.K28 Copy 1 KENTUCKY HISTORY BY CHAS. A. p;iTH HEAD OF HISTORY DEPART3IENT EASTERN KENTUCKY STATE NORMAL SCHOOL D. C. HEATH & CO., PUBLISHERS BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO W'^M&'MmmW^mM A SUPPLEMENT ON KENTUCKY HISTORY ^ By Chas. a. Keith Head of History Department, Eastern Kentucky Slate Normal School Preliminary. — In fulness of history, Kentucky ranks with her parent state — Virginia — and with states Hke Massachusetts, New York, and Texas ; in productiveness of political and military leadership, she ranks with our first commonwealths; and in character and educative value, her record is almost unique. Like that of Tennessee, her history reads like a novel. The daring and chivalrous deeds of native sons furnish us names for many counties. There are crises in the life of the state that are thrilling as well as perplexing; and it is to her lasting honor that, though blundering occasionally, she emerged from them with discretion and credit. This supplement can present only the barest outline of facts. Its main purpose is to lead students to investigate her interesting annals. For further reading the follow- ing books are suggested: Publications that can be secured from the Filson Club, Louisville, espec- ially on the early history; Kinkead's History of Kentucky is well known; A Young People's History of Kentucky, by E. P. Thompson, contains some instructive condensed biographies; Kentucky: A Pioneer Commonwealth, by N. S. Shaler, is well written and is good on the Civil War; Marshall (1824 edition) presents the history from a Federal view; Collins is rightly regarded as an authority; E. P. Johnson, A History of Kentucky and Kentuckians; Speed's Union Cause in Kentucky; Thwaites's Daniel Boone; Schurz's Henry Clay; and best of all, McElroy's Kentucky in the Nations History — a critical history, very well written, and containing a good bibhography. Kentucky history falls naturally into the following divisions: 1 Cop>Tight, 1915, by D. C. Heath & Co. 2 KENTUCKY HISTORY I. Pioneer Period of Discovery, Exploration, and Settlement: Discovery. — Since De Soto proceeded no farther north than Memphis, the region later to become Kentucky was not discovered until after 1650. The vain search for a river which would lead across to the Pacific brought the European discoverers to Ken- tucky. First among these was the Frenchman, La Salle, in 1669, who, lured on by Indian reports, descended the Allegheny and passed down the Ohio from the Big Sandy to the Falls (Louis- ville). Two years later a representative of England, Captain Batts, who probably entered eastern Kentucky, was sent out by Governor Berkeley of Virginia. Explorations. — After the mere discovery there was a lull of a half century; then there began another period of visits which served to arouse interest in the West and a desire to forestall the French in its occupation. Following up this desire, land com- panies were soon organized in Virginia : the Loyal Company in 1749 sent out an expedition under Dr. Thomas Walker through Cumberland Gap to the Cumberland River near B arbours ville; but this expedition failed and the men returned. In 1750 the Ohio Company sent out an expedition under Christopher Gist, which explored extensively north of the Ohio and then descended the Ohio from the mouth of the Scioto to within fifteen miles of the Falls; here fear of Indians turned the men back to the Kentucky, up which they proceeded to the Yadkin and home. Reports of French encroachments given by Gist to Governor Dinwiddle, led to the dispatch of Washington and Gist to de- mand their withdrawal and opened the French and Indian War, by which France lost her footing in America. Nature and Name. — The Kentucky visited by these pioneers and described by Walker and Gist was of gorgeous beauty, re- markable fertility, and abundance of forest animals — a vast and lonely wilderness with no signs of former habitation save scattered mounds built either by highly civilized Indians or by an exterminated race of whites. It was uninhabited by Indians, ©riA'5JM754 FEB 17 1915 KENTUCKY HISTORY 3 except a few settlements along the Ohio and the Mississippi- but It was fully appreciated by them as hunting ground, and was claimed by the Iroquois on the north, the Shawnees on the west and the Cherokees on the south. From the fierce contests of Indian against Indian and Indian against white, struggling for possession, it was known as ''the Dark and Bloodv Ground" The word Kentucky itself is from the Iroquois Kentucke, meaning the "hunting grounds." ^ Other Explorers, Boone and the '* Long Hunters." - After the treaty of Paris in 1763, George HI issued a proclamation setting apart for the Indians all land between the Alleghany Mountains and the Mississippi, and therefore seeming to stop westward expansion; but Sir William Johnson, a surveyor, managed to open most of Kentucky to white settlers. This gave a new im- petus to exploration and brought in 1769 the first great Kentuck- lan, Daniel Boone, a robust and courageous backwoodsman, whose mission seems to have been found in pioneer leadership He yielded to George Rogers Clark when military leadership was re- quired. Boone came from the banks of the Yadkin in North Caro- hna, possibly in the interest of the Transylvania Company to engage in hunting with John Findlay and four other companions They first pitched camp on the Red River, a branch of the Ken- tucky; but, moving from place to place, Boone and John Stewart became separated from the others, who were kiUed. Boone and Stewart were captured by Indians, but escaped; and when their powder was nearly gone, Daniel's brother Squire arrived with one companion and ammunition. Later, Stewart was killed Squire's companion disappeared, and the two brothers were left in solitude. In May, 1770, Squire returned home for supplies and left Daniel, God's chosen founder of a commonwealth, to roam alone in ''sylvan pleasures." Squire reappeared and thev moved south to the Cumberland, then back to the Kentucky where they chose a site for settlement and left for home in March, 1771 Contemporary with Boone, another party of fortv, led by' James Knox, entered through Cumberland Gap, erected camps in' Wayne, Barren, and Hart counties, and traded pelts to the Spaniards at 4 KENTUCKY HISTORY Natchez. This class of pioneers was aptly named "the long hunters." Surveyors and Point Pleasant. — By treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1768, the EngHsh, through Sir William Johnson, purchased from the Six Nations of the Iroquois all land lying between the Ohio and the Tennessee rivers. This led to land grants and to the influx of a host of surveyors, like Hancock Taylor and John Floyd of Fincastle County, of which Kentucky was a part; Captain Thomas Bullett, surveying for Dr. Connolly at the Falls; John and Levi Todd; the three McAfee brothers, who selected a place for settlement on Salt River; Simon Kenton and James Harrod, who with forty men built cabins at Harrodsburg, but abandoned them before hostile Indians. Governor Dunmore of Virginia had already sent Boone and Michael Stoner to warn the surveyors of hostile Shawnees under Chief Cornstalk in league with the Miamis, Delawares, and Wyan- dots. Many frontiersmen were scalped; others joined General Andrew Lewis and one main division of the army near the mouth of the Great Kanawha. Here at Point Pleasant, Cornstalk fiercely attacked the whites before Governor Dunmore could arrive with the other division of the army, cut down Lewis's brother, Col. Charles Lewis, and Col. Fleming, and threatened to overwhelm the whites, but Lewis, ably assisted by Col. Isaac Shelby, ^executed a flank attack and drove the Indians back to the Scioto. At Camp Charlotte the Shawnees signed a treaty giving up Kentucky. Settlement. — Though some of the