Joseph Desha
Encyclopedia
Joseph Desha was a U.S. Representative
and the ninth Governor of Kentucky
. Desha was the first Kentucky governor not to have served in the Revolutionary War
. He did, however, serve under William Henry Harrison
and "Mad" Anthony Wayne
in the Northwest Indian War
, and lost two brothers in battle. He married in 1789 and returned to Kentucky in 1792, settling in Mason County
. There he began his political career, serving in both houses of the Kentucky General Assembly
. In 1807, he began the first of six consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. A Democratic-Republican, he joined his party in supporting the War of 1812
. Desha himself volunteered to serve in the war and commanded a division
at the Battle of the Thames
.
In 1824, Desha ran for governor on a platform of debt relief and won a landslide victory. His term was marred by numerous controversies. Chief among these was the Old Court-New Court controversy
, a move by the legislature to abolish the Kentucky Court of Appeals
, which was hostile to their debt relief agenda, and replace it with a more sympathetic court. For a time, two courts of last resort existed in the state, but the old court was eventually restored, albeit over Desha's veto
. Another contentious issue during Desha's tenure was Horace Holley
's presidency of Transylvania University
. Many in the state felt that Holley was too liberal and when Desha joined in the criticism, Holley resigned. Also during his term, Desha's son Isaac was convicted of murder
, despite the political intervention of his father. Following the conviction, the younger Desha unsuccessfully attempted suicide
. Governor Desha then issued a controversial pardon for his son.
Desha did not approve of the election of Thomas Metcalfe
to succeed him, and for a time, he threatened not to vacate the governor's mansion. Following his term as governor, Desha retired from public life. He and his wife moved in with their son, and Desha died at his son's residence on October 11, 1842.
on December 9, 1768. He was of French
Huguenot
ancestry. He obtained a limited education in the state's rural schools. Desha's family relocated to Fayette County, Kentucky
in 1779 and in 1782, settled in Gallatin, Tennessee
. Between the ages of fifteen and twenty-two, Desha volunteered in several military campaigns against the Indians
. In one such campaign, two of his brothers were killed while fighting alongside him.
Following the war, Desha lived with William Whitley
in the town of Crab Orchard, Kentucky
. He married Margaret "Peggy" Bledsoe, the daughter of Jesse Bledsoe
, in December 1789. The couple had thirteen children. In 1792, the family moved to Mason County, Kentucky, where Desha worked as a farmer. In 1794, he served under Generals William Henry Harrison and "Mad" Anthony Wayne in the Northwest Indian War. On January 23, 1798, Desha was appointed as a major
in the 29th Regiment of the Kentucky Militia. He was promoted to colonel
on March 23, 1799, and on September 5, 1805, he was promoted to brigadier general
and given command of the 7th Brigade of the Kentucky Militia. On December 24, 1806, he was made a major general
and took command of the 7th Brigade of the Kentucky Militia.
Desha entered politics in 1797, when he was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Kentucky House of Representatives
. He chaired the committee of the whole
as the House debated the Kentucky Resolutions in 1798. He again served in the House from 1799 to 1802, and was elected to the Kentucky Senate
from 1802 to 1807.
because most of the bank's investors were foreigners. Specifically, he was concerned about the fact King George III
of Great Britain
was a major shareholder. (It was thought by many that the British monarch
was on the verge of madness at this time.) The bank's charter ultimately was not renewed in 1811.
As early as 1807, Desha began calling for an adequate army to defend American territory. He supported President
Thomas Jefferson
's embargo
on England
and France. Like most in his party, he supported the War of 1812. In 1813, he left his post in Congress, was commissioned a major general
, and commanded a division of Kentucky volunteers at the Battle of the Thames.
