USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky > Part 6
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As the procession neared the town, loud cheers arose, which were somewhat drowned by the firing of a cannon,
The inaug- the cracking of rifles, and the beating of drums. uration At the corner of Main Street and Broadway the governor was received with military honors by the Lex-
Shelby's Inauguration
ington Light Infantry. There he alighted from his horse to receive the address of welcome which was presented to him by the chairman of the town Board of Trustees, John Bradford, otherwise "Old Wisdom," who has already been introduced to us as editor of the Kentucke Gazette. Courtly formality and homely simplicity met in the un-
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paved public square. The oath of office was adminis- tered to the governor. Then, with the same stateliness and military parade that had characterized the entire proceed- ing, he was escorted to his chambers to rest at the Sheaf of Wheat inn, while the enthusiasm of the citizens continued and the bells of the town broke forth in joyous acclamation.
Later in the day, the governor sent his reply to the address of welcome and, at the same time, announced his appointments for secretary of state and attor- State ney-general. James Brown, selected for the appointments
former office, afterwards served repeatedly in the United States Senate and ably filled the high position of minister to France. George Nicholas, appointed to the latter office, was one of the brilliant Virginians who had sought Ken- tucky at the close of the Revolution. He was a truly great lawyer. His career here was as successful as it was short. He settled near Danville in 1788, and died in Lexington in 1799.
The legislature assembled and chose the speakers of the two houses, - Alexander Scott Bullitt, for the Senate, and Robert Breckinridge, for the House of Legislature Representatives. On the sixth day, the gover- assembles nor met the legislature in person, after the ancient custom of English kings which had been followed by the colonial governors. He appeared at the door of the Senate cham- ber of the first log statehouse, attended by his secretary of state. The speaker of the Senate advanced to meet him to conduct him to his seat. After a moment of solemn silence, he arose, read an address to the two Houses, and presented a manuscript copy to each of the speakers, and then retired in an impressive manner. The speaker of the House of Representatives and the members thereof likewise retired to transact business in
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their own hall. The legislature elected two United States senators, - John Brown, who had already represented Ken- tucky in the old Congress, and John Edwards. The House of Representatives elected five commissioners to fix upon a permanent seat of government.
The court of ap- peals consisted of three judges. The persons appointed Judges ap- by the gov- pointed
ernor for this dignified position were Caleb Wallace, another able Virginia lawyer who had risen to high stand- ing in Kentucky; Ben- jamin Sebastian, the same who had entered into the Spanish con- spiracy, but whose treason was not then Hary Innes suspected ; and Hary Innes, who was se- lected to be chief justice. Innes declined, however, in order to receive the office of United States district judge, and George Muter was appointed in his stead.
On the 22d of December, 1792, the second session of the first Kentucky legislature adjourned, to hold no more Frankfort the meetings in Lexington. The commissioners
permanent cap-
ital of the had selected Frankfort as the permanent cap-
State ital of the State. Nestled in the midst of hills, on the banks of the Kentucky River, Frankfort had certainly the advantage of a picturesque situation. A
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private dwelling was employed as a temporary statehouse while a permanent stone building was being erected. This was occupied November 3, 1794. A governor's mansion was likewise built.
The Indians were not yet subdued and still continued to harass the Kentuckians. Major John Adair, with about one hundred Kentucky militia, after a gallant Military fight at Fort St. Clair, in Ohio, was defeated by affairs a large body of Indians under Little Turtle. Colonel John Hardin and Major Truman were sent by General James Wilkinson on a mission to the Indians in northwest Ohio, and both were murdered. Boats were continually waylaid, and isolated frontier stations were attacked.
