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Lazarus W. Powell
Lazarus W. Powell
In office
September 2, 1851 – September 4, 1855
Lieutenant John B. Thompson
Preceded by John L. Helm
Succeeded by Charles S. Morehead
In office
March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1865
Preceded by John B. Thompson
Succeeded by James Guthrie
Born October 6, 1812(1812-10-06)
Henderson County, Kentucky
Died July 3, 1867 (aged 54)
Henderson County, Kentucky
Political party Democratic
Spouse Harriet Ann Jennings
Profession Lawyer

Lazarus Whitehead Powell (October 6, 1812 - July 3, 1867) was the nineteenth Governor of Kentucky, serving from 1851 to 1855. The Governor of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of the U Events 44 BC - Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. 1851 ( MDCCCLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year Events 476 - Romulus Augustus, last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself Year 1855 ( MDCCCLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year The office of lieutenant governor of Kentucky has existed under the last three of Kentucky's four constitutions beginning in 1797 John Burton Thompson ( December 14, 1810 &ndash January 7, 1874) was a United States Representative and Senator from John LaRue Helm ( July 4, 1802 &ndash September 8, 1867) was the eighteenth and twenty-fourth governor of the U Charles Slaughter Morehead (July 7 1802 – December 21 1868 was the twentieth governor of Kentucky. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Events 51 - Nero, later to become Roman Emperor, is given the title Princeps iuventutis (head of the youth Year 1859 ( MDCCCLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1284 - Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England 1575 - Indian Year 1865 ( MDCCCLXV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year John Burton Thompson ( December 14, 1810 &ndash January 7, 1874) was a United States Representative and Senator from James Guthrie ( December 5, 1792 &ndash March 3, 1869) was an American businessman and politician Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus Year 1812 ( MDCCCXII) a leap year started on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Henderson County is a County located in the US state of Kentucky. Events 324 - Battle of Adrianople Constantine I defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium. Year 1867 ( MDCCCLXVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Henderson County is a County located in the US state of Kentucky. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law as an attorney, Counsel or Solicitor; a person Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus Year 1812 ( MDCCCXII) a leap year started on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Events 324 - Battle of Adrianople Constantine I defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium. Year 1867 ( MDCCCLXVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting The Governor of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of the U 1851 ( MDCCCLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year Year 1855 ( MDCCCLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year He was later elected to represent Kentucky in the U.S. Senate from 1859 to 1865. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Year 1859 ( MDCCCLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1865 ( MDCCCLXV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year

The reforms enacted during Powell's term as governor gave Kentucky one of the top educational systems in the antebellum South. He also improved Kentucky's transportation system and vetoed legislation that he felt would have created an overabundance of banks in the Commonwealth. Four of the constituent states of the United States officially designate themselves Commonwealths: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania Powell's election as governor marked the end of Whig dominance in Kentucky. The Whig Party was a Political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Powell's predecessor, John J. Crittenden, was the last governor elected from the party of the Commonwealth's favorite son, Henry Clay. John Jordan Crittenden ( September 10, 1786 July 26, 1863) was an American statesman from Kentucky. A favorite son (or a favorite daughter) is a political term that can refer to two different types of Politicians A politician whose electoral Henry Clay Sr ( April 12, 1777 &ndash June 29, 1852) was a nineteenth-century American statesman and Orator who

Following his term as governor, Powell was elected to the U. S. Senate. Before he could assume office, President James Buchanan dispatched Powell and Major Benjamin McCulloch to Utah to ease tensions with Brigham Young and the Mormons. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by James Buchanan Jr (April 23 1791 – June 1 1868 was the fifteenth President of the United States (1857–1861 Major is a Military rank the use of which varies according to country Benjamin McCulloch (November 11 1811&ndashMarch 7 1862 was a soldier in the Texas Revolution, a Texas Ranger, a U The State of Utah (ˈjuːtɔː or) is a western state of the United States. Brigham Young (June 1 1801 &ndash August 29 1877 was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. Mormonism is a term used to describe the religious, ideological and cultural elements of certain branches of the Latter Day Saint movement Powell assumed his Senate seat on his return from Utah, just prior to the election of Abraham Lincoln as president. Abraham Lincoln (February 12 1809 &ndash April 15 1865 the sixteenth President of the United States, successfully led his country through its greatest internal Powell became an outspoken critic of Lincoln's administration, so much so that the Kentucky General Assembly asked for his resignation and some of his fellow senators tried to have him expelled from the body. The Kentucky General Assembly, also called the Kentucky Legislature, is the state legislature of the U Both groups later renounced their actions.