Desha served as chairman of the Committee on Public Expenditures during the Fifteenth Congress
. In total, Desha served in the House from March 4, 1807 to March 3, 1819, and did not run for reelection in 1818. Though he was known as a capable orator, he did not speak often, claiming it was best "to think much and speak but little."
and William Logan
in the Kentucky gubernatorial canvass of 1820. However, he was elected governor in 1824. The primary issue in his platform was debt relief. He supported replevin
laws favorable to debtors. He opposed locating branches of the Second Bank of the United States
in Louisville
and Lexington
. Desha received 38,378 votes to 22,499 for his opponent, Anti-Relief candidate Christopher Tompkins
. (William Russell came in third, with 3,900 votes.) Desha and his allies in the General Assembly interpreted the landslide victory as a mandate from the voters to aggressively pursue their debt relief agenda.
Desha's major accomplishment as governor was in the area of internal improvements
. In 1825, he convinced the legislature to fund the creation of the Louisville and Portland Canal
on the Falls of the Ohio. The canal opened in 1830, and proved very profitable, so much so that Desha lamented the fact that the state had split the cost of the project and consequently, its profits with the federal government and private investors. He also urged state investment in a turnpike
joining Maysville
to Louisville via Lexington.
Desha and his pro-relief allies in the Kentucky General Assembly were prevented from moving on their proposals by anti-relief members of the Court of Appeals. Lacking the votes necessary to remove the judges from office
, the assembly instead created a new court system and dismissed the "Old Court". Old Court judges refused to quit, but the clerk of the New Court took the Old Court’s records by force. When Old Court allies regained control of the assembly, they overrode Desha’s veto and abolished the New Court.
Unitarian
was too liberal for the tastes of many in Kentucky. Many called Holley an infidel
and charged that he was a drinker and a gambler
. He was criticized for spending time at the horse races
and for furnishing his home with nude
classical statues
.
Holley successfully resisted these charges until Governor Desha came out against him in his annual message to the General Assembly, claiming that under Holley, the school had become too elitist. Desha's attack, combined with dwindling state funds for the college, prompted Holley to resign the following year. Kentucky historian James Klotter opined that, with Holley's departure, "perhaps the state's best chance for a world-class university had passed."
an who was visiting Kentucky. Governor Desha assembled a team of New Court lawyers to represent his son. The judge was also a New Court partisan, and a friend of the governor. He granted a change of venue
favorable to the governor's son, but the younger Desha was still convicted of murder and sentenced to hang
. He was spared, however, when the judge declared a mistrial.
In 1826, Isaac Desha was retried and again convicted of murder and sentenced to hang. The judge in this trial had been temporarily appointed by Governor Desha to fill a vacancy. This judge also overturned the verdict because the Commonwealth's Attorney
had not proven that the murder took place in Fleming County
. The state argued that this was of no consequence, since a change of venue had already been granted, but the judge's ruling stood, and Governor Desha's reputation took a further hit.
While free on bail
and awaiting a third trial, Isaac Desha, apparently in a highly intoxicated state, attempted suicide by cutting his own throat. Physicians saved his life by connecting his severed windpipe
with a silver tube. He recovered, and in 1827, faced a third trial. His lawyers used a number of preemptory challenges to prevent the court from empaneling a jury
. The judge ordered him held without bail until the next session of the court, but Governor Desha, who was present at the proceedings, stood and issued a pardon for his son, as well as lambasting the judge in a lengthy impromptu speech.
Following his release, Isaac Desha traveled to Texas
under an alias, where he robbed and killed another man. He was identified based on family resemblance and the silver pipe that had earlier saved his life. After being arrested, he confessed to both murders, then committed suicide.
Following his term as governor, Desha retired from public life to his farm in Harrison County
. He was displeased with the election of Thomas Metcalfe
as his successor. Not only did they not agree politically, Desha believed that the governorship should go to a high born aristocrat. Though Metcalfe was the son of a Revolutionary War soldier, his nickname of "Old Stone Hammer" indicated his pride in his humble trade of masonry
.
