august 25th governor kentucky represented state houses son future speaker house diplomat graduated studied law cousin future congressman briefly practicing law mississippi relocated kentucky elected county attorney serving kentucky legislature chosen delegate state constitutional convention commissioners charged code laws task finished democrat elected consecutive terms supported proposed civil war blamed failure losing reelection bid known confederate stayed public life war consequently able avoid imprisoned confederate days elected governor lieutenant governor respectively helm died acting governor subsequently won special election finish helm term governor opposed federal intervention considered state matters insisted blacks newly granted rights observed state militia quell post war violence state fiscal conservative advocated new tax benefit education created state bureau education defeated incumbent seat criticizing allegedly supporting appointment hated federal position senate opposed internal improvements defended view constitution resisting efforts expand powers granted document beginning late functioned chairman later called floor leader senate democratic caucus seek reelection returning law practice accepting future kentucky governor law partner chaired elected president died august buried cincinnati ohio early life family born richmond virginia child andrew white mother granddaughter declaration independence died sent live maternal grandparents john father remarried father prominent virginia lawyer rose political prominence childhood elected congress eventually serving speaker house later appointed minister called united_states ambassador united_kingdom president controversy pro slavery practices father position young met educated private virginia washington frequently lived father congress age sydney college years later transferred graduated graduation read law cousin later serve congress admitted bar virginia following madison advice decided settle west traveled horseback western frontier reached mississippi_river settling mississippi small settlement time provide work satisfy decided travel kentucky settling permanently formed law partnership respected lawyer area partnership lasted death devout frequently attended conventions elected november married newport kentucky children political career soon arriving elected county attorney chosen delegate elected represent kentucky house representatives following year reelected chosen delegate state constitutional convention produced kentucky state constitution appointed commissioners revise kentucky civic criminal code work code civil criminal cases published kentucky delegates serving presidential representative elected consecutive terms duration tenure body served favored admitting kansas union constitution like sympathetic southern states position lead civil war opposed means dealing tensions presidential election supported close friend civil war advocated acceptance proposed including compromise authored fellow blamed rigid adherence demands failure proposed january denounced speech dictionary american biography called notable career house defeated reelection duration war lasted april stayed public life order avoid arrested confederate war delegate convention philadelphia pennsylvania supporter reconstruction policies president governor kentucky dominated kentucky democratic convention met february father late confederate general nominated governor nominated lieutenant governor entire democratic slate candidates elected including received votes non confederate win election year congressman state democrat federal soldier helm took oath office sick bed home kentucky september died days later sworn governor september acts governor appointments union soldier adjutant general confederate soldier state general helm died soon taking office special election remainder term set august democrats held convention february nominated finish helm term opponent election lieutenant governor choice republicans republicans faced including national party persecution president johnson lack local organization kentucky counties despite shortcomings public speaker elected landslide time largest majority obtained candidate kentucky election civil rights post war kentucky democrats split factions conservative democrats progressive new departure democrats governed moderately giving concessions sides urged immediate restoration rights denounced congress failing seat portion kentucky delegation sided confederacy champion states rights resisted federal measures saw violating sovereignty states denounced proposed fifteenth amendment following lead general_assembly refused pass fourteenth fifteenth amendment passage constitutional majority states generally insisted blacks newly granted rights silent state legislators officials cities lengthy residency restrictions district municipal boundaries exclude black voters specific elections plea legislators constitutional convention revise state pro slavery constitution better conform post war reality completely ignored opposed effort expand blacks rights assured federal amendments legislation civil rights act guaranteed blacks testify whites federal courts opposed new departure democrats insisted kentucky amend laws allow black testimony whites state courts measure failed legislative session later year declared civil rights act unconstitutional federal court soon overturned decision backed democrats appeal decision supreme_court united_states changed mind supported blacks right testify despite support measure failed general_assembly passed following year left office election state blacks allowed vote warned violence tolerated relied local authorities suppress incidents offered rewards perpetrators election related violence recommended carrying concealed weapons outlawed general_assembly passed requested legislation march law imposed small fines offense rapidly increased subsequent order deter repeat offenders state matters message legislature called legislators finally decide state capital remain moved lexington louisville wanted address clear favored keeping capital noted additional space needed present capitol building existing building continue house room state treasurer laid vision addition capitol pay expansion conservative pressed federal government pay claims kentucky civil war expenses end term state collected million claims legislature disregarded plan expanding capitol instead opting construct separate executive office building capitol advocated careful study state finances deal increasing expenditures insisted state stop covering short term bonds willing tax benefit segregation schools helped create state bureau education blacks possessed little property significant value new tax yielded little revenue support educational institutions state legislators rejected proposal create state bureau immigration statistics spur interest migration state persuade legislators improvements state institutions including establishing house reform juvenile offenders mob violence calling felt local authorities failed duties protect people ongoing problem administration september urged local authorities ordered groups disbanded october group calling band began anti violence dispatched authorizing use state militia quell violence necessary called companies militia suppressed band sent similar movement later october dispatched state militia dispatched lincoln counties governor declared send troops necessary arrest bringing justice combine matter law feet acts personal violence senator beginning late attacked kentucky senator representative allegedly supporting president nomination union general federal position revenue service born northern kentucky commanded colored troops civil war specifically ordered suppress confederate home state kentucky general_assembly sought bring trial war crimes wrote people kentucky pursued hated efforts finally came point friend left state raise voice defend attacks jones likely designed discredit advance senate term vigorously denied charges eventually challenged duel declined challenge citing christian beliefs general_assembly met choose successor december fifth ballot chose year senate term resigned governorship february advance march congressional session senate conservative opposing spending internal improvements maintaining strict view constitution urged fellow senators oppose civil rights act claiming provision president suspend right corpus cases believed violence imminent amounted giving chief executive powers dictator opposed appropriation federal money fund philadelphia pennsylvania believe congress given authority allocation constitution democratic national convention received votes delaware delegates democratic vice presidential nomination ultimately nominated february vice president named members investigate new_hampshire senator involvement scandal fellow senator new_jersey asked removed commission senate refused grant request february commission recommended expulsion senate chamber march acting recommendation term ended end session elected rendering consideration matter december term generally recognized chairman later known floor leader minority democratic caucus senate person acted capacity fourth congress chaired seek reelection end term disputed presidential election visiting went new_orleans louisiana concluded election fairly conducted state later life death service senate returned law practice addition accepted position teaching criminal law contracts remained interested politics chosen chairman democratic state convention louisville president democratic national convention cincinnati ohio began exploring concept dual personal acquaintance characterized proponent dual delivered address subject association annual meeting maintained madison believed strongly rights sovereign states regarded supreme_court appeal remedy reserved rights states unconstitutional acts congress elected president year address published association member characterized presidential report reviewing state federal legislation interesting valuable profession men studied law later years future treasury secretary future kentucky governor eventually law partner early august traveled tennessee attend commencement ceremonies fell ill rushed home died august buried cincinnati
John W. Stevenson