Powell died at his home near Henderson, Kentucky shortly following a failed bid to return to the Senate in 1867. Henderson is a city in Henderson County, Kentucky, United States, along the Ohio River in the western part of the state Year 1867 ( MDCCCLXVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting

Contents

Early life

Powell was born on October 6, 1812 near Henderson, Kentucky, the third son of Lazarus and Ann McMahon[a] Powell. Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus Year 1812 ( MDCCCXII) a leap year started on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Henderson is a city in Henderson County, Kentucky, United States, along the Ohio River in the western part of the state [1] He attended the common schools of Henderson, and was tutored by George Gayle. [2] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Joseph College in Bardstown, Kentucky in 1833,[3] and began studying law under John Rowan. Bardstown is a city in Nelson County, Kentucky, United States. Year 1833 ( MDCCCXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common John Rowan ( July 12, 1773 &ndash July 13, 1843) was an American lawyer and Democratic-Republican politician from [4] He then enrolled in the Transylvania University School of Law, studying under Justice George Robertson and Judge Daniel Mayes. Transylvania University is a private liberal arts college related by covenant to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ located in Lexington, Kentucky [2] He was admitted to the bar in 1835, and partnered with Archibald Dixon to start a law practice in Henderson. A bar association is a Professional body of Lawyers Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their Jurisdiction Year 1835 ( MDCCCXXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Archibald Dixon (April 2 1802 &ndash April 23 1876 was a US Senator from Kentucky [2] The two remained partners until 1839. Year 1839 ( MDCCCXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common [5]

On November 8, 1837, Powell married Harriet Ann Jennings. Events 1519 - Hernán Cortés enters Tenochtitlán and Aztec ruler Moctezuma welcomes him with great a Celebration Year 1837 ( MDCCCXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common [6] The couple had three sons[b] before Jennings died on July 30, 1846. Events 1419 - First Defenestration of Prague. 1502 - Christopher Columbus lands at Guanaja in the Bay Islands off For the game see 1846 (board game. Year 1846 ( MDCCCXLVI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display [2]

Political career

A Democrat in a Whig district, Powell's political career began with an 1836 bid for a seat in the Kentucky House of Representatives. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. The Whig Party was a Political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. The Kentucky House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly [7] He campaigned vigorously while his opponent, John G. Holloway, relied largely on his party affiliation to carry the election. [8] This proved a critical misstep for Holloway, as Powell secured the surprise victory. Holloway apparently learned from his mistake. Upon the completion of Powell's term in 1838, Holloway challenged Powell again, and defeated him by a considerable majority. [8] Six year later, Powell was chosen as a presidential elector on the Democratic ticket, supporting James K. Polk. James Knox Polk ( November 2 1795&ndashJune 15 1849 was the eleventh President of the United States, serving from March 4 1845 to March 4 1849 [9]

Governor of Kentucky

In 1848, Kentucky Democrats nominated Linn Boyd for governor, but Boyd declined the nomination. Year 1848 ( MDCCCXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Linn Boyd ( November 22, 1800 &ndash December 17, 1859) was a prominent U Powell was chosen to replace Boyd on the ticket, largely due to the influence of James Guthrie. James Guthrie ( December 5, 1792 &ndash March 3, 1869) was an American businessman and politician [10] The Whig party nominated Senator John J. Crittenden, and the race was complicated by former Vice President Richard Mentor Johnson's announcement that he would run as an independent Democratic candidate. John Jordan Crittenden ( September 10, 1786 July 26, 1863) was an American statesman from Kentucky. The Vice President of the United States is the first person in the presidential line of succession, becoming the new President of the United States upon the death Richard Mentor Johnson (October 17 1780 or 1781 &ndash November 19 1850 was the ninth Vice President of the United States, serving in the administration of Martin [8] Knowing the Democrats' chances were dimmed by having two candidates in the race, Powell arranged a meeting with Johnson, following which the latter withdrew his candidacy and pledged his support to Powell. [8] Nevertheless, Crittenden won the election.