During the final years of his life, Desha and his wife Margaret moved to Georgetown, Kentucky
where his son, a physician, lived. Desha died at the his home
in Georgetown, Kentucky on October 11, 1842 and was buried on the grounds. The state erected a monument in his honor over his grave. In 1880, both Desha's body and the monument were moved to Georgetown Cemetery
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and the ninth Governor of Kentucky
Governor of Kentucky
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
. Desha was the first Kentucky governor not to have served in the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. He did, however, serve under William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
and "Mad" Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
in the Northwest Indian War
Northwest Indian War
The Northwest Indian War , also known as Little Turtle's War and by various other names, was a war fought between the United States and a confederation of numerous American Indian tribes for control of the Northwest Territory...
, and lost two brothers in battle. He married in 1789 and returned to Kentucky in 1792, settling in Mason County
Mason County, Kentucky
Mason County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 16,800. Its county seat is Maysville. The county is named for George Mason, a Virginia delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention, known as the "Father of the Bill of Rights"...
. There he began his political career, serving in both houses of the Kentucky General Assembly
Kentucky General Assembly
The Kentucky General Assembly, also called the Kentucky Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Kentucky.The General Assembly meets annually in the state capitol building in Frankfort, Kentucky, convening on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January...
. In 1807, he began the first of six consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. A Democratic-Republican, he joined his party in supporting the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. Desha himself volunteered to serve in the war and commanded a division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
at the Battle of the Thames
Battle of the Thames
The Battle of the Thames, also known as the Battle of Moraviantown, was a decisive American victory in the War of 1812. It took place on October 5, 1813, near present-day Chatham, Ontario in Upper Canada...
.
In 1824, Desha ran for governor on a platform of debt relief and won a landslide victory. His term was marred by numerous controversies. Chief among these was the Old Court-New Court controversy
Old Court-New Court controversy
The Old Court – New Court controversy was a 19th century political controversy in the U.S. state of Kentucky in which the Kentucky General Assembly abolished the Kentucky Court of Appeals and replaced it with a new court...
, a move by the legislature to abolish the Kentucky Court of Appeals
Kentucky Court of Appeals
The Kentucky Court of Appeals is the lower of Kentucky's two appellate courts, under the Kentucky Supreme Court. Prior to a 1975 amendment to the Kentucky Constitution the Kentucky Court of Appeals was the only appellate court in Kentucky....
, which was hostile to their debt relief agenda, and replace it with a more sympathetic court. For a time, two courts of last resort existed in the state, but the old court was eventually restored, albeit over Desha's veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
. Another contentious issue during Desha's tenure was Horace Holley
Horace Holley (1781-1827)
Horace Holley was a Unitarian minister and president of Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky....
's presidency of Transylvania University
Transylvania University
Transylvania University is a private, undergraduate liberal arts college in Lexington, Kentucky, United States, affiliated with the Christian Church . The school was founded in 1780. It offers 38 majors, and pre-professional degrees in engineering and accounting...
. Many in the state felt that Holley was too liberal and when Desha joined in the criticism, Holley resigned. Also during his term, Desha's son Isaac was convicted of murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, despite the political intervention of his father. Following the conviction, the younger Desha unsuccessfully attempted suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. Governor Desha then issued a controversial pardon for his son.
Desha did not approve of the election of Thomas Metcalfe
Thomas Metcalfe (US politician)
Thomas Metcalfe , also known as Thomas Metcalf or as "Stonehammer", was a U.S. Representative, Senator, and the tenth Governor of Kentucky. He was the first gubernatorial candidate in the state's history to be chosen by a nominating convention rather than a caucus...
to succeed him, and for a time, he threatened not to vacate the governor's mansion. Following his term as governor, Desha retired from public life. He and his wife moved in with their son, and Desha died at his son's residence on October 11, 1842.
