But Richmond would have been OK.
You may have missed it, but I have addressed this point too. In one of the numerous discussions on this topic, I postulated that in an alternative timeline in which the South got and maintained their independence, that by this point in time, I would have been bitching about the Arrogant Out-of-Touch Elites in Charleston instead of New York.
I think money and power always dance with each other, and if you have one, you can get the other. I think the Human beings of Charleston and Richmond would have been just as susceptible to abuse of power as have been the human beings of New York and Washington D.C.
I think abuse of power is an inherent temptation in human nature, and I think the only thing that can be done about it is to put as many obstacles in the path of those who would exercise power as is reasonable.
As Thomas Jefferson said:
In questions of powers, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.