Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. I, Part 18

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452

USA > Kentucky > Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. I > Part 18

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Aug. 8-Sale, under decree of Fayette circuit court, of Lexington and Dig Sandy Railroad ; Wm. T. Nichols purchaser, for a company, at $60,000.

Census of 1860 show Kentucky the ninth state in point of population. Total population 1,155,684; whites 919,484, of which foreign-born 59,799 ; free colored 10,684, slaves 225,483. Total increase since 1850, 1733 per cent ; foreign-born increase 9013 per cent; slave increase 7 per cent.

Sept. 22-Kentucky state bonds sold in New York city at 10512.

Oct .- A French meteorologist named Renou predicts a series of severe winters, of which the approaching winter is to be the first, and that of 1871 the most severe. He finds that unusual displays of aurora borealis, frequent earthquakes, and an in- crease of spots on the sun, are simultane- ous and denote the coming of severe winters.

Nov. 6-Vote for president and vice president : Bell and Everett 66,016, Breck- inridge and Lane 52,836, Douglas and Johnson 25,644, Lincoln and Hamlin 1,- 366 ; Bell over Breckinridge 13,180, and over Douglas 40,372 ; Breckinridge over Douglas 27,192; total vote cast 145,862.

Nov. 15 to 30 -- Secession feeling growing; great excitement, in the south.

Nov. 16-Important letter from Gov. Magoffin to Samuel I. M. Major, jr., editor Frankfort Yeoman-on " what will Ken- tucky do, and what ought she to do, now that Lincoln is elected president."

Nov. 18-Maj. Robert Anderson ordered from Ky. to Fort Moultrie, in Charleston harbor, to relieve Col. Gardner, ordered to Texas.

Nov. 19 to Dec. 1-Union meetings, usually without distinction of party, in Frankfort, Newport, Hardinsburg, Brooks- ville, Maysville, Mount Sterling, Vance- burg, and other places.

The following Southern banks suspend specie payments :

Nov. 22-Virginia and Washington city banks; 23-Heavy cotton factors in New Orleans stop payments ; 24-Banks at Charleston, S. C., suspend specie pay- ments; 26-Union, Planters', and State banks of Tennessee, at the request of the community : 28-South Carolina banks generally ; Dec. 1-Georgia banks.

Nov, 30-Western lunatic asylum at Hop- kinsville-the largest and most costly building in the state-destroyed by fire ; loss over $200,000; one life lost, the car- penter ; the patients, some 250, all saved ; the fire first seen on the roof among the shingles, and a high wind blowing; & metallic roof would have prevented the fire.

Dec. 3-President Buchanan's message, which denies the right of secession, is fiercely attacked by senator Clingman, of N. C., and defended by senator Critten- den, of Ky.

Dec. 5-The U. S., treasury suspends specie payments.

Dec. 3-In response to recent applica-

ANNALS OF KENTUCKY.

1861.

tions for suspension of specie payment, Ky. banks determine that such a measure would afford no commercial relief; consequently they will continue to pay specie as usual.

Dec. 9-Gov. Magoffin by circular sub- mits six propositions to the consideration of the governors of the slave states :

1. Amend U. S. constitution so as to re- peal all laws of any free state which nul- lify, or obstruct operation of, the fugitive slave law.

2. So amend the fugitive slave law as to enforce its execution in every free state, and provide to the owner of the slave com - pensation, from the state which fails to de- liver him up or obstructs his recovery.

3. Congress to pass a law compelling governors of free states to return as fugi- tives from justice any who are indicted for stealing or enticing away slaves.

4. So amend the U. S. constitution as to provide for a division of all territories be- tween the free and slave states-all north of 37º to come in as free states, and all south as slave states, when they have re- quisite population.

5. Amend U. S. constitution so as to guarantee the free navigation of the Mis- sissippi river, forever, to all the states.

6. So alter the constitution as to give the south power, say in the U. S. senate, to protect itself from unconstitutional or oppressive legislation upon slavery.

Dec. 18-John J. Crittenden introduced his famous compromise in the U. S. senate. It was this : To renew the Missouri line of 36° 30' ; prohibit slavery north, and permit it south, of that line; admit new states with or without slavery, as their constitutions may provide ; prohibit con- gress from abolishing slavery in the states, and in the District of Columbia so long as it exists in Virginia or Maryland ; permit free transmission of slaves by land or water, in any state ; pay for fugitive slaves rescued after arrest ; repeal the inequality of commissioners' fees in the fugitive slave act ; and to ask the repeal of personal lib- erty bills in the northern states. These concessions to be submitted to the people as amendments to the U. S. constitution, and if adopted never to be changed.