foregoing explorations were looking to eventual settlement, no real efforts were made until 1773. On their return home the McAfee brothers met Boone and five other famiHes and forty pioneers coming to settle; but Indians attacked them, killed six, including Boone's son, and the others returned. In 1775, James Harrod returned to Harrodsburg, which became the first permanent settlement. The McAfees came back to Mercer County, and Benjaniin Logan established St. Asaph's or Logan's Station. The two great highways to Kentucky settlement were the Ohio River, which could be more KENTUCKY HISTORY 5 safely navigated after the battle at Point Pleasant, and the "Wilderness Road," built by Boone for the Transyh^ania Company, from Cumberland Gap to Boonesborough. The Transylvania Company, under Col. Richard Henderson, purchased in 1775 at Wataga the title of the last Indian claimants, the Cherokees, and had already prepared for proprietary owner- ship and settlement. But the company was doomed, because proprietary colonies in America were obsolete, Kentucky pioneers were strong individualists, and the Cherokee sale was illegal, since Virginia's charter gave her this land. It had been bought from the Iroquois and conquered from the Shawnees, and the sale violated the King's proclamation of 1763. In April, 1775, Boone erected Kentucky's first defensive fortress at Boones- borough. Henderson soon followed, intending to establish a land office, and was alarmed when he met companies fleeing from renewed Indian attacks. A few returned with him to Boones- borough. Governor Dunmore now issued a proclamation denounc- ing the Transylvania claims; land disputes consequently arose, and to settle these, to prepare for defense, and to legislate for the settlements, Henderson called for twelve delegates represent- ing all the settlements; these met at Boonesborough in ;May, 1775. In this first legislative assembly, Henderson attacked Governor Dunmore, exhibited his title to the land, and secured some legislation, without settling land disputes. The Transyl- vania Company next decided upon its land-grant policy, fixed the price of land, and sent James Hogg to request the Continental Congress to make Transylvania a separate colony. Congress referred him to the Virginia delegation — Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry; and, through Henry's influence, recognition of the company was denied, even after Hogg tried to bribe him into partnership. The independent settlers now sent to the Virginia legislature a statement of the evils and dangers of the company and asked to be taken under state protection. Under necessity of providing defense against the Indians, who had been hostile since the outbreak of the Revolution, and urged by George Rogers Clark, the Virginia Assembly virtually repudiated the company, 6 KENTUCKY HISTORY in December, 1776, by dividing Fincastle County into Washing- ton, Montgomery, and Kentucky counties, the last to have about the bounds of the present state. This gave local government and representation, thereby extending Virginia's jurisdiction over her and taking jurisdiction from the company. Two years later Virginia invahdated the company, but granted the proprietors 200,000 acres of land and legaHzed the titles of their purchasers. Thus Kentucky with her "wild magnificence" had attracted that staunch and sturdy stock of Scotch-Irish, numbering now nearly six hundred, to lay the foundation of the state. They were of pure blood, as they have remained; for immigrants usually stop short of Kentucky or pass far to the West. II. Kentucky during the Revolution : 177^1783 Clark. — George Rogers Clark was the Kentucky hero of the Revolution as the conqueror of the Northwest Territory. When the colonies revolted, the Indians, instigated by England, renewed their attacks. Clark, a native Virginian and famous in Dunmore's war, came to Kentucky in 1774 and was placed over her meager forces. He seemed to see more clearly than any one* else the importance of making Kentucky a buffer state between the In- dians and Virginia. He had secured a representative assembly at Harrodsburg, which had elected him as a delegate to present the case to Virginia. Arriving after the Assembly had adjourned, Clark interviewed Governor Patrick Henry, was presented to the Council, and at once requested a grant of ammunition. Upon their delaying action, a threat of Kentucky independence secured the grant. The old French forts — Kaskaskia, Cahokia, Vincennes, and Detroit — taken by the English in 1763, became strongholds from which Indian raids were encouraged. Against these Clark was eventually to proceed; but first he must secure the powder which had been shipped to Pittsburgh. He transported it, pursued by Indians, down the Ohio to the vicinity of Maysville, hid it, and KENTUCKY HISTORY 7 started to Harrodsburg for help. He returned and routed the Indians and took the powder to Harrodsburg and distributed it. Incidentally Clark brought some twenty families down the Ohio, and they founded Louisvnlle. Indian Fighting. — Up to 1777, Indian fighting had been done by individuals or by small companies; but now Indian organiza- tion necessitated larger bands of whites. Col. Henry Hamilton, the cruel British commander of Detroit, incited the Indians to barbarous warfare and rewarded them according to the number of scalps they returned. Hamilton's plan was to capture all Kentucky, to give it back to the Indians, and to open Virginia to Indian raids. Harrodsburg was to be attacked first, but James Ray, alone surviving from a surveying party, warned the fort of the approach of Chief Blackfish. The attack was made, but the trick of firing a cabin failed to draw the whites out, and the Indians withdrew against Boonesborough, where they failed, and then against Logan's Fort, where they killed one man and wounded one. The Indians then settled to besiege the fort. When the siege was raised, Hamilton placed upon the dead body of a fallen American a proclamation offering pardon to all who would swear allegiance to the King and threatening vengeance to others. Hamilton's purpose failed, but he reduced the population of Kentucky to about two hundred. Clark was convinced that he must strike at the heart of the trouble and sent spies to the British forts. They reported that they could be taken, especially since the French of the ''Illinois Country" were friendly. Clark went again to Virginia to enlist state aid, which Henry and Jefferson encouraged, and the Council soon granted seven companies, with secret instructions to attack the forts. Jefferson also held out a hope of land rewards to Clark's followers. The good wishes of the nation were his. Boone and Boonesborough. — While Clark was enlisting men, Boone, who was making salt at Blue Licks, was captured and taken to Chillicothe, where he heard the Indians plan another attack on Boonesborough for June, 177S. Boone escaped and foretold the attack, which came in August under Duquesne 8 KENTUCKY HISTORY and Blackfish, who demanded surrender. Boone refused; then Duquesne tried a cunning ruse of having two Indians shake hands with each white, while treating, in order to take them away by force. This failed, and a nine days' siege began. Undermining and burning were attempted and failed; and finally they left Boonesborough never to return. In May, 1778, Clark reached the Falls, got one company of Kentucky miUtia with Simon Kenton, and made known that Kaskaskia was their goal. On July 4, after a weary march, he reached Kaskaskia, and took it during the night. Clark next sent Captain Bowman to take Cahokia, which he did. These now became American strongholds, called Forts Clark and Bow- man, and were manned partly by Frenchmen who were apprised of our alliance with France. Kenton was dispatched with tidings to