Governor James Pollock Receive It. the Efforts of the Young And

Governor James Pollock is receive it. The efforts of the young and eloquent coun- try Congressman were soon vindicated. Mr. Pollock was also one of the earliest of our public men to accept the idea of the great destiny of the Western United States, after the extension of our terri- tory to the Pacific by Mexican annexation. On June 23, 1848, only one year after the acquisition of California, Mr. Pollock offered a resolution for the appointment of a special committee to inquire into the necessity and practicability of constructing a railroad to the Pacific coast. As chairman of that committee he made a report to the House of Representatives in favor of the con- struction of such a road. This report may be found in the third volume of the House Journal for the first ses- sion of the 30th Congress. This was the very first fa- vorable official act on this subject on the part of the Congress of the United States. The report discussed the question in its international and domestic aspects, its feasibility and probable results. The opening paragraph is in these words: "The proposition at first view is a startling one. The magnitude of the work itself, and the still greater and more magnificent results promised by its accomplishment-that of revolutionizing morally and commercially, if not politically, a greater part of the habitable globe and making the vast commerce of the world tributary to us-almost overwhelm the mind. But your committee, on examination, find it a subject as simple as it is vast and magnificent, and see no in- surmountable difficulties in the way of its successful accomplishment." Congressman Pollock and his few colleagues on the committee were in advance of their time. They failed, of course, but the report, which as- serted the feasibility of the enterprise and predicted its success, soon became history. A bill accompained the report and was referred to the Committee of the Whole, but no further action was taken at that time, and Mr. Pollock soon after left Con- gress. In the fall of that year, however, he delivered a lecture on "The Pacific Railroad," by invitation, to a crowded house in the Academy of Music at Lewisburg. He was heard with rapt attention, and he closed his 14 The Northumberland Countp Histodcal Societp memorable and eloquent address with the following remark: "At the risk of being considered insane, I will venture the prediction that in less than twenty-five years from this evening a railroad will be completed and in operation between New York and San Francisco, California; and that a line of steamboats will be estab- lished between San Francisco, Japan and China; and that there are now in my audience ladies who will, be- fore the expiration of the period named, drink tea brought from China and Japan by this route to their own doors!" This prophetic announcement was received by the audience with smiles of good natured incredul- ity; but some of those very ladies, during the year 1869, only twenty-one years later, were able to sip their fa- vorite beverage in exact accordance with the terms of the speaker's prediction! On May 10, 1869, the last rail was laid, the last spike was driven and the great Pacific Railway, so long in embryo, became an accom- plished fact. Other subjects of special interest during his Con- gressional term of service were the annexation of Tex- as, the Mexican War, the acquisition of California, the repeal of the Tariff Act of 1842, and the "Wilmot Pro- viso" in its application to the newly acquired Territor- ies of the United States. In the discussions on these ex- citing topics Mr. Pollock took an active and leading part. His speeches and votes demonstrate the consist- ency of his views and the breadth and soundness of his understanding. He and David Wilmot were most intimate friends and remained so throughout life. Mr. Pol- lock was one of the younger members of the House when he entered Congress, but during his nearly six years of service he had exhibited not only great effi- ciency as a national legislator, but he was in advance of most of his older associates in heartily sustaining all progressive movements. An incident which influenced the remainder of his life occurred during this service in Congress. Abraham Lincoln was first elected to Congress in August, 1846, but did not take his seat until the 30th Congress, Decem- ber, 1847. In Washington Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Pollock Governor James Pollock is were not only the most intimate friends but shared the same room and bed. The friendship which was then formed lasted until the great President fell a victim of the assassin's bullet. They ate at the same mess, which was conducted by Mrs. Spriggs, in Duff Green's Row, on Capitol Hill. There were nine friends in this congenial