The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-02-22
THE DARK AND BLOODY GROUND

THE DARK AND BLOODY GROUND
X ntucky's History Has Been Ever
Marked by Exciting Political
Events.
kentucky was early called "the
dark and bloody ground" because OF
the sanguinary strifes enacted within
| its borders between cOntending tribes
OF savages, and has ever retained the
| characteristics and traits then de-
veloped to q marked degree. From
| the political turbulence which pre-
| ceded and followed it's advent into the
| U nton as d State, down to the present
revolutionary proceedings now being
enacted ut its State Capital, Kentucky
| is nothing if not radical. This spirit
| is, no doubt, due to the influence and
training OF the pioneer settlers, whose
| circumstances and surroundings made
| them a race seldom eGualed for
strength aud intellect and will, physi,
cal and moral courage, personal Prov.
| css and endurance. Many OF the
most intellectual and cultivated officers
OF the Revolution settled in Kentucky
at the close OF the war in 1881, and IL
| Is q matter OF history that never did y
population SO small in numbers en-
| brace so many who we're giants In in
tellect, daring and physical rropor.
tions.
Kentucky's first civil existence be-
gan in the spring Of 1888, when it WAS
erected into dlstrict with q Court OF
criminal and civil jurisdiction. Az
that time the territory was a part Of
Virginia. The failure of the English
| to surrender their Northwestern pos is
within the United States instigated
constant Indian hostilities, and the
citizens Of Kentucky sought separa
tiOn from Virginia, in order that they
might lawfully protect themselves
from the sava9es. Proceedings were
begun to secure constitutional separa-
tion. Virginia acqniesced, provided
| that Congress woulu assent and receive
the new State into tho Union. But
two circumstances about this time oc-
| Cured to create great hostility in Ken.
lucky against Vie General Goveru.
| ment. One was the utter inability of
Congress to protect them from tho de-
| predatiOns of the Indians, and the
other was the disposition OF an element
in Congress to yield to Spain for twenty
years the right to navigate the Missis-
slppi River In exchange for CONNER
clal privileges beneficial only to the
Eastern States. This aroused intense
dissatisfaction In kentucky, and Gen.
James Wilkinson, Revolutionary
officer, who had settled in Lexington,
boldly advocated rebellion and separa-
tion from the Union. His movement,
however, did not gain any consider
able following. This was in 1856.
For four years the agitation for o.
| separate State progressed. Gen. vii.
klnsOn continued to be q revolutionary
factor and advocated an Independent
government, which, he said, Spain
would recognize and cedo to it the
right Of navigation of the Mississippi.
Agents from Canada also intrigued
with the malconteuts, urging kentucky
to unite with the northern English
Washington was elected President,
and strongly recommended the accept
ance OF the Virginia Act OF Separa-
tion by Congress. On February 4,
1871, IN Act for that purpose passed
both houses Of Congress, WAS signed by
President Washington and Kentucky
became State.
In December, 1901, Constitutional
Convention was elected, which met In
the following April and formed the
first Constitution Of kentucky. The
basis of repr esentation by counties was
abandoned and numbers established
instead. Tho Executive, Senate and
judiciary were entir ly removed from
the direct control of the people. The
Governor and members Of tho Senate
were chosen by electors elected by the
people, and tho judiciary were ap
pointed. The Constitution was adopted
and officers elected In May, 1892. taaac
Shelby WAS elected the first Governor.
The first Legislature met at Lax.ng
ton and fixed upon the future seat Of
government by q singular process.
Twenty-Five commissioners were first
chosen by general ballot. Then the
counties of Mercer and Fayette, the
rival competitors for the location, al
ternatoly struck five names from the
list until tho commissioners were re-
duced to five. These last were empOw.
cred to fix upon the Capital, and Frahk.
fort was chosen.
A year after kentucky ratified her
first Constitution she narrowly escaped
coming into direct conflict with the
General Government. Tho llame OF
sympathy which swept over the coun-
try for the new French Republic ic
burned with exceeding tierceness In
Kentucky. Genet, the French an bas-
sador, who openly disrcgarded the
Presidents proclamation OF neutrality,
sent four French agents into Kentucky
TDese were instructed to enlist an
army Of 2, 600 men. appoint a generalls-
simO and descend the Ohio and Mlssis.
sippi rivers and attack the Spanish set-
tlemcnts at the mouth. The move.
ment wea eyervwbere received with