the Falls, by way of Vincennes, to investigate. He reported the garrison nearly all friendly Frenchmen, and that it would be easy to take. Clark sent Father Gibault as his agent, and the fort voluntarily surrendered. Clark began negotiations with the Indians; but when "the hair buyer" Hamilton heard of the fall of Vincennes, he prepared and retook it. The heroic Clark de- cided to take his 170 men for a winter march of 170 miles, through lands drowned in water breast deep. He arrived on February 24, 1779; Hamilton surrendered to his bold summons, and Vincennes became Fort Patrick Henry. Clark's brilliant campaign secured to America the Northwest Territory, and to Kentucky more peaceful settlement; but left to England Detroit, Oswego, Macki- naw, and Niagara, from which they were to incite Indians until 1796. In 1779, Lexington, named from the first battle of the Revolu- tion, was settled; and there followed a distressingly hard winter, brightened only by the beginning of a school at Boonesborough. A land office was established, and immigration vastly increased. To stop scattered Indian invasions, Clark, under the advice of Jefferson and Henry, had begun a fort at the mouth of the Ohio; but deserted it in the face of 600 Indians led by Colonel Byrd, who in June, 1780, captured Ruddle's and Martin's stations. KENTUCKY HISTORY g cmuref rh-,r'",f 'f ' ""■ ''"' ^'P^""^^' '"^ Clark followed, Indhn .^'^f <=°"^^' ''^^^^'^^^d f« and wide, and ended seriou Indian raids for two years. EstiU's Defeat. -The next coalition embraced the Shawnees Cherokees, and Wyandots north and west, backed by the British' Its purpose was to send pillaging expeditions in every direction and follow m full force. One of the Wyandot parties while passing Boonesborough, drew Col. James Estill from near Rich- mond into serious defeat near Mt. Sterling. The large force followed under Captains Caldwell and McKee and the renegade Simon Girty. It reached Bryan's Station in August, 178., and tried deception by advancing a small party; but the men quietly prepared for a siege, and the women heroically brought a supply of water. The besiegers feared reinforcements for the Kentuck lans, and prepared to depart; but Girty made a final effort to secure surrender by pretense of British aid and cannons. Aaron Reynolds boldly answered him, and the Indians retired torturing plundering, and burning. A council of war decided that Col John Todd should pursue, without waiting for Logan's reinforce- ments. The Indians were overtaken at the Licking River where Major McGary rashly jumped into the river and led the Ken- tuckians to a disastrous loss of seventy men, including their leader Col. Logan soon arrived with 400 men, and others gathered from Jefferson, Lincoln, and Fayette counties, into which Kentucky County had been divided. They avenged the tragedy by again invading the Miami country and destroying so extensively as to prevent further serious invasions of Kentucky. By this time news of Yorktown had arrived and preliminaries of peace were signed. After final peace, Indian raids continued to emanate from the Northwest forts of the English ; but in stopping formi- dable mvasions Clark had securely founded a commonwealth. III. Separation from Virgiuia and Admission: The tedious struggle for independence from \-irginia. involving the work of ten conventions, was the first great trial for 30,00^ lo KENTUCKY HISTORY inhabitants of the District of Kentucky, which had been formed in 1783. The mutual failure of America and England to fulfill their treaty brought trouble. England declined to surrender the forts on the refusal of some states to pay debts to her citizens; and the brutal massacres of whites by the Indians could not cease with England ready to incite them. Spain and France wanted to limit the western boundaries of the United States to the Alle- ghany Mountains and the Ohio River; but they were frustrated by Jay and Adams. Spain, which owned Florida, continued to claim the navigation of the Mississippi. Three countries, then, had their secret agents trying to detach the West. Wilkinson. — In 1784, there came to Lexington representing a Philadelphia mercantile company. Brigadier- General James Wilkinson, with courage, winning manners, and eloquence, but of questionable patriotism. Circumstances in the District, in- creased population, and isolation made a desire for independence natural. Danger of Indian invasion, which fortunately did not occur, furnished the basis of the demand. Col. Logan was warned that both the Cherokees and the Miamis were planning to attack. To meet the emergency, Logan called a meeting of military offi- cers in November, 1784, at Danville, which had been founded the year before. Here it developed that the helpless Congress had expressed itself for peace with the Indians, and the best it would do was to permit the Kentuckians to defend themselves. Since Kentucky was a part of Virginia, she could not defend her- self until attacked. The meeting, therefore, recommended the election of one delegate from each militia company to consider independence. The Independence Conventions. — Here begins a seemingly endless series of conventions strongly desiring independence, which neither Congress nor Virginia opposed, and which nevertheless could not be gained. The first convention met at Danville on December 27, 1784, and decided for strictly legal separation, petitioning Virginia and Congress. This system was followed by all the others. It requested the calling of a second convention in May, 1785, embodying the desi're for independence, for state- KENTUCKY HISTORY „ a'dirfo'r ;;":'.^:"-"''- - August, x;85, and an arden address to the District wruten by Wilkinson. Vague rumors were coming that Congress was considering abandoning the navigation of the Mississippi for twenty-five years. wZsln representing Fayette County in the third convention, prcureda S a"ndV >' \r" ^"''"''^' '"'''''^'y demanding sepat on and Judge Muter and Attorney Innis were elected to present act' SeVr? ;'^ ^rr''^ P^=^^^ "^^ «-' "-^'S SberTi t .^ ?"" ^^" "" f""""^ ~"^-^i- i" Sep tember, 1786, to see whether independence was the will of the people, and provided she would assume part of the state debt and not disturb land titles. If these terms were accep e t shtid fix a date prior to September z, 1787, for Virginia's au hority o enabling act - conditions fair enough for all except extremists- but the red tape involved gave Wilkinson in his campaign S let, t Tf'" ' ^'^^"^'^ '° "S^ '"""^diate sepafation legal or megal. Humphrey MarshaU was his opponent; and her^ originated the Court and Country parties. fh.^ w"K*t ^""^f "' "'"'' aggressive, and Clark was sent against he Wabash tribes, and Logan against the Sha^vnees. £ogan succeeded; but the renowned Clark, deserted by his men, failed So many of the members-elect of the fourth convention were volunteers that there was no quorum; but in January, 1787 a quorum came together and Virginia was asked to alter her condi- Teli " ?l'' J"^'" ''^^^■^^" P^^-"''"g *e petition. Virginia answered by passing the second "enabling act,'' fixing January i, 1789, for separation and prior to Julv 4, 1789, for the acceptance by Congress. Antipathy aroused toward Virginia was increased by Wilkinson, by Virginia's order for judicial pro- ceedings against Logan's brother for attacking some Tennessee Indians at peace with the nation, and by the official censure of Uark and Logan. But still a solid majority stood for law The Spanish Conspiracy. - Spain once had tl,e best chance to own the American continent. She still had hopes of usina the navigation of the Mississippi as a lever to force from us the lion'I 12 KENTUCKY HISTORY share. In 1787 news came from Pittsburgh that Secretary of State John Jay, underrating the West, had advised Congress to give