Dec. 18-Great speech of John J. Crit- tenden in the U. S. senate, on the proposed compromise of the slavery question.

Dec. 20-Caleb Cushing reaches Charles- ton with a message from President Bu- chanan, guaranteeing that Maj. Anderson should not be reinforced, and asking the South Carolina convention, then in session, to respect the Federal laws; the conven- tion refuses to make any promises.

Dec. 22-The Crittenden compromise propositions voted down in the U. S. sen- ate-committee of 13.

: Dec. 24-Judge Muir, of Jefferson cir- cuit court at Louisville, decides the mili- tary law passed last winter not contrary to the law of congress nor to the constitu- tion of Ky.

Dec. 25-Col. W. S. Featherstone, as commissioner from the governor of Mis-

sissippi and at the instance of the Missis- sippi legislature, visits Frankfort, and appeals to Gov. Magoffin to call an extra session of the legislature, to take steps for co-operation with Mississippi and the south "in the adoption of efficient measures for their common defense and safety."

Dec. 27-Maj. Robert Anderson ( of Ky.) , U. S. army, in command in Charleston harbor, burns the inside of Fort Moultrie, spikes the guns, and retires, with his band of 80 men, to Fort Sumter, in the mouth of the harbor-because more de- fensible than Fort Moultrie. This move- ment creates intense excitement; troops are ordered out in Charleston, and Georgia and other states tender aid ; fortifications for attack erected, on both shores.

Dec. 27-S. F. Hale, commissioner from Alabama, calls upon, and has conference by letter with, Gov. Magoffin, proposing co-operation with southern states to secure a redress of wrongs, &c.

Dec. 27-Gov. Magoffin issues his proc- lamation for a called session of the legis- lature, on Jan. 17, 1861.

1861, Jan. 1-Capital and circulation of Ky. banks, at this date for several years past :

Capital. Circulation.

1857

$10,433.400 $13,485.585

1859

12,141,725 14,345,696

1860

12,660.670 13,520,207

1861 13,429,725 10,267,202

Jan. 4-Fast-day, appointed by procla- mation of President Buchanan, is observed in Kentucky and other border states.

Jan. 4-Rev. Robert J. Breckinridge, D.D. LL.D., addresses an immense as- sembly in Lexington, on the state of the country.

Jan. 5-Steamer Star of the West sails from New York with supplies and rein- forcements for Fort Sumter. Arrives off Charleston. Jan. 9, is fired upon by Con- federate batteries and driven back to sea.

Jan. 7-A committee of one member from the representation in congress of the states of Maryland. Kentucky, Ohio, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, Ar- kansas, North Carolina and Tennessee, agrees upon a scheme of compromise- generally spoken of as the " Border State proposition "-which Mr. Crittenden, who was a member of the committee, accepts as a substitute for his own.

Jan. 8-The constitutional Union [Bell & Everett] convention, and the Democratic Union [Douglas] convention, assemble in Louisville. Ex-Gov. John L. Helm pre- sided over the former, and Ex-Gov. Chas. A. Wickliffe over the latter. Among the resolutions agreed upon by a joint com- inittee of conference, and unanimously adopted by both conventions, are these :

"Resolved, That we recommend the adoption of the propositions of our dis- tinguished senator, John J. Crittenden, as a fair and honorable adjustment of the

ANNALS OF KENTUCKY.

1861

difficulties which divide and distract the people of our beloved country.

"Resolved, That we recommend to the legislature of the state, to put the amend- ments of senator Crittenden in form, and submit them to the other states; and that, if the disorganization of the present Union is not arrested, the states agreeing to these amendments of the federal constitution shall form a separate confederacy, with power to admit new states under our glori- ous constitution thus amended.

" Resolved, That we deplore the exist- ence of a Union to be held together by the sword, with laws to be enforced by stand- ing armies ; it is not such a Union as our fathers intended, and not worth preserv- ing."

These two conventions, by joint action, appointed a central committee, composed of John H. Harney, Win. F. Bullock, Geo. D. Prentice, James Speed, Chas. Ripley, Wm. P. Boone, Phil. Tompert, Hamilton Pope, Nat. Wolfe, and Lewis E. Harvie.

Jan. 10-Letter from Vice President John C. Breckinridge, on the Crittenden compromise, &c.

Jan. 16-The Crittenden compromise practically voted down in the U. S. senate -by adopting a substitute, that the con- stitution is good enough, and that seces- sion ought to be put down.

