bOVEKNOR EUWAKD T. BUEATHITT REDEDICATION OF JOHN BREATHITT MARKER SEPTEMBER 16, 1967 RUSSELLVILLE, KENTUCKY For Release at 10 a.m. I accepted with pleasure your Invitation to be here today for this part of Western Kentucky's observance of the Commonwealth's 175th anniversary. After all, I have a bit of kinship tie with the Kentucky ° statesman whose marker we rededlcate today. And by my Hopklnsvllle background, I have a geographic tie with this part of the state. Logan County Is celebrating its 175th anniversary, too. You Logan Countlans live In an area that became a county on September 1, 17tf2, just three months after the new Commonwealth of * Kentucky became a state. Most of you know that Logan County is the mother of some 20 counties. In fact, In the period of Kentucky statehood, Logan County then Included all of what Is now regarded as l^estern Kentucky except for the Jackson Purchase. And this county, as you also know, was named for General Benjamin Logan, who founded Logan's Station In 1775. He also was a member of the convention which wrote the first constitution for Kentucky and also a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1779. This Is another reason for the ceremonies here and at Fairview today -- honoring some of the most illustrious names In I- ^ -2- Kentucky's history -- and also serving as Western Kentucky's participa tion in the 175th Anniversary Year. The county seat of Logan County, when established, was known as Logan Court House. Logan County then Included all of the land bounded on the nortn by the Ohio River, on the south by the Tennessee River and west to ttte same river and east to Stanford in Central Kentucky. Quite a sizable chunk of Kentucky, wasn't it? The 20 counties that came wholly, or in part, but mostly wholly from the original Logan County Include Christian and Warren, both in 1796; Livingston, Muhlenberg, Barren, and Henderson, all In 1798; Hopkins, in 1806; Caldwell, in 1809; Butler, in 1810; Union, In 1811; Allen, in ISlo; Simpson and Todd, both in 1819; Monroe and Trigg, both in 1820; Edmonson, in 182b; Crittenden, in 1842; Lyon and McLean, both in 1854; and Webster, in 1860. Logan County not only has been the mother of 20 counties, Russellvllle Itself, named in honor of General William Russell, a Revolutionary War officer, has been the home of four Kentucky Governors, In addition to John Breathitt, whose marker we rededicate here today, they were James T. Morehead, Charles T. Morehead, and John J. Crittenden. Some of you probably did not know before today that Russellvllle also has been the home of two Governors of Illinois ' / Nln^ian Edwards and John i^cLean, and of two Governors of Texas -- Fletcher Stockdale and Richard Call. John Breathitt, the 10th Governor of our great Commonwealth, achieved an important niche in Kentucky annals, although he died at .tt,-. ^ -tv- lA,-'-"-- ^ \u-A -. ^ ^ -- . • (h v* - -3- the early age of 47 and in just the second year of his term as Kentucky's Chief Executive. Even five years after his death, Breathitt County, in Eastern Kentucky, was named for him. And the county seat of Breathitt County, now known as Jackson, first was named Breathitt, too, in honor of John Breathitt. It is significant, I think, that Jackson was so named later In honor of Andrew Jackson, the hero of New Orleans who became President of the United States. I say significant because Governor John Breathitt in 1828 and in 1832 was a strong supporter of Andrew Jackson, Those of you active in the state and historical societies -- indeed, all of you interested in Kentucky history and heritage -- will be interested in knowing that John Breathitt was a pioneer in preserving the historical and political documents of this state. In fact, he was instrumental in steps that led to organization of the Kentucky Historical Society. To the Kentucky Legislature on January 1, 1834, just a month and a half before his death. Governor John Breathitt suggested that a committee be formed to study the need of preserving Kentucky's valuable documents. To that 1834 State Legislature, Governor John Breathitt said: "In looking into the archives of this state, I regret that many important documents regarding the political history of Kentucky are not to be found. We owe it to ourselves and to posterity* to rescue from the oblivious hand of time. Important papers in which - i" r * -6- serves you as a sort of Community Center. The Russellvllle Woman's Club has owned this building for some 40 years, but as you well know, this building also serves as a meeting place for your civic clubs and other local organizations. Today, 133 years after John Breathltt's death, we rededlcate this marker in tribute to his kind of spirit that never dies. We also rededlcate this marker in memory of his sincerity of purpose, his aggressive but dedicated tone of action, and his achievements that will live throughout all time. if if # V- «Li't' ^i-j /* •• • w.'