up Mississippi navigation for twenty-five years for commer- cial advantages from Spain to the North. The seven Northern states voted for it, the six Southern ones against it, nine states being required to pass it. Jay, however, made the proposition to Don Gardoqui, the Spanish minister; and the result in Ken- tucky was hatred of Jay and distrust of Congress, since Kentucky's future hinged on this navigation. A circular letter from Brown, Innis, Muter, and Sebastian called for a convention against it; but excitement passed with the action of Congress and the con- vention adjourned. The fifth independence convention met in September, 1787, and John Brown was sent as delegate to Congress with a petition that December 31, 1788, should be the separation date; but the petition was delayed until February, 1788, and got httle attention because of the fight for adoption of the new Constitution for the United States, which Kentucky very much opposed. The old Congress eventually refused it consideration; and this again made Virginia's terms impossible. Wilkinson did not meet this con- vention. Freighted with tobacco and wishing to replenish his treasury and prove the benefit of Spanish trade concessions, he went to New Orleans, interviewed Governor Miro, sold his goods at immense profit, and returned in a stately coach, with private trading privileges, but with a reputation for having attempted to barter away Kentucky to Spain for the gratification of his own greed. The sixth convention met in July, 1788, to form the state con- stitution; but at this time came Brown's report, entirely blaming Congress, and Brown, together with Innis and Sebastian, joined the Courl^ party, deep in intrigue with Gardoqui to transfer Ken- tucky to Spain. The convention passed a resolution providing for the seventh convention for November, 1788, and adjourned. In the elections the tension was strong, and George Muter exer- cised a profound influence for the moderate Country party, forcing Wilkinson to withdraw some of his pro-Spanish views and agree KENTUCKY HISTORY 13 to represent the voters. As the strength of the parties was almost equal in the convention, Wilkinson urged Spain's offers, openly advocated separation from the Union, and strongly hinted at annexation to Spain. The turn came when the convention, distrustful of Congress, showed that it was wholly loyal to the Union. The English Conspiracy. — The Virginia Assembly passed a third "enabling act," providing for an eighth convention for July, 1789, to accept the act and then call a constitutional con- vention. The pioneer John Connolly appeared, ostensibly to look after his land at Louisville, but really to induce Kentucky to join England. His reception was cold, and he dropped the scheme. The eighth convention objected to the land restrictions of the third "enabling act," and the Assembly passed a fourth "enabling act," dropping them. The ninth convention met in July, 1790, accepted terms, fixed June i, 1792, for separation, and called a tenth convention to write the constitution. On February 4, 1791, Congress, after a cordial promise of protection from Indians, passed her "enabHng act"; and thus Kentucky, marked off by nature from Virginia, was next year admitted into the Union with a population of 75,000. Col. Isaac Shelby, of King's Mountain renown, was elected governor — an excellent choice. Universal suffrage and representation according to popu- lation existed. IV. The State's Crucial Period : iyg2-i8i2 Indians Again. — Jay made his proposition to Congress about 1786. Bands of Indians, backed by the British, still ravaged and beset the Ohio and the Wilderness Road. In 1790, the Fed- eral Government, carrying out its promise of protection, put General Harmar in command of 320 regulars and 11 00 Kentucky volunteers; but, through bad generalship, he was completely defeated on the Maumee by Little Turtle and the Miamis. Ken- tuckians petitioned Secretary of War Knox to entrust their defense to no more regulars and were answered by permission to appoint 14 KENTUCKY HISTORY a local board of war. General Scott was at its head, and Shelby, Innis, Logan, and Brown were members. These, with the com- mander of the regulars, had power over the militia for defense and offense. Knox next appointed General St. Clair commander of the regulars, an appointment so unpopular that Kentuckians refused to volunteer and had to be drafted. An independent expedition against the Wabash under Scott and Wilkinson had been very successful. St. Clair reached a branch of the Wabash; but nearly all the militia had deserted, and the result was another disaster to dishearten the Americans and embolden the Indians. ''Mad Anthony" Wayne succeeded St. Clair in the Northwest in 1793, with 1600 volunteers, and was joined by 1000 miHtia drafted by Governor Shelby and placed under Scott. In August, 1794, at Fallen Timbers on the Maumee, under the shadow of a British fort which had supplied the Indians, Wayne, by excellent strategy, won an overwhelming victory which caused better feeling upon the part of the Kentuckians toward the nation, and brought peace with the Indians till the eve of the War of 181 2. Genet. — In 1793 England and France had gone to war; and in America, especially in Kentucky, which was strongly anti- Federal from the first, popular sympathy was with France, our ally, and against England, the ally of the Indians. Washington wisely proclaimed neutrality; but "Citizen" Genet, who had just arrived at Charleston from France to enlist seamen, learned that four causes — failure to secure Mississippi navigation, the Federal excise tax, failure of protection from Indians, and Jay's ministry to England — made Kentucky distrustful of the Federal Government. He sent four agents, chief of whom were Lachaise and Depeau, to Kentucky to enHst 2000 men by promises of land, and to take New Orleans for France. Clark was secured as commander and Jefferson seems to have encouraged the plan. Washington wrote to Governor Shelby strongly urging suppression of the expedition at all costs ; but Shelby showed sympathy for it by pretending ignorance of it and saying that he was powerless to stop it until it was under way. Genet was fortunately recalled by France, and this crisis passed. KENTUCKY HISTORY 15 Treaties with England and Spain. — The year 1795 was a turning point in Kentucky's history. The hated Chief Justice Jay signed a wise treaty with England, securing the surrender of the Northwest forts. It was, nevertheless, unpopular with Ken- tuckians, who had hoped to fight England. The same year, Thomas Pinckney formed a treaty with Spain which secured free navigation of the Mississippi and a port of deposit in New Orleans. Pending this treaty, another conspiracy was entered to disjoin Kentucky from the Union. Making use of Kentucky's commercial interests, Carondelet, the Spanish governor of Louisi- ana, sent Thomas Power to Judge Sebastian to arrange for him a conference with Gayoso; but news of the treaty broke off the negotiations, which were again renewed in 1797. Sebastian was paid $100,000 and an annual pension of $2,000 until 1806. Wilkin- son, now general at Detroit, was tempted; but he received Power coldly. Kentucky proved stronger for liberty than for temporary gain. The Kentucky Resolutions. — In 1796, John Adams was elected President and James Garrard the second governor of Kentucky. Adams was a Federalist; and the fast-growing Democratic-Re- publican party, led by the able Jefferson, was making his position difficult. The Federalists had but to blunder to be ruined, and the blunder soon came. France was deeply offended at Jay's treaty with England, our ministers to France had been grossly mistreated. Frenchmen in America might repeat the Genet affair, and Democratic writers were abusing the Federalists. To