atmosphere, and five of the nine were Pennsylvanians: James Pollock, of the 13th, John Blanchard, of the 17th, John Dickey, of the 20th, Abraham R. McIlvaine, of the 7th and John Strohm, of the 8th District. This associa- tion had much to do, in subsequent political events, with the election of Lincoln as President, in 1860. It also had much to do with the future life of James Pollock. When his service in Congress drew to a close Mr. Pollock was placed in a position where his training and ambitious peculiarly fitted him. Judge Joseph B. An- thony died January 10, 1851, and James Pollock was appointed President Judge of the Eighth Judicial Dis- trict, then composed of the counties of Northumberland, Montour, Columbia, Sullivan and Lycoming. In assum- ing this position, January 16, Judge Pollock succeeded Judge Anthony, his early schoolmaster. He served only until the following January, however, as the new Con- stitution was then in effect and its provisions required the election of judges by the people. Judge Pollock de- clined the nomination offered him, when he was succeeded by Alexander Jordan, another Milton attorney of great worth. Thus Judges Anthony, Pollock and Jor- dan, whose terms were successive, were all Milton attor- nies, and the only Miltonians who have ever presided over the several courts of Northumberland county. While the incumbency of Judge Pollock was the shortest in the history of the county, it was long enough to secure for his abilities in this position an ample recognition. Such was the record of the able Miltonian, and it is little wonder it attracted the attention of those in the leadership of the Whig Party at Pennsylvania when the election for governor approached in 1854. Mr. Pollock was now well and favorably known. To his friends and fellow citizens he was a man of rare culture and ability; 16 The Northumberland Countp HistoricalSocietD of fine address; handsome; possessed of a commanding physique, somewhat above the average in height. He had dark eyes and hair, smooth shaven face, and a countenance expressive of intelligence and benignity. His manners were delightful; he was an eloquent speaker, graceful, persuasive and convincing, and possessed remarkable tact in gaining the sympathy and approval of his hearers. Strong conscientiousness was a promi- nent element in his character, and, while his official acts were at times subjected to violent criticism, the honesty of his intentions was conceded by his most de- termined opponents. The gubernatorial contest of 1854 presented the most unique and conspicious results to be found in the entire history of Pennsylvania politics. It was the last battle made by the Whig party as a recognized factor, and, while it was thus in its dying throes, the Demo- cratic party was greatly disintegrated and sowed the seeds which made it practically a minority party for more than a generation. Thus, it elected James Buchanan, of Lancaster, in 1856, President, but he was largely a minority victor, but it is true that for a quarter of a century thereafter the party was defeated in every National contest. The repeal of the Missouri compromise, in 1854, by the Democratic House of Representatives, Senate and President, aroused the anti-slavery sentiment that so largely pervaded the Democratic ranks in every section of Pennsylvania, and brought out the first murmurs of revolt, and the sudden organization of the Native American, or "Know Nothing" party, with the Whig organization practically on the verge of breaking up. Thus there was found a wide field with loose aggrega- tions of both Whigs and Democrats, and these elements were adroitly combined against Governor William Big- ler in favor of James Pollock who succeeded him. Tn the history of free government, such as is ours, there must be many political blunders committed in *he heat of great party struggles, or to promote individual ambition, such as we have experienced to our sorrow and misfortune in recent years, both in this Common- I I1 * ba Cow *" VW eE .0 0% E- 16ft k- 10 14 *s Ua a 0 v 2 0 a 9 GovernorJames-Pollock 17 wealth and in the Nation. But the repeal of the Missouri Compromise stands out single and alone as the most monstrous and fatal of all political blunders by the party entrenched in power. The question of human slavery extension had been a very vital one. The North was developing and ex- tending westward with great rapidity, giving positive assurace of new free States at an early day, while the South had nothing in prospect to maintain what it called the "equilibrium" between the two sections. ID addition to this necessity of political power, the old slave States were largely interested in slave markets, as their exhausted lands made slave growing more profit- able than the simple cultivation of their plantations.

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