The weekly Minnesotian., 1855-01-20
From the Cincinnati Gazette.
Death of q Great and G Good Man.

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Yesterday morning at 2 O'Clock the Hon
James L. Morehead, Ex-Governor and ex-U.
Senator, of Kentucky, died in Covington, op
posite this city. He was born on the oath o
May, 1897. in the county of Bullet. In tn,
spring of 1913 he entered Pennsylvania Univer
slty, where he continued two years. He com
menced the study of law in Russelville, Lo
gan county, under the Hon. H. P. Brodnax
and subsequently in the Office of the Hon. J. J
Crittenden, who was then living in Russell.
vile. In 1918 he removed to Bowling Green
and commenced the practice of law In the
year 1828,-'29 and 80, he was member of the
Kentucky Legislature from the county of War.
rem. In 1882 he was elected Lieut.. Governor.
ofKentucky, and by the death of Governor
Breathitt, in 1884, he became Governor of the
State. In the fall of 1886 he resumed the prac
tice of the Law in Frankfort. In March, 1887,
he was appointed the agent for the sale of the
bonds for internal improvement purposes. In
August, 1887. he was elected to the Legisla-
ture in Franklin county. In spring of 1888 he
was appointed President of the Board of Inter-
nal Improvements, which Office he held until
February, lS4l, when he was elected to the
Senate of the United States for the term of six
years. which Office he filed with distinguished
ability and to the satisfaction of his constitu-
ents. Subsequently he removed to Coying-
ton, opposite this city, and resumed the prac-
tice of his profession. and in which place be
died.
Such is a meagre statement of the official sta
tions which he has held. He was a gentle
man, in the truest acceptation of that term
He possessed brilliant attainments, and was
one of the best ofKentucky's IS orators and states
men. In the private walks of life he was with
out stain or blemish, and in the discharge of
his public duties his whole aim was to serve
his country, and the gallant people who had
hOnored him with their confidence.
He was ever faithful to his trust, and no.
BILE representative of Kentucky hospitality and
Kentucky honor. He loved his native State
with filial affection, and he loved the Union
with true patriotic regard. Itwas our fortune
to know the deceased personally. Less than
year ago, we visited his humble but hospitable
home. He conversed of many things connect
ed with his public life, and particularly of the
part he took, while Senator of the q. S., to
obtain the confirmation of Governor Everett,
as Minister to England, in 1S4l. Governor Ev-
erett had been nominated by General Harrison,
for that high diplomatic position. His confir-
nation was opposed by some of the hot-headed
Senators from the South, on the ground that
Governor Everett was an Abolitionist, and for
a time his confirmation remained in doubt.
The feeling in the North was intense, and the
rejection of Mr.. Everett would have been re-
garded, and justly so, as a stain and indgnity
to the whole North, and would have given rise
to sectional animosities which it would have
been difficult to allay. Gov. Morehead, with
that true modesty which always accompanies
true merit, said little of the part he took to
meet and defeat this unjust opposition to the
confirmation of one of Americas distinguished
sons. He dwelt, however, with eloquence and
pride on the course which his distinguished col
league, Clay, took in that important event
"a cho1l int1o Of fho 4
bate. A chief opponent of Mr. Everett was the
late Vice President Of the United States, VIM.
R.King, who made speech against the confirm
alton, and concluded by saying, if an Aboli-
zionist Sc marked and distinguished as Mr.. Eve
rett should receive the confirmation of the
United States Senate, that the Union would
soon be at an end Mr. Clay had listened to
the speech with great attention, and towards
the close he had become considerably excited,
and as Mr.. King took his seat, Mr.. Clay arose,
and without even addressing the Vice Presi-
dent. in his marked and particular manner
looking over to Mr.. King, and stretching out
his long sinewy arm he said, "And tell you
sir, if the Senate shall reject the nomination of
so distinguished an individual as Edward Eve
rett for reasons such as you have urged, the
Union is already at an end"
Suffice it to say, that Mr.. Everett was con-
frmed, and entered upon the duties of his Of
fee, but it is due to the dead to say that no one
exercised more important part in obtaining
that confirmation than James T. Morehead,
whose heart is now cold, but whose good name
and good works will live in long years to come.
Those who knew him while living, will mourn
over him when dead.
We understand that his body will be convey
ed to Frankfort, and be inferred in the cemete-
ry of that place, where calmly sleep many of
Kentucky S most illustrious dead. To Cover
nor Morehead, Halleck's beautiful lines will
apply with marked propriety, when sleeping
in his grave by Kentucky's beautiful river:
ssGreen be The turf above thee,
Friend of our better days.
None knew thee but to love thee,
None named thee but to praise.''