Jan. 17-Legislature meets in called session. Gov. Magoffin's message recom- mends that body to adopt resolutions in- viting a conference at Baltimore, early in February, of the border slave states. in- cluding Tennessee and North Carolina, and of such other states as may choose to co-operate ; also, to " declare by resolution the unconditional disapprobation of Ken- tucky of the employment of force in any form against the seceding states."

The adjutant-general reports, as the sum total of arms belonging to the state, 58 pieces of ordnance, 11,283 muskets, 3,159 rifles, and 2,873 cavalry arms. 45 companies of the State Guard are "admi- rably drilled in rifle taetics, handsomely uniformed, and fully armed and equipped."

Jan. 19-The house of representatives, by a vote of 66 to 23, "directed the ser- geant-at-arms to hoist the American flag over the capitol during the present session."

Jan. 21-The following resolutions, by Geo. W. Ewing, of Logan county, adopted in the house; the first unanimously, the second by 87 to 6; they were not acted on by the senate :

" Resolved, That this general assembly has heard with profound regret of the res- olutions recently adopted by the states of New York, Ohio, Maine, and Massachu- setts-tendering men and money to the president of the United States, to be used in coercing certain sovereign states of the South into obedience to the federal govern- ment.

" Resolved, That this general assembly receives the action of the legislatures of New York, Ohio, Maine, and Massachu- setts, as the indication of a purpose upon

the part of the people of those states to further complicate existing difficulties, by forcing the people of the south to the ex- tremity of submission or resistance. And so regarding it, the governor of the state of Kentucky is hereby requested to inform the executives of each of said states that it is the opinion of this general assembly, that whenever the authorities of these states shall send armed forces to the south for the purpose indicated in said resolu- tions, the people of Kentucky, uniting with their brethren of the south, will as one man resist such invasion of the soil of the south at all hazards and to the last ex- tremity."

Jan. 24-Death of ex-governor Robert P. Letcher.

Jan. 25-Legislature, by resolutions, ap- peals to congress to call a convention for proposing amendments to the constitution of the United States, pursuant to the 5th article thereof.

Jan. 29-The senate unanimously, and the house by 81 to 5, appoints six com- missioners to the peace conference, Feb. 4, at Washington city-in accordance with the invitation of the Virginia legislature : Wm. O. Butler, James B. Clay, Chas. S. Morehead, Joshua F. Bell, Chas. A. Wick- liffe, and James Guthrie ; and appropriates $500 each for their compensation and ex- penses.

Feb. 4-Peace Conference assembles in Washington city, 21 states represented by 133 commissioners, and continues in session until Feb. 27-ex-president John Tyler chairman. They submit as their plan of settlement and pacification, certain amend- ments to the U. S. constitution, known as Art. XIII, with 7 sections, and ask con- gress to submit the same to conventions in the states.

Feb. 5-Covington and Cincinnati bridge company authorized to issue $500,000 of preferred stock, which may receive 15 per cent per annum dividends before the com- mon stock receives anything ......... 9-$20,- 000 appropriated towards new building for western lunatic asylum at Hopkinsville.

Feb. 11-Legislature, declaring further action at this time on political affairs both unnecessary and inexpedient, [i. e., refus- ing to call a convention which might take the state out of the Union] adjourns to 20th March next.

March-U. S. supreme court decides against granting the mandamus, in the case of the Governor of Kentucky os. the Governor of Ohio, for the surrender of the free negro, Willis Lago, as a fugitive from justice-he being indicted in Woodford county, Ky., for assisting a slave to escape from her master. .

March 16-" Union" speech of James Guthrie, at Louisville. March -Joshua F. Bullitt elected judge of the court of appeals, in place of Henry C. Wood, dec'd.

March 22-Dr. Fox, of the navy, visits Maj. Anderson in Fort Sumter, as special messenger of the government.

ANNALS OF KENTUCKY.

1861.

March 22-Gov. Magoffin vetoes a bill for | at 12, most of the wood-work of the fort is the benefit of the Bank of Louisville and other banks, and also a bill to amend the charters of the banks of Kentucky ; both vetoes are sustained.

March 22-Ex-Governors Chas. A. Wick- liffe and Chas. S. Morehead address the legislature and public at Frankfort, ex- plaining their course in the peace confer- ence at Washington.

March 20-John J. Crittenden is enthu- siastically welcomed, on his return home to Frankfort, by a great concourse of citi- zens and by both branches of the legisla- ture, and by a reception speech by Judge Mason Brown. 26-By special invitation of the legislature, he addresses that body and the public, in the hall of the house.

March 28-Legislature authorizes $200,- 000 sinking fund money to be loaned to the state for ordinary revenue purposes.