Early life and career
Joseph Desha was born to Robert and Eleanor (Wheeler) Desha in Monroe County, PennsylvaniaMonroe County, Pennsylvania
-National protected areas:* Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area * Middle Delaware National Scenic River -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there are 176,567 people, 49,454 households, and 36,447 families residing in the county. The population density was 228 people per square mile...
on December 9, 1768. He was of French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
ancestry. He obtained a limited education in the state's rural schools. Desha's family relocated to Fayette County, Kentucky
Fayette County, Kentucky
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 295,083 in the 2010 Census. Its territory, population and government are coextensive with the city of Lexington, which also serves as county seat....
in 1779 and in 1782, settled in Gallatin, Tennessee
Gallatin, Tennessee
Gallatin is a city in and the county seat of Sumner County, Tennessee, United States, along a navigable tributary of the Cumberland River. The population was 23,230 at the 2000 census. Named for U.S...
. Between the ages of fifteen and twenty-two, Desha volunteered in several military campaigns against the Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. In one such campaign, two of his brothers were killed while fighting alongside him.
Following the war, Desha lived with William Whitley
William Whitley
William Whitley , was an American pioneer born in what was then Augusta County, Virginia, the son of Solomon and Elizabeth Whitley...
in the town of Crab Orchard, Kentucky
Crab Orchard, Kentucky
Crab Orchard is a city in Lincoln County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 842 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. He married Margaret "Peggy" Bledsoe, the daughter of Jesse Bledsoe
Jesse Bledsoe
Jesse Bledsoe was a Senator from Kentucky.He was born in Culpeper County, Virginia in 1776. When he was very young, his family migrated with a Baptist congregation through Cumberland Gap into Kentucky. Many of the adults in this traveling congregation were property: Negro slaves...
, in December 1789. The couple had thirteen children. In 1792, the family moved to Mason County, Kentucky, where Desha worked as a farmer. In 1794, he served under Generals William Henry Harrison and "Mad" Anthony Wayne in the Northwest Indian War. On January 23, 1798, Desha was appointed as a major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in the 29th Regiment of the Kentucky Militia. He was promoted to colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
on March 23, 1799, and on September 5, 1805, he was promoted to brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
and given command of the 7th Brigade of the Kentucky Militia. On December 24, 1806, he was made a major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
and took command of the 7th Brigade of the Kentucky Militia.
Desha entered politics in 1797, when he was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Kentucky House of Representatives
Kentucky House of Representatives
The Kentucky House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly. It is composed of 100 Representatives elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. Not more than two counties can be joined to form a House district, except when necessary to preserve...
. He chaired the committee of the whole
Committee of the Whole
A Committee of the Whole is a device in which a legislative body or other deliberative assembly is considered one large committee. All members of the legislative body are members of such a committee...
as the House debated the Kentucky Resolutions in 1798. He again served in the House from 1799 to 1802, and was elected to the Kentucky Senate
Kentucky Senate
The Kentucky Senate is the upper house of the Kentucky General Assembly. The Kentucky Senate is composed of 38 members elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. There are no term limits for Kentucky Senators...
from 1802 to 1807.
Service in the House and the War of 1812
Desha was elected to the first of six consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1807. He opposed renewing the charter of the First Bank of the United StatesFirst Bank of the United States
The First Bank of the United States is a National Historic Landmark located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania within Independence National Historical Park.-Banking History:...
because most of the bank's investors were foreigners. Specifically, he was concerned about the fact King George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
was a major shareholder. (It was thought by many that the British monarch
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
was on the verge of madness at this time.) The bank's charter ultimately was not renewed in 1811.
As early as 1807, Desha began calling for an adequate army to defend American territory. He supported President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
's embargo
Embargo Act of 1807
The Embargo Act of 1807 and the subsequent Nonintercourse Acts were American laws restricting American ships from engaging in foreign trade between the years of 1807 and 1812. The Acts were diplomatic responses by presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison designed to protect American interests...
on England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and France. Like most in his party, he supported the War of 1812. In 1813, he left his post in Congress, was commissioned a major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
, and commanded a division of Kentucky volunteers at the Battle of the Thames.