After his disastrous defeat, General St. Clair retired from the command of the armies of the Northwest, and General Wayne, known as "Mad Anthony," was appointed to that position. Gen- eral Wayne called upon Kentucky for volunteers; but the Kentuckians had lost confidence in regular troops, because of the defeats of Harmar and St. Clair, and none offered. Gov- ernor Shelby ordered a draft, and in this way one thousand mounted mili- tiamen were raised and placed under General Charles Scott's command. They joined General Wayne, October Anthony Wayne 24, 1793, at his headquarters, about eighty miles north of Cincinnati. Because of the approach of winter, however, the commander in chief decided not to prosecute the pro- posed campaign at that time. Fort Greenville was built, and the regular troops went into winter quarters, while the Kentucky militia were dismissed. One benefit had been
KENT. HIST .- 7
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obtained : General Wayne's military ability had inspired the Kentuckians with confidence.
Two issues ran side by side in the State and divided the thoughts of the people: the cessation of their Indian troubles, and the navigation of the Mississippi Political affairs River. For years there had been many poli- ticians in Kentucky who believed that these benefits might have been obtained for them, if Congress had not been indifferent to their welfare. Great animosity was felt toward England, which still held the military posts in the Northwest, and toward Spain, which had closed to them the Mississippi.
In 1793, news reached Kentucky that France had de- clared war against Eng- land, Spain, and Holland. The further fact was made known that the President had refused to enter into an alliance with France. Washington knew that war at this time would be disastrous to the United States. He stood firm on this point through that marvelous, calm foresight which con- trolled all his actions. But the majority of the people of the United George Washington States sympathized with France, who had so re- cently aided them in their conflict with Great Britain. Nowhere was this attachment more ardent than in Ken-
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tucky. Nevertheless, as is invariably the case, there was a division of sentiment.
Those who adhered to the policy of the government of the United States were called Federalists; those who were opposed to it were called either Anti-Federal- Federalists and
ists, or Republicans, and later, Democrats. At Anti- Federalists
Lexington there was organized a Democratic Club, - an outgrowth of the one already established at Philadelphia, which was modeled on the Jacobin clubs of France. Others sprang up at Georgetown and Paris. In Kentucky the horrors of the French Revolution were still unknown. It represented only an inspiring movement toward liberty. The tone of the Lexington society is indi- cated by the following resolution : "That the right of the people on the waters of the Mississippi, to its navigation, is undoubted, and ought to be peremptorily demanded of Spain by the United States government."
John Breckinridge was its first president. He was a young lawyer, who had recently come to Kentucky from Virginia. His clear mind and eloquent oratory John had brought him recognition in his native State. Breckinridge In Kentucky he took an active part in political affairs. He died in 1806, having held for one year the office of attorney- general in Jefferson's cabinet.
Citizen Genet, minister of France, had recently landed at Charleston, South Carolina, for the purpose of enlisting aid for his country in the impending war. Im- French mediately he saw the situation in Kentucky, conspiracy
and sent thither several agents to raise volunteers for an expedition against New Orleans and the Spanish posses- sions. So intense was the feeling in Kentucky on the navigation question, that the Frenchman succeeded in en- listing two thousand men for this conspiracy. George
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Rogers Clark accepted the commission of "major general in the armies of France and commander in chief of the revolutionary legions on the Mississippi."
The proposed conspiracy became known to the Federal
government. Letters passed between Washington and
Governor Shelby on the subject. It was a time of trial
Shelby's to the governor, but his conduct was marked
position with caution and wisdom. As governor of Kentucky he stood ready to perform whatever was con- stitutionally required of him; but he believed that this matter concerned the Federal government, and not that of the State. He did not believe he had the power to forbid the expedition if it could be accomplished. Moreover, he did not believe that it would be carried out. But the mat- ter offered him a fitting opportunity to make known to the President the intense feeling of the Anti-Federalists in Kentucky against the central government, which had not obtained for the State the navigation of the Mississippi. Happily the expedition was not accomplished. Washing- ton succeeded in having Genet recalled, and another minis- ter was appointed in his stead.
The campaign against the Indians in the Northwest, projected by General Wayne in the autumn of 1793, was carried into effect the following summer. In July, Gen- eral Charles Scott, with sixteen hundred Kentucky vol- unteers, joined General Wayne at Fort Recovery. The Wayne's regular force under General Wayne was about victory equal in numbers to the Kentucky militia. On the 20th of August, 1794, a battle was fought at Fallen Timbers, on the Maumee, which resulted in a brilliant victory for the Americans. An equally beneficial event followed close upon Wayne's conquest. In November, Chief Justice John Jay succeeded in concluding a treaty
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between the United States and Great Britain. Conse- quently the British posts in the Northwest were at last surrendered.