In the gubernatorial election of 1851, Powell was once again the Democratic Party nominee. The Whigs nominated Powell's friend and law partner, Archibald Dixon. Powell and Dixon traveled the state together, eating at the same taverns, speaking from the same platforms, and generally showing cordiality and friendliness that was rare in Kentucky politics in those days. [9] Powell's margin of victory in the general election was a thin 850 votes, while Whig candidate John P. Thompson defeated the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, Robert Wickliffe, by several thousand votes. Robert Charles Wickliffe ( January 6, 1819 – April 18, 1895) was Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Louisiana from 1856-60 [11][9] A third candidate for governor, abolitionist Cassius M. Clay, received 3,621 votes. Abolitionism was a political movement of the 18th and 19th century which sought to make Slavery illegal particularly in the United States and British West Indies Cassius Marcellus Clay, nicknamed "The Lion of White Hall" ( October 19, 1810 – July 22, 1903) was an emancipationist [4] Powell was the first Democrat elected to the office in almost twenty years. [12] (John L. Helm had ascended to the governorship on Crittenden's resignation. John LaRue Helm ( July 4, 1802 &ndash September 8, 1867) was the eighteenth and twenty-fourth governor of the U )[2]

The Whigs also maintained control of the General Assembly, and although Governor Powell was largely able to cooperate with his political opponents, some clashes did occur. As a result of the 1850 census, the General Assembly re-apportioned the state into ten congressional districts. Powell vetoed the redistricting, noting that the districts had been gerrymandered to give the fading Whig party control over the state delegation. Gerrymandering is a form of redistribution in which electoral district or Constituency boundaries are manipulated for electoral advantage The legislature overrode the veto. The governor was successful, however, in vetoing legislation that he felt would have created an overabundance of banks in the Commonwealth. Four of the constituent states of the United States officially designate themselves Commonwealths: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania [13]

Powell implemented the use of the state's sinking fund to pay interest on school bonds, a measure which had passed over Governor Helm's veto, but Helm refused to carry out. Historical Context A Sinking Fund was a device used in Great Britain in the 18th century to reduce National debt. In 1855, Kentucky's voters passed by landslide a measure to raise the school tax from two cents per hundred dollars of taxable property to five cents per hundred dollars. The measure enjoyed the support of both Governor Powell and superintendent of public schools Robert Jefferson Breckinridge. Robert Jefferson Breckinridge ( March 8, 1800 &ndash December 27, 1871) was a Politician and Presbyterian minister Under the leadership of Powell and Breckinridge, Kentucky's school system became among the strongest in the antebellum South. [14]

Among Powell's other successes as governor was his successful lobbying of the legislature to conduct a geological survey in 1854. He also encouraged private investment in transportation in the state. During his term, the state went from having 78 miles of railroad track in operation to having 242 miles in operation. [11]

United States Senator

In January of 1858, Powell was elected to the United States Senate. Year 1858 ( MDCCCLVIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives [2] In April of that year, President James Buchanan appointed Powell and Major Benjamin McCulloch commissioners to negotiate settlements with the Mormons in Utah. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by James Buchanan Jr (April 23 1791 – June 1 1868 was the fifteenth President of the United States (1857–1861 Major is a Military rank the use of which varies according to country Benjamin McCulloch (November 11 1811&ndashMarch 7 1862 was a soldier in the Texas Revolution, a Texas Ranger, a U Mormonism is a term used to describe the religious, ideological and cultural elements of certain branches of the Latter Day Saint movement The State of Utah (ˈjuːtɔː or) is a western state of the United States. [2] On arriving in Utah, Powell and McCulloch issued a proclamation by President Buchanan offering clemency to Mormons who agreed to submit to Federal authority. A pardon is the forgiveness of a crime and the penalty associated with it [15] The offer was accepted, and violence was averted. [15]

Senator Powell favored Kentucky's neutrality policy during the Civil War,[13] but nationally, the conflict put him in a tenuous political situation. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South On one hand, he was a favored a strong national government and a strict interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme Law of the United States. On the other hand, he was an opponent of coercion, and due to Kentucky's proximity to the Southern states, maintained a more sympathetic view of the southern cause that legislators from more northern states. [9] During his term as governor, Powell had been critical of Northern states that refused to abide by the Fugitive Slave Act. The Fugitive Slave Law or Fugitive Slave Act was passed by the United States Congress on September 18, 1850, as part of the Compromise of [12]

In 1861, Senator Powell vigorously condemned President Lincoln's decision to suspend the writ of habeas corpus. Abraham Lincoln (February 12 1809 &ndash April 15 1865 the sixteenth President of the United States, successfully led his country through its greatest internal Habeas corpus (ˈheɪbiəs ˈkɔɹpəs ( Latin: command that you have the body is the name of a legal action or Writ, through which a person can seek relief [9] In 1862, he denounced the arrest of some citizens of Delaware – officially, the arrests were called "resolutions of inquiry" – as a violation of constitutional rights. Delaware ( is a state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. [9] These stances led to calls for his resignation by the Kentucky General Assembly in 1861, and some of his colleagues, led by Kentucky's other senator, Garrett Davis, unsuccessfully attempted to have him expelled from the Senate. The Kentucky General Assembly, also called the Kentucky Legislature, is the state legislature of the U Garrett Davis ( September 10, 1801 &ndash September 22, 1872) was a U [14] Before the end of the war, both the General Assembly and Davis admitted being wrong in their attempts to remove him. [2]

