february january politician lawyer state kentucky served representative minister mexico 15th governor kentucky served speaker house strong supporter friend family came kentucky attended private academy studied law briefly judge advocate volunteer militia war began political career representing kentucky house representatives elected served decade presidential election acted adams opponent charged negotiations clay agreed support adams president exchange named secretary state chosen whig nominee governor kentucky general election won landslide judge conservative policies helped kentucky recover financial panic end term state experiencing budget state banks resumed payments left office appointed minister mexico president following attempt return defeated democrat defeat home district strong indication decline whig influence kentucky remained active politics sought public office died january early life born virginia february seventh children born family moved kentucky living settling time attended common schools area dismissed studied trade masonry enthusiastically father enrolled private academy near kentucky better instruction common schools gained sound education following instruction academy returned father tradition holds helped build state governor mansion alongside future governor read law office admitted bar commenced practice lancaster kentucky briefly served judge advocate colonel volunteer militia war married died march bear children following death wife married sister congressman future chief justice records referred second wife queen children born result marriage couple raised childhood survived husband died october political career nicknamed black bob known witty known distract audiences opponents campaign speeches playing political career began elected represent kentucky house representatives served respite term elected house_of_representatives elected democratic republican eighteenth congress represented state fourth district general_assembly conducted state fifth district friend ardent supporter candidate gained thirds majority electoral vote presidential election outcome fell vote house_of_representatives political followed served clay eventually clay supporters threw support adams reportedly exchange clay named secretary state called alleged deal corrupt bargain supported adams administration anti administration jackson won presidential contest consistent support clay promoted expansion internal improvements including road bill vetoed jackson clay proposed compromise senate quell crisis introduced clay compromise house election challenged fifth district seat house_of_representatives moore previously represented counties fifth district returned year stint minister vote close house refused seat candidate ordered new election won new election votes term served seek election end term served presidential whig ticket returned kentucky house later year elected year years sought speaker house defeated incumbent speaker vote following year way contest speaker helm ballots helm withdrew race defeated year elected post opposition governor kentucky state convention held august candidates initially forward office governor withdrew consideration leaving contest judge won nomination vote general election defeated democratic opponent judge majority votes cast captured large houses state legislature weeks inauguration prevailed presidential election soon harrison visited discuss appointment friend harrison cabinet december wrote tell general_assembly shortly elect senate seat going accept position president harrison cabinet prefer march general_assembly session elect replacement senate january replied expected named attorney general believed accept post preferred deadline harrison death month inauguration able timeline appointed attorney general march half term state struggling recover financial panic consistent whig views blamed crisis federal government failure state dire financial situation drastically cut spending including suspension construction improvements green kentucky rivers actions greatly reduced state deficit improved credit years office state showed small growing budget surplus generally opposed debt relief measures allow passage minor legislation aid danger property legislation passed expanded types personal property year general_assembly eliminated summer terms circuit courts effectively delaying hearings encouraged banks new small loans legislature followed suit moderately increasing credit extended state banks state economy recovered banks resumed payments state bonds increased value end term kentucky worst economic crisis final acts governor proclaimed thanksgiving day kentucky september leaving office resumed law practice contenders seat contenders consisted fellow democrat ballots winner emerged supporters withdrew nominated eventually won seat diplomat mexico strong supporter whig candidate presidential election taylor won election friend recommended post general taylor declined suggestion instead appointed united_states envoy minister mexico arrived mexico_city february primary responsibility negotiating treaty protect interests american citizens purchased rights construct line transit submitted rough draft treaty mexican officials march nearly months negotiation signed modified treaty june modifications provision tolls mexican produced goods transported route percent united_states goods increase authority exercised mexico protecting route wrote secretary state treaty fell short hoped believed provisions best obtained month signed treaty replaced secretary state response concerns raised americans hoping construct line transit asked attempt obtain certain modifications treaty brought modifications mexican diplomats refused accept speaking blessing administration united_states region force requested concessions mexican government conceded able resist action refused accept modifications treaty learning strong mexican resistance proposed modifications instructed negotiate favorable terms agree january signed second treaty slightly favorable americans time taken sides negotiate treaty public sentiment mexico turned decidedly form treaty united_states mexican government declared agreement american investors grounds provisional government granted right attempted negotiate new treaty acquire rights mexican government february reported expect able reach kind agreement returned home august later political career returning kentucky resumed legal practice away mexico congressional seat kentucky won democrat known district contained estate territory represented whig hadn represented democrat eager avenge loss wanted candidate state convention chose kentucky attorney general nomination received whig factions withdrew march chosen replace met debate april incumbent spoke focused political issues like contrasting higher revenue generated produced higher favored campaign responded appealing party loyalty district claimed democrat typically composed debate angry occasion frequently attempted grabbed coat tails supporters nicknamed remainder campaign enemy abolitionist endorsed charged combined abolitionist views uncle reverend proved secretly abolitionist despite consistent denial congress power interfere institution responded citing newspaper accounts campaign speech indiana behalf speech predicted constitutional convention way kentucky produce document contained provisions gradual emancipation noting ultra men extreme south desire extension slavery candidates received financial support outside district buy votes bribe voters stay home received thousand dollars substantial coming washington banker estimates support ranged won votes received vote recorded votes registered voters considered strongest whig candidate state inability win seat ultimate failure kentucky loss run public office remained active politics death presidential election spoke behalf pennsylvania new_york kentucky urged oppose constitution kansas dissolution generally supported candidates state politics supported candidate presidential election believing represented best hope peacefully resolving tension north south election day health beginning fail died home january buried cemetery kentucky named honor
Robert P. Letcher