Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1837-08-05
REPLY OF MIR. KENDALL TO MIR.
ROBERT WICKLIFFE'S LETTER.

as a medium Of reply TO the structures OF Mr..
Robert Wicklifie ON my character and conduct
when you gave insertion to his production, de-
ternined at once to avail myself OF the offer
Incessant official engagement' have until this
time prevented the accomplishment Of that pE-
pose.
Were the facts of the case, or the character OF
Rober: Ncklitie for reckless mendacy, as well
known to the People of the United States as they |
are to the People of kentucky, should deem Ii
unnecessary TO pay any attention to his malignant
efiuson. But as il suits the present objects OF
party to circulate his llbels where the author Is
unknown, and often with gratuitous attcstations
of their authenticity, II IS due to myself TO place
the truth within the reach Of those who honestly
seek t.
If could be hatered by falschood, | might
feel satisfied with the allegation, that have been
Tor about twelve yeas de .tacio Governor of
Kentucky and for about eight, President of the
United States But, conscious OF never having
possessed or aspircd to The influence which has
been attributed to me, the ascription Of 1t can only
impair my self-eseem and teach me lesson Of
humility.
"0ne who will draw parallel says Mr.
Wickliffe, "betwcen the misiortunes of Kentucky
from 1917 to 1924, ,the period when Amos held
the conscience of cuI eXecutlves) and the condl-
ton OF the United States since he has been con-
sclence-keeper of Presidents, may readily account
for the alarming prospects which now threaten
| the loss Of public credit and the bankruptcy OF
thousands of our citizens"
The following facts will show how far SHIELD
| tho conscience" of the Governors Of Kentucky
| from 1877 to 1924:
took up my residence in the capital of Ken
lucky in tho Fall of lSl6. George Madison.
| who had been elected Governor in the preceding
August, died few days before, and Gabriel
| Slaughter, the Louisiana Governor, had just Gu
tered upon the duties Of the office: question
between the absolute right of the Lieutenant TO-
vernon TO hold the office for the whole term oil
four yen.s, and the right Of the people to elect a
l, Governor at the next general election, lmmedl-
ately arose; and maintained the rights OF the
People to New Election. The consequence
was, so great a degree of hostility between the
acting Governor and myself, that are did mol er-
change words during more than three Of the ids
uears of his administration. No man knows
The hostile relations which existed between acting
|
ert Wicklfe
At the Gubernatoral election in 1920, the can
didates were Gen. John Adair, William Logan
ESQ. Gen. Jos. Desha and Col Anthony Butler
Butler was my FIRST choice, Logan my second
aud Adar my last. My paper was the chief or
ran of opposition to General Affair." and yet 1t
was elected. The hostile feelings generated II
the contest were so strong, that 4 was two o
three years before the Governor and myself eX
chagcd common civc1, and never did he con
suit me upon any public measure or polItica
movement during the whole of his administration
No man knows this general hostility between
me and Gov. Adair, better than Robert Wlckiiie
The administration of Slaughter ana Adal
cover the whole period "lrom 1877 to 1924" du
ring which, Mr. Wickiffe SAYS | SHIELD the con
SCIENCE of the Governor of Kentucky!
Mr.. Wicklne is quite as unfortunate in HI
allegations with regard TO my support Of meas
ares as to my influence orsr men. The following
extract embraces the pith of his production o
that point, viz;
"When Amos Kendall became Governor
facto of Kentucky, public credit was high, an
the people were never more prosperous; tn
State had sustained her character and faith
contracts untarnished; her bank paper was equ'
to gold and silver: but this demagogue and spec
t, ulalor raised the CRY against the Bank of Kor
lucky and its stockholders, arrayed the none
borrowers and spendthrlit spectators OF I'll
country against her labor and industry; and tina
", at the head Of the proflgate anc unprlnclple
trumphed over public morals, and the laws an
Constitution. The first act Of his party was
l9l7-lS, to de stroy the Bank of Kentucky, ar
to grant charters TO forty spurious bank
with view to food the State with paper suificle
q. TO meet the demands ofhimset and partzans.
This accomplished, in two short years this den
agogue and his partisans reduced the labor ar
cred: Of the State to utter prostration. III
~ whole departments of labor were visited by
10 widespread ruin; the banks bankrupted, and Il
means of paying debts destroyed. Amos's rel'
for all these mschiefs brought upon the countT
- was an open violation of public faith by repe
II of the charters of all the banks in existence
!. those that had faithfully redeemed their paper a
" fulfilled their corporate powers; sharing the col
10 mon fate of those that had both cheated al
= swndled the country.
"a. "ThiS breach of faith and OF the Constitute
~. the first measure of relief for the disease Great
:. by Amos. and which he promised TO cure,
4. found but to increase rather than abaie the ma
cir dy Amos then found out that the fault was
Of the Courts, not in the Banks Of the State. /
nd next prescription for relief against his own acts
nv evils brought upon the country, was rePlevln
a.. property laws; and this failing, also, he p
ne scrbed the plan for the explosion OF metal
ne currency, and the substitution, in its place Of
.eI per through the Commonwealth's Bank.
n, party still victorious, followed this prescription
so, but the disease got worse. The courts
Justice were not as faithless TO the ConstItui
,bo as Amcs and his partisans, and his laws OF re
~ Ln..o .n;nlufnA hoih the Ion