Background
He was born on June 16, 1826 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina, United States, the son of Solomon and Martha (Gaskins) Pool.
He was born on June 16, 1826 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina, United States, the son of Solomon and Martha (Gaskins) Pool.
He was prepared for college at home and was graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1847.
He was admitted to the bar in 1847, and while he soon became successful, he never liked his profession. In 1856 and again in 1858 he was a member of the state Senate and made such a reputation for ability that in 1860 he was nominated by the Whigs for governor. He made a brilliant campaign and, in spite of the influence which the national crisis exerted in behalf of the Democratic party, was defeated by only six thousand majority.
In 1861 the Confederate commissioner of loans sought his assistance in the work of his office and Pool made public the terms of the loan, but evaded taking subscriptions and sought to discourage them. By this time he had made up his mind not to participate in any way in the war, but in 1864, having moved to Bertie County, he became a peace candidate for the state Senate, stating afterward in justification that he did so only to work for peace.
Pool was a member of the constitutional convention of 1865-66 but took no prominent part in its work. He was also a member of the state Senate in 1865. He supported William W. Holden for governor but he was a close friend of Jonathan Worth who was elected, and, both political groups in the state claiming him as a member, he was elected to the United States Senate. While attempting without success to secure his seat, he made public his reason for his legislative service in 1864 and the next legislature did not reelect him.
He urged Governor Worth to accept the demands of Congress while they were relatively moderate and in December 1866 went to Washington and seeking out Thaddeus Stevens, whom he had never met, urged him to exempt North Carolina from the general plan of reconstruction. In the state Republican convention of 1867 he introduced resolutions demanding universal suffrage, restriction of the taxing power of the legislature in order to avoid the quasi-confiscation which he feared would come, and the immediate removal of all disabilities. These were voted down and he withdrew from the convention.
He was strongly opposed to the reckless railroad legislation of the convention of 1868 and went to Raleigh and held a meeting of Republican leaders in the hope of checking it. He could do nothing but continued in the party, and in 1868 was elected to the United States Senate and admitted.
He was bitterly aroused by the Ku Klux movement and in Washington furnished newspaper men with cleverly and carefully manufactured accounts of outrages, chiefly mythical, and told them when they should be released. The evidence is very strong, in spite of his vehement denials, that he suggested to Governor Holden the use of an illegal armed force to carry the state election of 1870 and to punish the leaders of the opposition party. He declined an appointment in January 1871 as one of the committee to investigate disorders in the South, but he spoke constantly on the subject in the Senate and urged strong measures.
He failed of reelection in 1873 but remained in Washington practising law until 1876 when he went to North Carolina to accept an appointment as superintendent of public instruction to fill a brief vacancy. He then returned to Washington where he spent the rest of his life. He was quite successful, but increasingly he lost interest in his profession and gave more time to the organization of peace propaganda.
He died in his sleep from heart disease.
A strong Union man, he took no part in the secession movement. He later definitely identified himself with the Radicals but was never so partisan and proscriptive as most of his associates. He joined a labor organization in 1876 and left the Republican party and in 1880 he became a Democrat.
A man of unusual ability, he was at his best in debate, where he was easy and effective. He was handsome with a graceful and suave manner which softened many political asperities.
He was twice married: first to Narcissa D. Sawyer of Elizabeth City, and upon her death to Mollie Mebane of Bertie County.