. • ;? , •: . v- ^ • 7 Vv ; S ''-'l-'•» Jr ^ -'^ • fe-",-'r*' .'•• '•' 'v/#•' •;- •:- - f. • :-i-- •• V. >♦ •• •-• t dNifiiMai idhiyti an •TWiiahTr r"^ "iiiri-fi'^i I'ifai iBSiii ^;r.. • -> : GOVLRUOR EDWARD T. 13KtATHlTT REDEUICATION OF JEFFt^SON UAVIS iMONUMEiJT STATE SHRINE StPTtl'lBER 16, 1967 . ' FAIRVIEW, KENTUCKY ii' > For Release at 2:30 p.m. In rededlcdtiiig this memorial and unveiling the new iTiarker, to Jefferson Davis, we not only are honoring one of the greatest Americans. We also are honoring one of the very greatest Southerners and certainly one of Kentucky's most-distinguished sons. It is so appropriate that we do this as part of Western Kentucky's observance of the Commonwealth's 175th anniversary. And I am pleased to remind you of several improvements the Kentucky Department of Parks has completed at this State shrine this year -- «- a beautification program in general that includes interior redecora- tion, plus new cases and new displays. And you probably have noticed the renovation of the superintendent's residence -- particularly the outside, which is a replica of Jefferson Davis' birthplace. Through the century since the Civil War, many millions of words have been written and spoken about the fact that the President of the Southern States and the President of the Northern States both were Kentuckians -- and that they were born within less than a hundred miles of each other. And each married a Kentucky woman, ,w • r- .-is. »•/ . -• -• ...V- W- • : ' vv .. N, ^ 6^ -2- So I do not presume here today to enlarge upon the Kentucky heritage of Jefferson Davis and Abraiiam Lincoln. I do, however, want to pinpoint Indelibly that both men, by their every effort and by the thread that ran so true throughout both of their lives, remained true to their convictions and truly let their consciences be their guides. Both represented the divided viewpoints of Kentucklans in the great Civil War which saw Kentucklans fighting for both the iJorth and the South, Today, we are rededicating this memorial with Its iffiprovements to the memory of Jefferson Davis, not only as part of Kentucky's Trlquarticentennial, but also on the 50th anniversary of the start of construction here. So I want to delineate the man's consistency In character and his exemplary life In general, I want. If you please, to help you relive with me the noble life that Jefferson Davis lived through the pages of history -- and yes, his achievements, too. Perhaps because of his gallant leadership in a cause that was somewhat doomed from the very start -- a country without an army or navy, no source of revenue, no currency, no railroads or industry to speak of -- Mr. Davis Is remembered by many only as the President of the Confederacy. But Mr. Davis earned a niche In history by many other achievements even before the war. He was educated at Transylvania here In Kentucky at Lexington. His ambitions were to^llltary and not to the political. V .. ;• •'Mt- 0.''^ ^ ^. • >. : .t- i •• ^ •:.. -':m,^m $ - *• • Hv . -3- After graduation from West Point, he was cited for distinguished service in the Indian and liexlcan wars. rie was elected as a U. S. Senator from Mississippi. Then he served as Secretary of War in President Franklin Pierce's Cabinet. l^iany "firsts" are credited to the statesman and military genius we nonor liere today. As a Senator, he was the first to suggest transcontinental railroads connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific; the first to suggest buying the Panama Canal Zone; and the first to suggest buying Cuba. In international relations. Senator Davis promoted closer relations with South America and planned American trade with China and Japan. Senator Davis also was largely responsible for the new Senate Hall, the new House of Representatives building, and for the extension of many other public buildings in Washington -- especially the Treasury Building. As Secretary of War, the great man born*here organized cavalry service adapted to United States needs and Introduced light Infantry tactics. An interesting sidelight is that it was Jefferson Oavis who appointed Robert L. Lee as superintendent of West Point. War Secretary Davis also strengthened forts on the -r- Western frontier, frequently drawing on arsenals in the South to do so. ,-.V,v A «• \ •*'*. " ' • * ** ^ '4 yiidi •- " •• •••^ •• ••"••> :/•^ "- -4- •' • •., iio where did nis genius display Itself more significantly tnan as Secretary of War, by his typically-efficient and thorough way of doing things. Ironically, he strengtiiened the Union forces which he later was to oppose in following the a1r.is and purposes of what he considered his Inevitable, conscientious decision.