stop these, the Federalists raised the naturalization requirement to fourteen years; the Alien Act gave the President power of im- prisonment or expulsion of treasonable aliens; the Sedition Act forbade, under penalty of fine and imprisonment, any person doing, saying, or writing anything derogatory to Federal officials. Jefferson contended that these laws were a clear violation of the Constitution, moving toward monarchy, and the opinion was pretty generally shared. Governor Garrard fiercely denounced them and Kentucky supported him. Young Henry Clay, just arrived in Lexington, made his first Kentucky speech against i6 KENTUCKY HISTORY them. Jefferson seized this opportunity, drafted the Kentucky Resolutions, and entrusted them to John C. Breckinridge to submit to the Kentucky legislature. They passed and the gov- ernor approved them November ii, 1798. Their substance is that the Union is a compact of sovereign states, and that when Congress passes laws destructive of the Union or limiting the liberties of any state, it is the right and duty of that state to declare them unconstitutional and demand their repeal; but not that a single state may nullify them. The controversy brought Jefferson to power in 1800 and initiated the doctrine of States' Rights, which some of the states both North and South made use of later, — although all except Virginia refused to concur at this time. Louisiana Purchase, 1803. — In 1799, a new and more demo- cratic constitution was written for Kentucky. In 1801, Jefferson became President; and Louisiana passed back to France by secret treaty. Two years later Morales, the Spanish governor still in charge, suspended our right of merchandise deposit in New Orleans. James Monroe was sent to France to treat for a deposit base. Napoleon, who had broken the truce of Amiens and re- entered war with England, proposed to sell all Louisiana for $15,000,000; and Jefferson wisely deserted his "strict construc- tion" doctrine and made the purchase. Kentuckians were over- whelmed with joy. Burr's Conspiracy, 1806. — The navigation question, the nucleus of so many dark conspiracies, was at this time forever settled, but not without another plot. Aaron Burr had been beaten for the presidency, and Hamilton had kept him from the governorship of New York — for which Burr had killed him in a duel. Deserted by anti-Federalists and detested by Federalists he came to Kentucky, passed on to New Orleans and back. The other conspirators were Wilkinson, at St. Louis, and Blenner- hassett, a wealthy Irishman, on an island in the Ohio. The scheme was to capture an indefinite amount of Spanish territory on the Gulf, as much as could be taken west of the AUeghanies, make New Orleans the capital, Burr a pseudo-Napoleon, and the KENTUCKY HISTORY 17 other conspirators officers. Doubtless Burr was guilty, for ex- tensive preparations were discovered; but he was prosecuted by a Federalist attorney, Daveiss, and defended by Clay, which, together with his popularity, secured his acquittal. V. Kentucky in War : 181 2- 18 ij Tecumseh and the Prophet. — In 1S09, General Charles Scott succeeded Governor Greenup in Kentucky, and James Madison became President. In 181 1, the Wabash Indians, goaded on again by the British, formed an extensive league and made a determined stand; but General Harrison, ably assisted by Ken- tuckians, dealt them a decisive blow at Tippecanoe. England's encouragement of the Indians, her robbery of our vessels at sea, and her impressment of our seamen were fast leading us into another war with her. Kentucky's Part. — If ever it could be said that a single man caused a war, it could probably be said that Clay in Congress caused that of 181 2, and he laid the plans to capture Canada and stop the Indians. If ever it could be said that a single state won a war, that state was Kentucky in the War of 181 2. Smoldering hatred of England was long-standing; and Kentucky's volunteers nearly doubled the number called for all through the struggle. Detroit, Frenchtown, and River Raisin. — Before Kentuckians could reach the scene of action, news came of the disgraceful surrender of Hull at Detroit, involving the loss of all the Michigan Territory and opening the way for renewed Indian attacks. Gov- ernor Scott at once appointed William Henry Harrison, who was governor of Indiana Territory, as major-general of the Kentucky mihtia. President Madison also appointed him major-general in the regular army to operate in the Northwest, and he began rapidly to regain lost ground. He first raised the siege of Ft. Wayne on the IVIaumee, and ravaged the Indian country nearby. By January i, 1813, General Winchester was at the rapids of the Maumee with 1,500 men and Harrison was at Fort Sandusky with 2,500, To Winchester came the report that less than forty miles i8 KENTUCKY HISTORY away at Frenchtown, on the river Raisin, were established about i,ooo Canadians and Indians, About 700 Kentucky militiamen were detached under Colonel Lewis to take Frenchtown, which they promptly did on January 18. General Winchester hastened thither; and, by an absolute lack of military strategy, he allowed Proctor to bring 2,000 British and Indians from Maiden and crush him, on January 22. In spite of heroic effort, the whole force was compelled to surrender. The prisoners were taken to Maiden, while^the wounded were left practically unguarded at Frenchtown; and drunken Indians made ''River Raisin" memorable by shoot- ing and scalping or burning the last one of them. Fort Meigs, Lake Erie, Thames, and New Orleans. — General Shelby, again governor, burning for revenge, called for more volunteers and got a liberal response. At the mouth of the Mau- mee General Harrison had constructed Fort Meigs, which was now besieged. A detachment from the command of General Green Clay, under Colonel Dudley, was ordered to cross the river to the north side and silence the British batteries, and it suc- ceeded; but misunderstanding the orders, it pursued too far, was captured and horribly massacred. The Kentuckians under Clay forced the raising of the siege of Fort Meigs. Governor Shelby now took the field in person, and reached General Harrison just when Perry's well-known victory which opened up Lake Erie had been achieved. Perry was ably assisted by 150 Ken- tucky volunteers who engaged in the thrilling short-range duel. Haxrison quickly embarked his army upon Lake Erie, and, heed- ing Shelby's advice, hurriedly pursued Proctor, overtaking him on the river Thames, where a force made up almost exclusively of Kentuckians won the decisive battle, killed Tecumseh, and ended the war in the Northwest. Kentuckians, constituting about a fifth of Jackson's force at New Orleans and gallantly fighting in the center, also played a decisive part in that memo- rable but useless battle. KENTUCKY HISTORY 19 VI. Political and Financial History and Panic : 1815-1837 Financial Facts. — In 1806 was chartered the state's first real bank, the Bank of Kentucky, with vSi, 000,000 capital. This was at first a sound institution, and not even the destruction of commerce or the national debt caused by the War of 181 2 meant very serious distress in Kentucky. In 1816, at Governor Madi- son's death, Gabriel Slaughter, the lieutenant-governor, after a sharp contest, became governor. His administration is marked by the Federal purchase from the Chickasaws, through com- missioners Shelby and Andrew Jackson, of the territory between the Tennessee and Mississippi rivers, known as the Jackson Pur- chase (18 1 8). This period was also marked by financial disaster. Any distrust of banks that might formerly have existed seems to have been discarded by the legislature of 181 7-18 18, which chartered forty-six banks to meet the new commercial demands arising from steamship transportation, from