It was some time before this last fact was known in Kentucky. Prior to that time, in the year 1795, the Spanish governor of Louisiana again at- Second
tempted to bribe Kentucky to secede from Spanish the Union, and to form an alliance with conspiracy
Spain, in order to obtain the navigation of the Mississippi. Thomas Power, a naturalized Spaniard, was sent to Ken- tucky to secure agents to accomplish this end. The man selected to receive Power's communication was Judge Benjamin Sebastian, one of the accomplices in the first Spanish conspiracy.
Sebastian conferred with several prominent Kentuckians. He then proceeded to Natchez, and on to New Orleans, to negotiate with the authorities there. However, before any agreement had been reached between the Kentuckian and the Spanish governor, news came that a treaty be- tween the United States and Spain had been effected, and that Spain had granted to the United States the free navi- gation of the Mississippi River. Nevertheless, the Spanish governor was not willing to renounce, at once, all hope of ever gaining Kentucky. Sebastian was paid two thousand dollars for his efforts in this dishonorable work, and con- tinued to receive that amount annually for eleven years. Sebastian's treason was unknown to his fellow-Kentuck- ians, with probably two or three exceptions. He con- tinued to hold his office of judge of the court of appeals until 1806, at which time he was exposed and compelled to resign.
We have learned that the opposition of the Kentuckians to the Federal government had its origin in their own
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trials; for a large majority of the people believed that the central government might have put an end to these if it had attempted to do so. But there were also
Summary clauses in the constitution of the United States to which they were directly opposed. Many objected to the policy of the Federalists (by whom the constitution was framed) because they believed it tended toward a monarchical rather than a republican form of government. We have noticed Kentucky's isolated situation and her long, single-handed struggle for existence. Naturally her people were watchful for their State's rights and liberties. But we have learned, also, that in the times of greatest temptation her people stood true to the Union. This fact indicates loyalty and sagacity and calls forth the highest admiration.
Now the Indian troubles were at an end, and the Missis- sippi was open to Kentucky. Added to this, the feeling on the French question had changed. Genet's
Temporary
change of illegal actions in the United States had awak-
sentiment ened disapproval. A fuller knowledge of the French Revolution had produced a natural revulsion of feeling. Consequently, the Federal party in the State rose into temporary power. In 1795 Humphrey Marshall, the pronounced leader of the Federal side, was elected United States senator over John Breckinridge, the popular representative of the Republicans. During this same year, however, the governor appointed Breckinridge attorney- general of the State.
In the year 1793, the first steamboat which ever success- fully moved on any waters was exhibited at Lexington. Invention of The town branch of the Elkhorn - now dis- the steamboat appeared from sight, but then a considerable stream - was dammed up for the trial of the miniature
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model which had been constructed, and crowds of enthusi- astic spectators rejoiced over the success of this important invention. The inventor was Edward West, who emigrated from Virginia to Lexington in 1785, where he died in 1827, after a long life spent in experi- menting in inven- tions. The honor of having invented the steamboat be- longs, however, to John Fitch, - be- fore referred to in Fitch's Steamboat these pages, - who, as early as 1785, completed his model. But unfortunately Fitch's invention failed of success, either because he lacked the necessary funds or the adequate force of character to bring it to the knowledge of the people.
RECAPITULATION
Lexington the first capital. Governor Shelby inaugurated.
Military honors and picturesque pa- rade.
Two appointments announced.
Legislature assembles; speakers chosen.
The governor opens the legislature.
Stately proceedings.
United States senators elected.
Judges appointed.
Frankfort selected as the permanent capital.
Public buildings erected there. Indian troubles again.
General Wayne's appointment.
One thousand Kentuckians drafted. Campaign postponed. The French war.
England, Spain, and Holland in- volved.
