Hancock Lee Jackson

Overview

At a Glance

• Proposed a tax to pay the interest on Missouri's railroad bond debt (unsuccessful)
• Proposed stricter regulation of banking and currency (unsuccessful)
• Proposed state representation on railroad boards (unsuccessful)
• During major economic depression, did not recommend direct state action to stimulate recovery or help individuals

Personal History

Hancock Lee Jackson was born in Madison County, Kentucky. In the spring of 1821, he married Ursula Oldham, and the following year, they moved to Missouri. There, they settled on a farm in the unorganized territory that would eventually become Randolph County, where they raised their family of 11 children.

Following the U.S. declaration of war against Mexico in May 1846, Jackson mobilized a company of volunteers from Missouri, who elected him as their captain. Serving under Brigadier General Sterling Price, Jackson and his company participated in at least two key engagements during the Mexican-American War.

Just before the 1860 presidential election, President James Buchanan appointed Jackson as the U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Missouri. After Abraham Lincoln's election, Jackson resigned from this position and returned to private life. In 1865, he moved to Salem, Oregon, where he lived until his death 11 years later. He was buried in Pioneer Cemetery in Salem.

Political History

When Randolph County was established in 1829, Hancock Lee Jackson was elected as its first sheriff. He also served as a member of the 1845 Missouri Constitutional Convention, though he did not play a significant role in the discussions that led to the document, which was ultimately rejected by Missouri voters.

Jackson's first significant foray into state politics occurred in 1850 when he was elected to the Missouri State Senate as a Democrat. He secured reelection two years later, but his involvement in the General Assembly's activities was reportedly minimal. As internal schisms within the Democratic Party grew, Jackson aligned himself with its pro-Southern, states’-rights faction.

During the 1856 state Democratic Party convention in Jefferson City, a failure to reach consensus on a state platform and gubernatorial candidate led to a split into two factions. One faction, made up of traditional Jacksonians, nominated Thomas Hart Benton, while the other faction, which represented the majority of the original convention attendees, chose the pro-Southern, pro-slavery ticket of Trusten W. Polk for governor and Jackson for lieutenant governor. The Polk-Jackson faction emerged with the regular Democratic Party designation and went on to win the election.

Jackson, much like many lieutenant governors, had limited involvement in the governing process, and his time in office was notably brief. In early 1857, the Missouri General Assembly elected Governor Trusten W. Polk to the U.S. Senate, leading to Jackson stepping in as acting governor on February 27. However, his tenure as governor was short-lived due to constitutional requirements for a special election to select a new governor. By August, Missouri voters elected Robert Marcellus Stewart, who officially took office on October 22, 1857.

Historical Significance

In his brief term as acting governor, Hancock Lee Jackson delivered a singular major address to the General Assembly, highlighting the financial depression and its associated hardships. He attributed much of the economic challenges to a credit and banking system that he believed had overstepped its legal boundaries. Jackson urged the General Assembly to address the dubious practices surrounding railroad construction, particularly criticizing the state's heavy dependence on bonded debt to facilitate railroad development.

Gov. Jackson stressed the critical importance of maintaining the state's honor and credit, advocating for a tax to cover bond interest, state representation on railroad boards, and stricter regulations on banking and currency issues. While he acknowledged the significant impact of the financial depression on the populace, Jackson refrained from suggesting any direct state interventions to spur economic recovery or alleviate individual hardships.

The contentious issue of slavery and the escalating sectional tensions that jeopardized the Union greatly influenced the 1860 elections in Missouri, leading to a split within the Democratic Party. Claiborne Fox Jackson, Hancock Jackson's cousin, emerged as the Democratic nominee for governor, while an extreme pro-Southern faction nominated Hancock Jackson to challenge him. However, Hancock Jackson's campaign faltered, as most voters in Missouri favored moderate candidates over his more radical stance.

During his brief tenure as acting governor, Gov. Jackson had limited opportunity to advance his proposals regarding taxes, railroads, and banking regulations.