e did not approve Secession, but like most others who
dwelt in the South, thought his allegiance primarily due to
his State. He was an admirable lawyer, faithful, industrious,
clear-headed and learned in the law. He had been a Whig before
the war, and, like other Southern Whigs, favored a moderate
protective tariff. He was anxious to have the South take
her place as a great manufacturing community, for which her
natural resources of iron and coal and her great water power
gave her such advantages. He was opposed to the Republican
measures of Reconstruction and to placing the negro on a political
equality with the whites. But he also discountenanced and
condemned any lawless violence or fraud.
Senator Jackson was appointed Judge of the United States Circuit
Court by President Cleveland. He held that office when a
vacancy on the Bench of the Supreme Court came by the death
of Justice Lamar. The election of 1892 had resulted in the
choice of President Cleveland. The Democrats in the Senate
were determined that no Republican who should be nominated
by President Harrison should be confirmed, and did not mean,
if they could help it, that the place should be filled during
the December session. The only way to get such a confirmation
would be for the Republican majority to put the question ahead
of all other subjects, to go into Executive session every
day as soon as the Senate met, and remain there until the
judgeship was disposed of. The Democrats must then choose
between defeating the Appropriation Bills, and compelling
an extra session, which the in-coming Administration would
not like. In order to do that, however, the small Republican
majority must hold together firmly, and be willing to take
the risk of an extra session.
I called on President Harrison and urged upon him the appointment
of Judge Jackson. I represented that it was desirable that
there should be some Democrats upon the Bench, and that they
should be men who had the confidence of their own part of
the country and of the country at large; that Judge Jackson
was a man of admirable judicial quality; that he had the public
confidence in a high degree, and that it would be impossible
for the Democratic Party to object to his selection, while
it would strengthen the Bench. So I thought that even if
we could put one of our men there without difficulty, it would
be wise to appoint Jackson.
President Harrison was very unwilling, indeed, to take
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