Following his successful defense against calls for his removal, Powell continued speaking against what he saw as violations of constitutional rights. In 1864, he condemned General Order № 11, an edict of Ulysses S. Grant that barred Jews from the Department of Tennessee, which included regions of Kentucky. Ulysses S Grant, born Hiram Ulysses Grant (April 27 1822 &ndash July 23 1885 was an American general and the eighteenth President of the United States PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ [7] In the same speech, he rebuked federal military interference with the elections in Kentucky. [9] In 1864, however, he opposed a constitutional amendment aimed at freeing the slaves. [9]

Later life and legacy

Following his term in the Senate, he returned to Henderson and resumed his law practice. [13] He was a delegate to the Union National Convention in 1866. [2] In 1867, he was again nominated to the U. Year 1867 ( MDCCCLXVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting S. Senate, but after several ballots over several months, the General Assembly had not elected him. [16] Powell believed that many of the legislators had been elected as a result of election interference by Northern forces, and that their intent was to prevent Kentucky from electing a senator at all, diminishing her influence nationally. [17] In light of this belief, he urged the Democrats to withdraw his name and nominate someone more palatable to Union sympathizers. [18] This they did, putting forth the name of Garrett Davis, who was subsequently elected. [18]

Powell died in his home on July 3, 1867. Events 324 - Battle of Adrianople Constantine I defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium. Year 1867 ( MDCCCLXVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting [13] The cause of death was apoplexy, apparently the result of the toll years of rheumatism had exacted on his nervous system. Rheumatism or Rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the Heart, Bones Joints Kidney, Skin [19] He is buried at the Fernwood Cemetery[7] in Henderson, Kentucky. Henderson is a city in Henderson County, Kentucky, United States, along the Ohio River in the western part of the state [13] The state erected a 22-foot high marble monument over his grave in 1870. Marble is a nonfoliated Metamorphic rock resulting from the Metamorphism of Limestone, composed mostly of Calcite (a crystalline form of Year 1870 ( MDCCCLXX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common [2] Powell County, Kentucky, is named in honor of Governor Powell. Powell County is a County located in the US state of Kentucky. [13]

References

  1. ^ Biographical Sketch, p. 11
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Powell, p. 46
  3. ^ Biographical Sketch, p. 18
  4. ^ a b Harrison, p. 731
  5. ^ Biographical Sketch, p. 25
  6. ^ Biographical Sketch, p. 26
  7. ^ a b c NGA Bio
  8. ^ a b c d Starling in Kentucky: History of Henderson County
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, pp. 625–630
  10. ^ Biographical Sketch, p. 40
  11. ^ a b Ramage, p. 72
  12. ^ a b Encyclopedia of Kentucky
  13. ^ a b c d e f Harrison, p. 732
  14. ^ a b Ramage, p. 73
  15. ^ a b Biographical Sketch, p. 52
  16. ^ Biographical Sketch, p. 89
  17. ^ Biographical Sketch, pp. 89–90
  18. ^ a b Biographical Sketch, p. 90
  19. ^ Biographical Sketch, pp. 28–29

Footnotes

^[a] The Encyclopedia of Kentucky lists the name as "Mahon. "
^[b] The Encyclopedia of Kentucky records that the couple had four children.

External links

Preceded by
John L. Helm		 Governor of Kentucky
1851 - 1855		 Succeeded by
Charles S. Morehead
Preceded by
John B. Thompson		 United States Senator (Class 2) from Kentucky
1859–1865
Served alongside: John J. Crittenden, John C. Breckinridge, Garrett Davis		 Succeeded by
James Guthrie
John LaRue Helm ( July 4, 1802 &ndash September 8, 1867) was the eighteenth and twenty-fourth governor of the U The Governor of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of the U Charles Slaughter Morehead (July 7 1802 – December 21 1868 was the twentieth governor of Kentucky. John Burton Thompson ( December 14, 1810 &ndash January 7, 1874) was a United States Representative and Senator from Kentucky was admitted to the Union on June 1, 1792. Class II Class III See also John Jordan Crittenden ( September 10, 1786 July 26, 1863) was an American statesman from Kentucky. John Cabell Breckinridge (January 16 1821 &ndash May 17 1875 was a lawyer U Garrett Davis ( September 10, 1801 &ndash September 22, 1872) was a U James Guthrie ( December 5, 1792 &ndash March 3, 1869) was an American businessman and politician
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