factories, and from our control of the Mississippi. Their fatal feature was that the banks were not forced to redeem their notes in specie, but could redeem them in notes of the Bank of Kentucky. The natural result was the overissue of paper currency, wild speculation, depreciation of the notes, and ruin. The National Bank itself helped on the failure of the Bank of Kentucky. The legislature of 1819-1S20 repealed these bank charters. Relief and Anti-Relief Parties. — These two parties were the outgrowth of the consequent suffering. They were bitterly arrayed against each other in 1820, when the Relief party elected General John Adair governor, and most of their other candidates. Legislative relief was at once attempted, first by chartering the Bank of the Commonwealth (again with fatal lack of necessary specie redemption), and secondly, when these notes had greatly depreciated and creditors refused them in payment, the legis- lature provided the debtor with a two years' replevin; that is, the creditor had to accept the paper money or get nothing for two years. Test cases soon got into the circuit courts of the 20 KENTUCKY HISTORY state, where the replevin law was declared unconstitutional; and, upon appeal in 1823 to the Court of Appeals, it upheld their deci- sions. But the voters of 1824 again stood by the Relief party, against the just decision of the courts, and elected Joseph Desha governor and most of the legislature. This legislature first at- tempted to remove the judges of the Court of Appeals, and upon failure, they passed an act to repeal the act creating it and organ- ized a New Court of Appeals. But the old court continued, and the respective adherents came to be called New Court and Old Court parties. By 1826 the Old Court (Anti-ReHef) party had prevailed and the New Court was abolished. Panic of 1837. — In 1824, Henry Clay, who had already risen to national renown as champion of the Missouri Compromise, was one of the four candidates for President. When the election devolved upon the House, Clay temporarily lost favor in Ken- tucky by electing J. Q. Adams over Jackson, who was the popular choice. In 1825, the aged hero LaFayette was most enthusiasti- cally received as a visitor of Kentucky. In 1828, the Clay- Adams party came to be known as the National Republicans, and in the same year the Jacksonian party became the Democrats; and Kentuckians quietly ranged themselves with one of the two, with their weight slightly in favor of the Democrats at first, but soon with the National Republicans who held sway till the Civil War. In 1832, Jackson vetoed the bill for the recharter of the National Bank; and there was passed a new tariff law. South Carolina declared for single-state nullification, and Clay compromised the matter. In short, in statesmanship, education, science, and art it was a great day for Kentucky. But the thing of outstanding importance centers around the financial problem. As early as the catastrophe of 181 7 Kentucky, as well as the nation, had adopted the policy of internal improvements. Roads, turnpikes, river improvements, and later railroads were begun on an exten- sive scale in state and nation; and these not being completed so as to bring returns before the plentiful paper money issued by "pet banks" had hopelessly depreciated, one of the greatest financial shocks that we have ever sustained struck state and KENTUCKY HISTORY 21 nation alike in 1837; and we did not recover from it before 1845. VII. Texas, Mexico, and the War : 1837-1848 Kentucky and Texas. — By 1834, the National Republican party had become more consolidated under Clay's influence and had changed its name to the Whigs. Clay and his party had also regained influence in Kentucky, as is shown by the regular election of a Whig governor — James Clark in 1836, Robert P. Letcher in 1840, Judge William Owsley in 1844, and J. J. Crittenden in 1848. But again local politics must be passed over for Kentucky's part in the greater struggle for Texas. The purchase of Louisiana gave us a claim to Texas, but at the Florida Purchase of 18 19 we gave up the claim to Spain, much against Clay's will; and in 182 1, when Mexico, taking advantage of Spain's troubles at home, in the same manner as did Central and South American republics, won her independence from Spain, Texas became a Mexican province. Mexico adopted the policy of keeping it uninhabited; but very soon large numbers of Americans from the slave-holding states, with liberal contingents of Kentuckians and Tennesseeans, began to take advantage of national land grants, given especially under Jackson, and poured into Texas. Mexico's repressive measures soon stirred these new Texans to revolt; and, after a few disasters of the type of the Alamo, the Texans, aided by volunteers from many states, and especially from Tennessee and Kentucky, struck the decisive blow at San Jacinto and gained their independence. Annexation of Texas and the Mexican War. — The new slave- holding republic at once sought admission into our Union; but there was a strong anti-slavery opposition in our country and the question did not come to a head until the "Polk and Texas, Clay and no Texas" campaign of 1844. Polk was elected, and even before his inauguration Tyler approved the annexation bill. Not- withstanding the fact that Kentucky had from the first been a slave-holding state. Clay had opposed the annexation of Texas 22 KENTUCKY HISTORY because it would mean an extension of slave-holding territory. This was the unpopular attitude in Kentucky and one that was shared by very few public men; but one man, Cassius M. Clay, who at Yale had fallen under the influence of William Lloyd Garrison, boldly took an even stronger stand — for abolition. Henry Clay had also argued that the annexation of Texas meant the annexation of a war with her enemy, Mexico; and his prophecy at once came true when Texas requested help from the President. Congress declared war in 1846, and the President called for 43,500 volunteers. Kentucky had supported Clay against the annexa- tion; but the war spirit was easily stirred and it was increased to enthusiasm when the President appointed three Kentuckians to prominent positions in the army — Zachary Taylor major- general of the regulars, and William O. Butler major-general and Thomas Marshall brigadier-general of volunteers. At Governor Owsley's call, therefore, more than a fifth of all the volunteers requested from the states came from Kentucky, along with num- bers of able officers who were here trained for the Civil War. Kentucky's part in the fighting began at Monterey in Septem- ber, 1846, and we are not surprised that the Kentuckians '^ dis- played obedience, patience, discipline, and courage." One fifth of the Americans at Buena Vista, February 23, 1847, were Ken- tuckians; and again they courageously assisted in decisively defeating almost five times their number — the turning point of the war. Victory came, however, at the expense to Kentucky of many brave soldiers and of Colonel McKee and Lieutenant- Colonel Clay, son of Henry. A few Kentuckians also did valiant service for General Scott in his Vera Cruz-Mexico City campaign. The funeral ceremony held at Frankfort for the Kentucky officers who fell at Buena Vista was a solemn affair; and later the unveil- ing of their monument, attended by a vast throng, furnished the theme of the native Kentuckian Theodore O'Hara's touching verse, ''The Bivouac of the Dead." KENTUCKY HISTORY 23 VIII. Clay and Slavery in State and Nation : 184S-1860 Slavery Overshadows AU. — In 1849, Kentucky's third consti- tution was written, its most important change being a provision for the election of judges. It is noteworthy that it also provided for the retention of slaves, of whom there were in Kentucky more than 200,000, or nearly a fourth of the