One of the major differences between the original standalone rpg Deadlands (Deadlands Classic) and the Savage Worlds version of Deadlands (Deadlands Reloaded) is that the Civil War has officially ended, rather than being a prolonged conflict with upsurges every election year. The Reloaded Player's Guide says the following (pg. 4-5 hardbound version) :
Until recently, Grant’s administration claimed dominion over the entire country and refused to acknowledge the existence of any other American nation. The truth, however, is that Washington exerts little to no authority over the other nations described here, and recent peace negotiations have forced him to recognize the Confederacy’s legitimacy.
Is there any more information, in Classic or Reloaded, about how or why these peace negotiations starting happening? I find it somewhat strange that after such a prolonged fighting, and with the Great Rail Wars about to be decided (indeed, they were won in 1880, a year after Reloaded's 1879 metaplot date) that they would have peace talks.