Washington refuses to take part.
United States divided on the subject. Kentucky is indignant.
She dislikes England and Spain.
Desires to aid France.
Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Democratic clubs.
The Lexington club.
John Breckinridge its president. The French conspiracy.
General Clark's commission.
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Governor Shelby's cautious action. Failure of the conspiracy. Wayne's victory. British posts resigned. Second Spanish conspiracy. Sebastian's treason.
Treaty with Spain concluded.
Kentucky generally Anti-Federal.
Opposed to a strong central govern- ment.
Momentary change of sentiment after the Indian troubles are ended and the navigation granted.
Federal party rises into power. Humphrey Marshall elected United States senator.
Edward West at Lexington. Models a steamboat in 1793. Successful trial on Elkhorn Creek.
Fitch's invention unsuccessful.
CHAPTER X
POLITICAL SITUATION IN KENTUCKY, 1796-1811
IN May, 1796, James Garrard was elected second gov- ernor of Kentucky. The first year of his administration Garrard's was marked by few events of importance. administration The following spring, the advisability of re- vising the State constitution was discussed, and a vote was taken to obtain the will of the people. But no decision was reached in the matter, as a number of the counties failed to make returns. A second vote was taken on the same subject in 1798, and met with a similar result. In the autumn of that year, the question was brought before the legislature, and as a majority of the members voted in favor of revision, a convention was called for July 22, 1799.
During the summer of 1797, Thomas Power was again sent to Kentucky to concert with Benjamin Sebastian re- garding the separation of the State from the Union. But this third Spanish conspiracy failed in its very beginning.
The November session of the legislature revised the criminal code, and punishment by death was allowed only for murder in the first degree.
The interval of quiet which Kentucky had been en- joying was destined to be interrupted by a profound agita- Alien and tion. In the spring session of 1798, the
Sedition laws Congress of the United States passed two acts known in the political history of the nation as the Alien and Sedition laws. The particularly objectionable
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features in these acts were the following: The first act gave to the President authority over all foreigners. He might grant them license to remain in the United States ; he might order them to depart from its territory if he sus- pected them of treasonable designs; he might imprison, according to his judgment, all foreigners who returned to the United States without having obtained his permission. The second act was an attempt to control the people in the free ex- pression of opinion. By this law it became an offense, subject to fine or imprisonment, for any one to utter, print, or publish any libel against the gov- ernment of the United States, the President, or either House of Congress.
The Kentuckians were aroused, almost Henry Clay to a man. There was no wavering in their judgment of these obnoxious laws. They deemed them directly unconstitutional. In their opinion Kentucky's
they indicated an assumption, on the part action
of the Federal government, of an authority which did not belong to it. The first to issue a protest against them were the citizens of Clark County. They embodied their opposition in a vigorous set of resolutions, which were transmitted to their representative in Congress to be pre-
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sented by him to each branch of that body and to the President. In the crowd which gathered at Lexington to discuss the subject was young Henry Clay, - twenty- one years old, -who had come from Virginia the year before to make his home in Kentucky. He had already made himself known in the State by advocating the grad- ual emancipation of slavery. The people called upon him to speak to them. The subject was one to stir the un- fledged genius of the orator. He was lifted into a cart, from which "proud eminence " he poured forth such de- nunciations of the act of Congress as won the admiration and satisfaction of his high-wrought audience.
But the most bold, far-reaching, effective summary of political doctrine called forth by these laws was that con- tained in the resolutions known as the Ken- tucky Resolutions of 1798.1 The resolutions Kentucky Resolutions of were drafted by Thomas Jefferson, and revised 1798
and offered to the legislature, on November 8, by John Breckinridge, the representative of Fayette County in the State legislature and a leader in the Republican party. These resolutions had perhaps a deeper import than the mere expression of righteous indignation against the pas- sage by Congress of two odious acts that were destined to exist only for a brief term. In them we find the germ of the doctrine of nullification which became an important factor in the causes which led to the Civil War.
