The Life and Wars of Gideon J. Pillow

3. Tennessee’s Own Son

3 Tennessee's Own Son James K. Polk wrote his friend Gideon Pillow from Washington shortly after the election. He would be meeting Congress in his new capacity as president. He was excited, exuberant. "I hope you may be satisfied with what I may say to them." 1 Pillow wrote back that he would be in Washington for the festivities, but he cautioned Polk that his first problem as president would be "how to get rid of Calhoun" as secretary of state.2 Indeed, Calhoun would be the first of many problems. Each cabinet appointment Polk made seemed to rip and tear at the fabric of the Democracy. The Van Buren faction was furious, irreconcilable. Polk, attempting to cloak himself in disinterest , announced that he would not seek reelection and would require 3 Tennessee's Own SOD James K. Polk wrote his friend Gideon Pillow from Washington shortly after the election. He would be meeting Congress in his new capacity as president. He was excited, exuberant. "I hope you may be satisfied with what I may say to them." 1 Pillow wrote back that he would be in Washington for the festivities, but he cautioned Polk that his first problem as president would be "how to get rid of Calhoun" as secretary of state.2 Indeed, Calhoun would be the first of many problems. Each cabinet appointment Polk made seemed to rip and tear at the fabric of the Democracy. The Van Buren faction was furious, irreconcilable. Polk, attempting to cloak himself in disinterest , announced that he would not seek reelection and would require his cabinet appointees to pledge that they did not seek the presidency themselves.s Among the many appointments made to good Democrats was the lucrative consulship at Liverpool, which went to Polk's faithful and valuable ally, General Armstrong of Nashville. Pillow would have liked this position himself, but he tried to be patient, knowing Polk would find something suitable.4 In January 1845, it appeared that a new federal court would be created in the Southwest, and Pillow believed the boundary of the circuit would be drawn to include Alabama and Mississippi. He wrote Polk at once that he wanted the new judgeship. Granted he was a Tennessean, but he did hold property in Mississippi, "identifying me with its interests," and thus woulc;l be considered legally a "floating resident." I prefer that, over any earthly station. I am now about 40 years oldhave been at my profession about 18 years of that time. Long habit and a natural taste for my profession, have united to make my happiness dependent very much upon the mental excitement of the Law in the one way or the other.... I trust I could become eminent upon the bench. That I have been your warm personal & political Friend from my earliest manhood-that I have freely devoted my time, my talents , my energies and my money to your elevation, & that I have gone farther in my devotion to you, than I have, or ever will again to any man living, you are well apprized. But for these considerations, I claim nothing at your hands.5 In a carefully and kindly constructed response, Polk declined Pillow's request. He stated with finality that the ')udge selected should be a resident citizen of the Circuit from which he is appointed."6 So Pillow, the trusting lieutenant, turned his eyes elsewhere and focused his energies on opportunities at home. In the spring of 1845, Pillow sought from his friend George Bancroft, the new secretary of the navy, a three-year contract from the Navy Department to provide thirty tons of hemp annually. Bancroft gladly obliged and Pillow immediately began to construct the required buildings at Clifton and to purchase additional slaves necessary for hemp production. His capital venture of building Maury County's first steam engine had been justified by this navy contract.7 Pillow also kept his hand in Tennessee politics. He helped his brother-in-law West Humphreys in a "hard struggle" to be reelected attorney general, and he went about Middle Tennessee trying to 40 : Tennessee's Own Son his cabinet appointees to pledge that they did not seek the presidency themselves.3 Among the many appointments made to good Democrats was the lucrative consulship at Liverpool, which went to Polk's faithful and valuable ally, General Armstrong of Nashville. Pillow would have liked this position himself, but he tried to be patient, knowing Polk would find something suitable.4...