Desha served as chairman of the Committee on Public Expenditures during the Fifteenth Congress
15th United States Congress
-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Daniel D. Tompkins * President pro tempore:** John Gaillard , elected March 4, 1817** James Barbour , elected February 15, 1819- House of Representatives :*Speaker: Henry Clay -Members:...
. In total, Desha served in the House from March 4, 1807 to March 3, 1819, and did not run for reelection in 1818. Though he was known as a capable orator, he did not speak often, claiming it was best "to think much and speak but little."
Governor of Kentucky
Desha finished third behind John AdairJohn Adair
John Adair was an American pioneer, soldier and statesman. He was the eighth Governor of Kentucky and represented the state in both the U.S. House and Senate. Adair enlisted in the state militia and served in the Revolutionary War, where he was held captive by the British for a period of time...
and William Logan
William Logan (Kentucky)
William Logan was a United States Senator from Kentucky.Born within the fort at Harrodsburg, Kentucky, Logan spent his early childhood in St. Asaphs Fort, receiving private instruction from his parents and tutors. He moved to Shelby County, Kentucky about 1798. He studied law, was admitted to the...
in the Kentucky gubernatorial canvass of 1820. However, he was elected governor in 1824. The primary issue in his platform was debt relief. He supported replevin
Replevin
In creditors' rights law, replevin, sometimes known as "claim and delivery," is a legal remedy for a person to recover goods unlawfully withheld from his or her possession, by means of a special form of legal process in which a court may require a defendant to return specific goods to the...
laws favorable to debtors. He opposed locating branches of the Second Bank of the United States
Second Bank of the United States
The Second Bank of the United States was chartered in 1816, five years after the First Bank of the United States lost its own charter. The Second Bank of the United States was initially headquartered in Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia, the same as the First Bank, and had branches throughout the...
in Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
and Lexington
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
. Desha received 38,378 votes to 22,499 for his opponent, Anti-Relief candidate Christopher Tompkins
Christopher Tompkins
Christopher Tompkins was a United States Representative from Kentucky. He was born in Green County, Kentucky where, he completed preparatory studies. He studied law and was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Glasgow, Kentucky.Tompkins was a member of the Kentucky House of...
. (William Russell came in third, with 3,900 votes.) Desha and his allies in the General Assembly interpreted the landslide victory as a mandate from the voters to aggressively pursue their debt relief agenda.
Desha's major accomplishment as governor was in the area of internal improvements
Internal improvements
Internal improvements is the term used historically in the United States for public works from the end of the American Revolution through much of the 19th century, mainly for the creation of a transportation infrastructure: roads, turnpikes, canals, harbors and navigation improvements...
. In 1825, he convinced the legislature to fund the creation of the Louisville and Portland Canal
Louisville and Portland Canal
The Louisville and Portland Canal was a canal bypassing the Falls of the Ohio in the Ohio River near Louisville, Kentucky. It opened in 1830, and was operated by the Louisville and Portland Canal Company until 1874, and became the McAlpine Locks and Dam in 1962 after heavy modernization.Although...
on the Falls of the Ohio. The canal opened in 1830, and proved very profitable, so much so that Desha lamented the fact that the state had split the cost of the project and consequently, its profits with the federal government and private investors. He also urged state investment in a turnpike
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
joining Maysville
Maysville, Kentucky
Maysville is a city in and the county seat of Mason County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 8,993 at the 2000 census, making it the fiftieth largest city in Kentucky by population. Maysville is on the Ohio River, northeast of Lexington. It is the principal city of the Maysville...
to Louisville via Lexington.
Desha and his pro-relief allies in the Kentucky General Assembly were prevented from moving on their proposals by anti-relief members of the Court of Appeals. Lacking the votes necessary to remove the judges from office
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
, the assembly instead created a new court system and dismissed the "Old Court". Old Court judges refused to quit, but the clerk of the New Court took the Old Court’s records by force. When Old Court allies regained control of the assembly, they overrode Desha’s veto and abolished the New Court.