population. In 1849, also, an emancipation convention met in Frankfort, but resulted in nothing. The American Colonization Society had been in exist- ence for a half century, and Clay, the champion of gradual eman- cipation, had long been its president; but it had succeeded only in founding, by colonization, the negro republic of Liberia, West Africa. There had been landmarks in slavery history before; but by 1848 the abolitionists of the North and Cassius M. Clay's abolition doctrine in his True American in Kentucky were driving people to take a stand on one side or the other; and Kentucky herself was becoming strongly pro-slavery. Slavery, in short, had begun to dominate American politics; and the result is seen in the break-up of the Whigs and a shake-up in the Democratic party. The Northern Whigs and some Northern Democrats went, in 1854, into the new Republican party, organized expressly to prevent further extension of slavery, while the Democrats came to be more consohdated in the South and absorbed a number of pro-slavery Whigs. Parties came to be much more sectional; and slavery was the nucleus around which all the differences of North against South, such as views on the tariff and interpreta- tion of the Federal constitution, clustered. Results of these changes are seen in the election of the Democratic candidate, Lazarus W. Powell, governor, in 185 1, and Franklin Pierce, Demo- crat, President, the next year. With the later stages of slavery we are not here concerned; but it must be remembered that Kentucky was for slavery, yet strongly for Union, and, while she accepted the results of the Civil War, she did not believe in the manner of Federal emancipation of slaves. She was, therefore, one of the last states in the Union 24 KEXTUCKY HISTORY to give up her slaves, opposing successively Lincoln's Emanci- pation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment which freed the slave, the Fourteenth which made him a citizen, and the Fif- teenth which gave him the franchise. Clay and the Omnibus Bill. — In 1848, gold had been discov- ered in California, and the vast region just acquired from Mexico began to be settled. California miners were whites. When she reached, therefore, the required number of people for admission, she naturally sought admission as a free state. But it was a life and death struggle for the South, and she bitterly opposed Cali- fornia's admission as a free state. ''The Great Commoner" now became ''The Great Pacificator" by coming forward for a third time with a compromise which at least delayed bloodshed. Every important clause of the Compromise of 1850 had to do in some way with slavery. The most important provisions were: Cali- fornia was to be admitted free; the doctrine of popular or "squat- ter" sovereignty was to be appUed to Xew Mexico and Utah; the slave trade (not slavery) was to be abolished in the District of Columbia; and a more stringent fugitive slave law (than the one of 1793) was to be passed. Violations of this last clause by Northern states, through the "underground railways" by which they helped slaves to escape into Canada and "personal liberty laws" which sixteen of them passed, were very similar to nullification of laws of Congress and they hurried on the war. The passage of these measures was the last great work of the most illustrious Kentuckian, who died in 1852 with his great compeers, Calhoun and Webster. He had a public career which wiQ compare favorably with that of any .\merican. He had been a distinguished orator and lawyer. United States Senator, repeat- edly foreign ambassador, author of the "American System" (of tariff), of the gradual emancipation doctrine, and of three great compromises. Thrice a candidate for President, he failed of election only because he held unfortunate \'iews and was too honest to desert them. He left in Kentucky many strong men, two of the ablest being J. C. Breckinridge, who was elected Vice- KENTUCKY HISTORY 25 President in 1856, and J. J. Crittenden, successor to Clay's prin- ciples, soon in the United States Senate. EX. Our State's Part in the Civil War: 1861-1865 A Divided State and Nation. — Our most awful tragedy was now to pass over state and nation for four years. In the nation it was mainly a sectional division, but in Kentucky the division was all-inclusive — executive against legislative, the legislature itself divided, thirty able generals in the opposing armies, soldiers on each side, even famihes separated in opinion — all was division. The two great sectional leaders, Lincoln and Davis, were native Kentuckians. After a term's supremacy of the Know-Nothing party, under Charles S. Morehead, the Democratic party again came into power in 1859, by the election of a majority in the legis- lature and Beriah Magofl&n, governor. The old Whig party had first drifted into the "Opposition" and later, though somewhat divided, had become the Union party. Kentucky for Union. — Abraham Lincoln was the leader of the Republican party, which arose to prevent the extension of slavery. His election, therefore, in i860 was the occasion for secession of eleven Southern states. Crittenden in the United States Senate had offered a series of Amendments in the interest of peace, but they were rejected. Early in 1861, the Border States had pro- posed essentially the same plan, known as the Crittenden Com- promise, but again they failed. On January 17, 1861, Governor Magoffin called a special session of the legislature and recom- mended calling a convention to decide the state's course; mean- while he urged the state to arm. But a convention might mean secession, and the Union party, strongly led by Crittenden, exerted a powerful influence and prevented the convention. After a peace conference of representatives from twenty-one states at Washington, the legislature, which had heard both sides of the question argued by Crittenden and Breckinridge, declared against a convention; and its decision was approved by a clear majority 26 KENTUCKY HISTORY of the people. When Fort Sumter fell in April, 1861, and Lincoln called upon Kentucky for volunteers, Magoffin emphatically and defiantly refused; and he soon refused also the call from the Con- federacy. Many State Rights men or Democrats were urging secession, while some radical Union men were urging war; but the legislature at another called session, in May, 1861, adopted what was essentially Crittenden's plan of armed mediating neutrality, and Governor Magoffin issued a proclamation to that effect. This was supported at the June election to Congress and the August election to the General Assembly by the election of over- whelming majorities of Union men. Neutrality Broken : First Invasion. — But government edicts cannot always control the wills of private individuals. In Ohio and Indiana, Federal Camps Clay and Joe Holt, opposite Newport and LouisviUe, respectively, had been estabhshed; and just across the southern border in Tennessee appeared Confederate Camp Boone, near Clarksville, Camp Burnett, and others. Soon there were recruiting camps within the borders, in Garrard County, Camp Dick Robinson for Federals, and in Owen County, General Marshall recruited Confederates. There was no way to prevent thousands of the best men of Kentucky from enrolling where sympathy led them. The Confederates thought neutrality had already been broken, and on September 3, General Polk occupied Columbus and General ZoUicoffer invaded by way of Cumberland Gap. General Grant at once occupied Paducah for the Federals. The legislature raised the Federal flag over the capitol and passed resolutions demanding the withdrawal of Confederates. Gov- ernor Magoffin vetoed them and they were promptly passed over his veto. Neutrality was soon entirely abandoned; and the next year Governor Magoffin, out of accord