The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1922-08-11
ADMINISTRATIONS
WENT A-VISITING
BY r. S. Cotterill.
Assistant Professor OF History, Uni
versity OF Louisville.

II is OF course, no unusual thing
for the governor of state to go a
travelling; indeed American history
affords more than one instance where
such travels have been compulsory.
But in the entire history of the nation
acre is probably but one example of
the entire executive and legislative
departments Of a state packing their
official suit cases and setting off to
pay an Official call on the govern
ment OF neighboring state. This
the Legislature and governor of Ken
lucky did in 1860. II was to Ohio
that they went a-visiting and they
had for their travelling companions
the Legislature of Tennessee. And
the manner of the happening was in
this wise. -
In 1859 the Louisville and Nash
willie Railroad was finished and, as
was the Western custom in those
days. a mammoth celebration was
held to commemorate the occasion.
The place was Louisville and to this
city. ambitious even then, came the
municipal authorities of Nashville,
the Legislature and Lieutenant gov
crnor of Tennessee CHE governor be-
ing sick). the Legislature and Cover
- az A
Official part in the rejoicing. The
governor of Indiana came, too as ala
the mayor and Council of Frankfort.
Thereupon followed brave doings
with banqueting and revelry anC
oceans of oratory, in all OF which
James Guthrie, president OF the
Louisville aand Nashville Railroad,
was the central figure. In the midst
of the celebration came a committee
from Cincinnati with an invitation
for them all TO visit that city, and
another from Columbus inviting them
TO the capital OF Ohio as the guests of
the state.
The reason for these invitations
was not merely courtesy nor interest
in the Louisville and Nashville. In
January 1860. war clouds were al
ready bigger than a mans hand and
the leaders were looking wildly
around them for anything that prom
ised to lay the storm. II was hoped
that a commission of the Legisla-
lures of the three states might slay
the disunion spirit undoubtedly
abroad. SO the invitation was sent
and accepted and on the 25th of jan
uary the Legislatures of Kentucky
and Tennessee. the governor of Ken
lucky, the municipal authorities OF
Louisville. Nashville and Frankfort
and many others went aboard the
good ship. Jacob Strader, and set out
for Cincinnati. The boat was put at
their disposal by its owners.
The voyage TO Cincinnati was
made in n snowstorm, which continu-
ed TO rage as long as the visit lasted
When the party were within six miles
of Cincinnati they were me by a well
coming delegation on two steamers
and the thrse boats, being dashed to-
gether, went triumphantly into Gin
cinnati. There the Miami railroad
had put train of fifteen coaches al
their disposal and they set out i'm
mediately for Columbus. Nicholas
Longworth sent twenty cases OF his
best Catawba wine for their enter
talnmeut and the ride soon became
hilarious when an, American gets
slightly intoxicated he begins pun
ming and the Catawba inspired one
of the worst ones ever heard on this
continents; THE Union Long, wortf
preserving"
There was stop at Xenia and ther
on TO Columbus. There they were
met at the station by welcoming
committee and escorted by the mill
tary thru streets decorated with flag
and lined with cheering people, to thu
hall of the House OF Representatives