April 2-John C. Breckinridge, by spe- cial invitation, addresses the legislature, upon national affairs.

April 3-Legislature calls a border slave state convention for the 27th of May, at Frankfort, and provides for the election of one delegate from each congressional dis- trict ........ 4-Ratifies the following amend- ment to the U. S. constitution, as proposed by congress : "No amendment shall be made to the constitution which will author- ize or give congress power to abolish or in- terfere, within any state, with the domestic institutions thereof, including that of per- sons held to labor or service by the laws of said state.". .. $19,400 appropriated for constructing an arsenal at Frankfort, and for machinery and labor for repairs of arms therein ........ Administrator of Martin Looker authorized to bring suit, in the Louisville chancery court, against the state of Kentucky .. . Ky. banks author- ized to issue notes under $5 ; also, suspen. sion of specie payment to be legalized on certain contingency .......... Turnpike and bridge companies in which the state is a stockholder required to declare semi-an- nual dividend in July and January, if any profits, and pay same into treasury within 20 days-under penalty of $100 fine upon each director.

April 7-Gen. Beauregard notifies Maj. Anderson that intercourse between Fort Sumter and the city of Charleston would no longer be permitted.

April 8-Official notice given, that sup- plies would be sent to Maj. Anderson-by force if necessary.

April 11-Beauregard demands of Maj. Anderson the surrender of Fort Sumter ; it is declined.

April 12-Bombardment of Fort Sum- ter begins at 4:30 A. M., and continues all day ; partially suspended at nightfall. The rebels, or Confederates, fire at inter- vals all night ; they have in action 17 mor- tars, and 30 large guns, mostly columbiads. Sumter is silent, during the night.

April 13-At 7 A. M., Fort Sumter opens fire. At 9, the officers' quarters are fired by a shell; at 10, the flag is shot down ;

on fire, and the men almost ceasing their fire, roll out 90 barrels of powder to pre- vent explosion, and are forced to destroy it, by the spread of the flames; cartridges are gone, and none can be made ; at 1 P. M., the flagstaff is shot away, when the flag is nailed to the piece, and displayed from the ramparts. A flag of truce is sent and arrangements for evacuating the fort are made. At 1:55 p. M., the flag is hauled down, and the garrison departs upon honorable terms, bearing their flag, arms and private property. During the action no man is hurt in the fort, nor on shore.

April 14-Maj. Anderson and his men leave Fort Sumter, and sail for New York.

April 15-President Lincoln by procla- mation calls for 75,000 troops, and com- mands the rebels to return to peace within 20 days.

April 15-Correspondence by telegraph between the U. S. secretary of war and the governor of Ky. :

WASHINGTON, April 15, 1861.

To His Excellency, Hon. BERIAH MAGOF- FIN, Governor of Kentucky :

Call is made on you by to-night's mail for four regiments of militia for immedi- ate service. SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War.

FRANKFORT, April 15, 1861. Hon. SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War, Washington City :

Your despatch is reviewed. In answer, I say, emphatically, Kentucky will furnish no troops for the wicked purpose of sub- duing her sister Southern States.

Yours, B. MAGOFFIN. Governor of Ky.

April 17-Speech of John J. Crittenden at Lexington, to a large audience. He appeals to Kentucky to take no part in the fratricidal war impending between the North and the South, but to stand firm in the attitude of a peaceful mediator, remon- strating with both sections against involv- ing the nation in civil war, the fatal consequences of which no wisdom nor foresight could foretell. His advice was- not to be forced into civil strife for the North, nor dragged into it for the South- to take no part with either. Kentucky had done nothing to bring the war about ; she had not invited it, it was against her interest, she should do nothing to promote it; but by all the moral force of her posi- tion, should bravely hold on to the flag of the Union, and under its broad folds ex- tend the hand of conciliation to both.

April 18-The "Union state central committee "-i. e., John H. Harney, Geo. D. Prentice, Chas. Ripley, Phil. Tompert, Nat. Wolfe, Wm. F. Bullock, Jas. Speed, Wm. P. Boone, Ham. Pope, and Lewis E. Harvie-in an " Address to the people of the Commonwealth," say :

" Kentucky, through her Executive, has already responded to this appeal [of the President, for militia to suppress what he

ANNALS OF KENTUCKY.