This doctrine is briefly as follows: That the several States composing the United States of America are not united in submission to their general govern- Doctrine of ment; that the general government was State rights created by a compact of the several States, each State agreeing thereto, and yet reserving to itself the right to
1 Kentucky Resolutions of 1798. By Ethelbert Dudley Warfield.
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its own self-government ; that the government created by this compact is not made the final judge of the powers delegated to it; that as each State is a party to the compact, therefore each State "has an equal right to judge for itself as well of infractions as of the mode and measure of redress."
The resolutions thus presented to the legislature in an ardent speech by their mover, passed the Lower House
Resolutions with one dissenting voice. William Murray, a
accepted by the clever lawyer, made an earnest protest against
legislature
them. In the Senate, John Pope made an un- successful effort to amend them, and they were unanimously accepted. At the time of their adoption the possible tendency of the resolutions was not considered. They were framed to meet a need of the hour. The Federal govern- ment had assumed an authority, the Kentuckians believed, which was unconstitutional. Therefore, the Federal govern- ment must be censured, else it might encroach and assume greater power, and then become monarchical, instead of Democratic. Kentucky was passionately Democratic or Republican. The resolutions were signed by the governor, and then submitted to the other States to be considered. Only Virginia, however, concurred with the action of Ken- tucky.
The convention to revise the State constitution assembled July 22, 1799, at Frankfort, and chose Alexander Scott Second Bullitt president, and Thomas Todd - who so constitutional many times before had served in this capacity convention -clerk. The outburst of feeling awakened by the mere suspicion of a monarchical inclination in the central government largely influenced the changes which were made in the constitution. The governor was no longer to be elected by a college of electors, but directly
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POLITICAL SITUATION IN KENTUCKY
by the votes of the people. Furthermore, his authority was limited. His veto might be overruled by a majority of the legislature. The office of lieutenant governor was created. This officer, similarly elected by the people, should be the speaker of the Senate. The senators, like- wise, were to be elected by the direct votes of the people.
The new constitution went into effect June 1, 1800. James Garrard had again
been chosen Local politics governor, and Alexander Scott Bullitt was elected lieutenant gov- ernor. John Breckinridge was chosen speaker of the House. There was the utmost quiet in local elec- tions. Kentucky's whole political interest was now absorbed in the affairs of the nation, - the forthcom- ing contest between the Federalist and Democratic parties. When Thomas Jefferson, the Democratic Thomas Jefferson nominee, was declared President, the satisfaction in the State was almost univer- sal. It expressed itself in exuberant speeches of delight. Of course, the hated Alien and Sedition laws were then repealed.
But the most important event to Kentucky in Jeffer- son's administration was the purchase of Louisiana from the French, to whom it had been ceded by Spain. Gen- eral James Wilkinson, whose character has only been
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understood in recent years, was then holding the rank of major general in the United States Army. It is an enter- taining and curious fact that on the 20th of December, 1803, the French governor general delivered up the terri- tory to that officer. Thus at last the projector of. the Spanish Conspiracy took possession of New Orleans ; but in a manner totally different from what he had imagined, - under the honorable authority of his national government.
But Wilkinson is often accused of complicity in another equally romantic and treasonable conspiracy, and in this, too, the bold, adventure- Aaron Burr's loving Kentuckians were conspiracy
tempted to disloyalty. Aaron Burr, late Vice President of the United States, - now bearing upon his soul the crime of having taken the life of Alexander Hamilton, - being cut off from all high official attainment, restlessly sought a means to gratify his proud ambition. Burr's dazzling scheme was to conquer the Spanish Aaron Burr province of Mexico, then friendly to the United States, to unite to it the southwestern States, to make New Orleans the capital of this vast territory, and himself the emperor or ruler. Wilkinson, according to his accusers, was to be second only to Burr.
Blennerhasset, a wealthy Irish scholar, living on a beautiful island in the Ohio River, had become fascinated by Burr's allurements to the extent of employing his vast fortune for the cause, and he was to be a powerful duke or chief minister of the empire. The cooperating Kentuckians were likewise to reap the reward of their assistance. To arrange his project, Burr made frequent
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