KENTUCKY. 



32T 





" To the People of Kentucky: 



" The most lamentable condition of affairs ever 

 experienced by our people has rendered prompt 

 action on the part of the chief executive of the 

 State absolutely necessary. A long series of un- 

 precedented and unlawful acts practiced by those 

 in charge of the legislative interests of the State 

 has culminated in the most fearful condition of 

 tlic period to the State. The dreadful tragedy 

 which occurred yesterday shocked and startled all, 

 and can be no more sincerely deplored by any one 

 than myself. 



" To attempt to legislate under such conditions 

 of excitement and threatened violence as now pre- 

 vail in Frankfort would be sheer madness, and I 

 have therefore, in the exercise of my constitutional 

 powers, adjourned the Legislature to convene in 

 London, Ky., on Feb. 6. 



" I have taken every precaution to preserve the 

 peace, that every citizen may know that life and 

 property are safe and will be protected with every 

 resource of the commonwealth. I trust that in 

 this laudable effort I will have the support of 

 every law-abiding citizen of Kentucky. 



" W. S. TAYLOR, Governor of Kentucky." 



The First and Second Regiments of militia were 

 called to Frankfort. They guarded the Capitol, 

 preventing legislators and others from entering, 

 and were stationed about other buildings. The 

 Democratic members, who, of course, did not go 

 to London, being refused admittance to the Capi- 

 tol, went to the opera house with no better suc- 

 cess, and to the courthouse ; prevented from en- 

 tering there, they went to the Capitol Hotel, but 

 were told that " any meeting they might attempt 

 to hold in the building would be suppressed, all 

 taking part in it would be arrested, and the hotel 

 occupied by soldiers." 



As soon as Gov. Goebel was declared, he ordered 

 the militia to disperse and return to their homes; 

 he also issued an order dismissing Adjutant-Gen- 

 eral Collier and appointing John B. Castleman in 

 his place. 



The Republican members met in London. B. J. 

 Bethurum was their Speaker. In regard to the 

 compromise proposed at Louisville, they sent the 

 following dispatch to Gov. Taylor: "Make no 

 compromise of our rights under the Constitution 

 and the laws. We represent the people of this 

 commonwealth for a free election and a fair count. 

 An attempt on the part of any man or set of men 

 to set aside the result of the last election by force, 

 fraud, or vicious legislation without the consent of 

 the people is treason. We therefore pledge you our 

 support and lives if you will but stand by the 

 election returns as counted by the electoral com- 

 mission. All members agree to this." 



The Democratic members afterward met in 

 Louisville. About Feb. 12 Gov. Taylor judged the 

 capital to be safe from the threatened insurrection, 

 and adjourned the Legislature to the Statehouse. 

 The Democratic members adjourned to meet there, 

 Feb. 19. The contest for the gubernatorial offices 

 being still before the courts, Lieut.-Gov. Marshall 

 claimed to be the presiding officer of the Senate 

 by virtue of his office, while the Democrats had 

 chosen Senator Carter president pro tern., and 

 acknowledged him as presiding officer. The two 

 sections of the Senate, therefore, held each to its 

 own organization, and continued to do so until 

 the final adjournment. They met each day in the 

 chamber, and the two claimants to the chair sat 

 side by side upon the platform and called the body 

 to order. The Republicans, having no qu,orum, 

 simply answered to the call and then adjourned 

 from day to day. The proceedings in the double 



Senate, Feb. 19, are described in a dispatch of that 

 date: 



" Senator Carter directed the clerk to read the 

 journal, while Mr. Marshall directed Rev. Dr. 

 Dorsie of the Christian church to pray. Dr. Dorsie 

 was quicker than the clerk and he began his prayer 

 before the clerk had a chance to read. 



" It is the custom in the Kentucky Legislature 

 for the members to rise when prayer is being of- 

 fered. The Democrats all kept their seats and 

 Senator Carter sat down while the Republicans all 

 stood up. The moment Dr. Dorsie had finished, 

 the clerk was at it and the Lieutenant Governor 

 was asking if there was any business before the 

 Senate." 



During the session in Louisville a resolution 

 was passed in the House, by a vote of 45 to 8, 

 to invite " the ministers of the city of Louisville 

 of every denomination ' who had not engaged in 

 the unjust and unholy crusade against the late 

 Gov. Goebel ' to open the proceedings each day 

 with prayer." 



After the proceedings in the Senate on the open- 

 ing day the pastors of the two Presbyterian, the 

 Christian, the Catholic, and the Episcopal churches 

 sent in the following communication: 



" To the Legislature of the State of Kentucky: 



" The pastors of the churches of the city of 

 Frankfort having been invited by your honorable 

 body to open your sessions with prayer, and one of 

 our number having had his services ignored when 

 he presented himself in regular course at to-day's 

 sessions, we must hereby respectfully decline to 

 longer officiate as chaplains." 



Upon this the following resolution was adopted : 



" Whereas, no such indignity as that mentioned 

 was ever intended to any of said ministers; and 

 whereas, no such indignity was ever committed so 

 far as known to any member of this body; now 

 be it resolved by the Senate of Kentucky, that 

 this body regrets that any minister of the Gospel 

 feels that he had been so treated by this body; 

 and be it further resolved, that Rev. T. F. Talia- 

 ferro, of Frankfort, be, and he is hereby, invited 

 to attend and open the sessions of the Senate with 

 prayer." 



A joint session was held Feb. 20 to ratify the 

 proceedings of the Democratic members in regard 

 to the gubernatorial contests. The Republican 

 members did not attend. The resolution of rati- 

 fication was passed by a vote of 74 to 2. 



Among the measures of the session was the 

 so-called " McChord " railroad bill, authorizing 

 the Railroad Commission to fix the maximum of 

 freight rates, and to punish for discrimination 

 and extortion. It has been declared unconstitu- 

 tional by the United States district court. 



Another act provides that the Board of Prisons 

 Commissioners may parole convicts in the Peni- 

 tentiary for the first time. Paroled prisoners are 

 not required to remain in the State, but if they do 

 so they are required to report their place of resi- 

 dence and conduct to the Board of Prison Commis- 

 sioners through the county judge at least every 

 six months. 



A resolution was passed appropriating $100,000 

 for reorganizing and equipping the militia and 

 recovering the arms and munitions of war sup- 

 posed to have been taken from the arsenal and 

 carried to London. The money was to be ex- 

 pended under the direction of Gov. Beckham. 



Another resolution was for the appointment of 

 a joint committee to consider amendments to the 

 election law, and report to an extraordinary ses- 

 sion, if such should be called. 