1861.

describes as ' Combinations too powerful to be suppressed in the ordinary way,' &c.] She has refused to comply with it. And in this refusal she has acted as became her. We approve the response of the Ex- ecutive of the Commonwealth. One other appeal now demands a response from Ken- tucky. The Government of the Union has appealed to her to furnish men to suppress the revolutionary combinations in the cot- ton states. She has refused. She has most wisely and justly refused. Seditious leaders in the midst of us now appeal to her to furnish men to uphold those combi- nations against the Government of the Union. Will she comply with this appeal ? Ought she to comply with it? We answer, with emphasis, NO !.. .She ought clearly to comply with neither the one appeal nor the other. And, if she be not smitten with judicial blindness, she will not. The present duty of Kentucky is to maintain her present independent position-taking sides not with the Government and not with the seceding states, but with the Union against them both ; declaring her soil to be sacred from the hostile tread of either, and, if necessary, making the decla- ration good with her strong right arm. And-to the end that she may be fully prepared for this last contingency and all other possible contingencies-we would have her arm herself thoroughly at the ear- liest practicable moment.

"What the future duty of Kentucky may be, we of course cannot with certainty foresee; but if the enterprise announced in the proclamation of the President should at any time hereafter assume the aspect of a war for the overrunning and subjugation of the seceding states-through the full as- sertion therein of the national jurisdiction by a standing military force-we do not hesitate to say that Kentucky should promptly unsheath her sword in behalf of what will then have become the common cause. Such an event, if it should occur- of which, we confess, there does not ap- pear to us to be a rational probability- could have but one meaning ; a meaning which a people jealous of their liberty would be keen to detect, and which a peo- ple worthy of liberty would be prompt and fearless to resist. When Kentucky de- tects this meaning in the action of the gov- ernment, she ought-without counting the cost-to take up arms at once against the government. Until she does detect this meaning, she ought to hold herself independ- ent of both sides, and compel both sides to respect the inviolability of her soil."

April 18-Union meeting at Louisville, addressed by James Guthrie, Archibald Dixon, Wm. F. Bullock, and John Young Brown-in favor of Kentucky occupying a mediatorial position in the present con- test; opposing the call of the President for volunteers for the purposes of coercion, or the raising of troops for the Confed- eracy ; asserting that secession was no remedy for the pending evils, and that Kentucky would not take part with either

side-at the same time declaring her soil sacred against the hostile tread of either. Resolutions were adopted that the Confed- erate States having commenced the war, Kentucky assumed the right to choose her position, and that she would be loyal un- til the Government became the aggressor.

April 20-A large meeting at Paris con- demns the conduct of the Administration, and approves that of Gov. Magoffin.

April 22-Capt. Joe Desha, with a com- pany of over 100 men, leaves Harrison county for the Confederacy. Other com- panies leave, from other parts of the state.

April 22-Hon. L. P. Walker, Secretary of War of the Confederate States, requests Gov. Magoffin "to furnish one regiment of infantry, without delay, to rendezvous at Harper's Ferry, Virginia." Gov. M. "promptly, and in the fewest words, de- clined to comply with the request."

April 23-Louisville city council appro- priates $50,000 to arm the city and place its citizens in a defensible position ; sub- sequently, the amount was increased to $200,000, subject to a vote of the people.

April 25-Gov. Magoffin applies to the banks of issue for temporary loans, to pay for arms contracted for or ordered ; there is placed to his official credit, by the Southern Bank of Ky. $60,000, by the Bank of Louisville and Commercial Bank each $10,000, and the People's Bank is ready with its quota. The other banks declined his application. The Bank of Kentucky agreed to furnish her quota, pro- vided the money be used only " for arming the state for self-defense and protection, to prevent aggression or invasion from either the North or the South, and to pro- tect the present status of Kentucky in the Union."

April 26-President Lincoln, in a con- versation in Washington city with Hon. Garret Davis, of Paris, Ky., states dis- tinctly that he would make no military movement upon any state or section that did not offer armed resistance to the au- thorities of the United States, or the exe- cution of the laws of congress; that he contemplated no military operations that would require him to march troops into or across Kentucky, and therefore he should not attempt it; that if Kentucky, or her people, should seize upon the U. S. post at Newport, it would be his duty, and he might attempt, to retake it; that it was the duty of Kentucky to have furnished the quota of troops for which he made the requisition upon her, but that he had neither power, right nor disposition to co- erce her; and if she made no war upon her own governinent of the United States, it would make no war upon her.

April 27-President Lincoln tells Hon. Warner L. Underwood, of Ky., that "he hoped Ky. would stand by the Govern- ment, in the present difficulties; but, if she would not do that, let her stand still and take no hostile part against it ; and that no hostile step should tread her soil."

President Lincoln had previously, in his

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. I, Part 18

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn Publication date: 1874 Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co. Number of Pages: 1452

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452