waged an aggressive war against Confederate Insurgents. Following the war he was elected as the Republican Governor of Illinois where he supported public libraries, reform schools over capital punishment for child criminals and the adoption of the 15th Amendment and 1870 Illinois Constitution. General Sheridan's actions in Chicago after the Great Fire and President Hamlin's defense of them caused Palmer, a strong supporter of state sovereignty, to break with the Republicans as well his opposition to high tariffs. Palmer projects a productive, principled but moderate reputation and someone who can work well across the aisle

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