with the legislature, gra- ciously resigned. During the first invasion. Bowling Green under General A. S. Johnston was Confederate headquarters. The chief state battles were Wild Cat Mountain, near London, Ivy Moun- tain, Middle Creek, and Mill Springs; and just across in Ten- nessee the fall of Forts Henry and Donelson to Grant forced the Confederates to evacuate Kentucky. KENTUCKY HISTORY 27 The Second Confederate Invasion. —At Shiloh, Vicksburg, and almost every other great battle the bravest of Kentuckians were sacrificed, probably 100,000 taking service with the Union army and 40,000 with the Confederates. In July, 1862, General Morgan's daring cavalry raids from Lexington presaged the second invasion; and General E. K. Smith entered Kentucky through Big Creek Gap, fought the successful battle of Richmond, and joined Morgan at Lexington. But the important campaign was the mad race of Bragg from Chattanooga and Buell from near Nashville for Louisville, Buell winning the race and turning to engage Bragg in the important Federal victory at Perryville. Bragg retreated, picked up General Smith at Harrodsburg, and left the state; and henceforth Kentucky was disturbed only by raiders. Prospects of Confederate victory at about this time, together with Lincoln's unpopular emancipation project, enlist- ment of negro soldiers, oppressive military governors, interfering with civil law, together with Federal devastating raids had caused a new wave of Confederate enthusiasm; but Kentucky managed to stand ofiicially by the Union until the welcome end in April 1865. X. Since the Civil War : i865-igi5 Readjustments. — When peace was returned, the Conservative Unionists, who were still in control of the legislature, at once repealed all laws hostile to Confederates, and Governor Bramlette issued a general pardon. Finances had been ably handled and Kentucky felt less distress than most other states. In November, 1866, nine Democratic congressmen were elected; and in the August elections, in 1867, the state showed its disapproval of the national administration's measures by electing the Liberal Union or Democratic ticket, with J. L. Helm governor, by a vast major- ity over candidates of the Radical Union (Republican) and Con- servative Union parties. The Conservative Union party merged mainly with the Democrats and the ex-Confederate soldiers returned to the franchise, putting this party in supremacy until 28 KENTUCKY HISTORY 1895. The Freedmen's Bureau of 1865 was unpopular in Ken- tucky; and by 1870 the negro was an enfranchised citizen. The Ku Klux IQan, at first a respectable organization which sought to prevent excesses of the Freedmen's Bureau and of Carpet-bag government, soon degraded into committing all kinds of horrible acts leaving lingering evils; but Governor Leslie soon secured its suppression. Panic and the Awakening. — In 1873, there came the severest panic in all our history, but again Kentucky escaped as lightly as could have been hoped. In the same year there was established a State Geological Survey, with Prof. N. S. Shaler of Harvard at its head. It lasted until 1892, and under his able direction, the vast mineral wealth of Kentucky began to be disclosed. In 1 87 5-1 876 the legislature supplemented this work by creating an Agriculture, Horticulture, and Statistics Bureau. In addition common schools, technical schools, and colleges were beginning to spring up and grow all over the state. In 1875 began the long and honorable career of James B. McCreary by his election as governor. Four years later, L. P. Blackburn, whose adminis- tration was marked by his worthy prison reforms and by the creation of the Superior Court which assisted the Court of Appeals until 1890, was elected. In 1883, J. P. Knott became governor. In 1884, Colonel Reuben T. Durrett secured the organization of the very important Filson Club for the collection of historical material. The Democratic sway was continued in 1887 by the election of General Simon B. Buckner as governor. At the same time a vote for a new constitutional convention was secured. This convention met in 1890 and gave us the present constitution of Kentucky. In 1891 Governor Brown was elected. In 1892, Louisville celebrated the hundredth anniversary of Kentucky's statehood; and the next year another panic swept the country. The Upheaval of 1895 and the Goebel Tragedy. — Democracy in state and nation had declared for a gold standard; but P. Wat Hardin, the gubernatorial nominee, bolted the platform and advocated free silver. Gold Democrats absented themselves from the polls, and William O. Bradley, Kentucky's first Repub- KENTUCKY HISTORY 29 lican governor, received a handsome majority. He was an able man and secured good order by a free use of the miUtia against toll-gate raiders and lynchers. Most of the turnpikes were pur- chased by the state or counties by the end of the century. There was a general rise of public sentiment against the control of politics by corporations such as railways, tobacco and liquor dealers. William Goebel, able and violent, who led this fight, became the Democratic nominee for governor after a fierce factional fight. The election was held under the new and little-understood law, framed by Goebel and passed over Bradley's veto. Much dis- order prevailed, and the militia was called out in Louisville. The Republican nominee, Taylor, a man easy to influence, was barely elected; and Goebel contested the election. Taylor called out a disorderly militia. Goebel was shot from ambush in Frankfort, and Taylor adjourned the legislature to London; but the Demo- cratic majority of both Houses refused to follow, declared Goebel elected, and J. C. W. Beckham, lieutenant-governor, succeeded him. Taylor, Secretary Powers, and Auditor Finley were indicted for murder, but fled to Indianapolis. Powers, from whose oflSce the murder was done, was tried repeatedly without result; and finally Governor Willson pardoned them all. Henry W. Youtsey, however, was convicted and is now^ in the penitentiary. Beckham, Willson, McCreary and the Promise of To-day. — In 1899, Beckham was reelected governor, and his administration secured a State Railway Commission, extension of the school term from five to six months, two state normal schools, larger support of the state university, and extensive social reforms, such as local restriction of the liquor traffic. One of the marks of the present century has been the drift of the population to the mountains for mining and to the cities. In 1907, Beckham won in the primaries for senator over the aged and popular J. B. McCreary; and the McCreary followers repeated the trick of 1895 ^^'i^h the result that Willson and Bradley, Republicans, were elected governor and senator respectively. Under Willson, the normal schools and the university were enlarged; the county school system, with Judge J. A. Sullivan as author, replaced the old district system; 30 KENTUCKY HISTORY county high schools appeared; and much local taxation for schools was levied. Besides, the prison system was reorganized, the juvenile court established, child labor laws passed, the new capitol was built, and the temperance forces led by Beckham made great gains. The "night riders" of the tobacco pools, together with increased expenditures for the capitol and for schools, helped the Democratic reaction of 191 1; and McCreary was again elected governor. Under him the state text-book commission was ap- pointed, moonlight schools under Mrs. Cora Wilson Stewart sprang up, and temperance made immense gains; but little con- structive legislation has been passed on account of the inflexible constitution. With such progress in all lines for the last quarter century, we may look to Kentucky's future full of optimism and assurance that we have just entered upon a great century.