Conflict with Horace Holley
Another issue during Desha's tenure was Horace Holley's service as president of Transylvania University. From the time Holley assumed the post of president in 1818, the university had attracted well-qualified and well-respected faculty, and had risen to national prominence. However, the New EnglandNew England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
was too liberal for the tastes of many in Kentucky. Many called Holley an infidel
Infidel
An infidel is one who has no religious beliefs, or who doubts or rejects the central tenets of a particular religion – especially in reference to Christianity or Islam....
and charged that he was a drinker and a gambler
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
. He was criticized for spending time at the horse races
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
and for furnishing his home with nude
Art nude
An art nude is a work of art that takes the naked human form as its dominant subject. The term is used for painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media.-Western tradition:...
classical statues
Classical sculpture
Classical sculpture refers to the forms of sculpture from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, as well as the Hellenized and Romanized civilizations under their rule or influence from about 500 BC to fall of Rome in AD 476. It also refers stylistically to modern sculptures done in a classical style....
.
Holley successfully resisted these charges until Governor Desha came out against him in his annual message to the General Assembly, claiming that under Holley, the school had become too elitist. Desha's attack, combined with dwindling state funds for the college, prompted Holley to resign the following year. Kentucky historian James Klotter opined that, with Holley's departure, "perhaps the state's best chance for a world-class university had passed."
Pardon of Isaac Desha
Governor Desha's reputation was finally tarnished because of a pardon issued to his son. On November 2, 1824, Isaac Desha had brutally murdered Francis Baker, a MississippiMississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
an who was visiting Kentucky. Governor Desha assembled a team of New Court lawyers to represent his son. The judge was also a New Court partisan, and a friend of the governor. He granted a change of venue
Change of venue
A change of venue is the legal term for moving a trial to a new location. In high-profile matters, a change of venue may occur to move a jury trial away from a location where a fair and impartial jury may not be possible due to widespread publicity about a crime and/or its defendant to another...
favorable to the governor's son, but the younger Desha was still convicted of murder and sentenced to hang
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
. He was spared, however, when the judge declared a mistrial.
In 1826, Isaac Desha was retried and again convicted of murder and sentenced to hang. The judge in this trial had been temporarily appointed by Governor Desha to fill a vacancy. This judge also overturned the verdict because the Commonwealth's Attorney
Commonwealth's Attorney
Commonwealth's Attorney is the title given to the elected prosecutor of felony crimes in Kentucky and Virginia. Other states refer to similar prosecutors as District Attorney or State's Attorney....
had not proven that the murder took place in Fleming County
Fleming County, Kentucky
Fleming County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1798. As of 2000, the population was 13,792. Its county seat is Flemingsburg. The county is named for Colonel John Fleming. It's a prohibition or dry county...
. The state argued that this was of no consequence, since a change of venue had already been granted, but the judge's ruling stood, and Governor Desha's reputation took a further hit.
While free on bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
and awaiting a third trial, Isaac Desha, apparently in a highly intoxicated state, attempted suicide by cutting his own throat. Physicians saved his life by connecting his severed windpipe
Vertebrate trachea
In tetrapod anatomy the trachea, or windpipe, is a tube that connects the pharynx or larynx to the lungs, allowing the passage of air. It is lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium cells with goblet cells that produce mucus...
with a silver tube. He recovered, and in 1827, faced a third trial. His lawyers used a number of preemptory challenges to prevent the court from empaneling a jury
Jury
A jury is a sworn body of people convened to render an impartial verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Modern juries tend to be found in courts to ascertain the guilt, or lack thereof, in a crime. In Anglophone jurisdictions, the verdict may be guilty,...
. The judge ordered him held without bail until the next session of the court, but Governor Desha, who was present at the proceedings, stood and issued a pardon for his son, as well as lambasting the judge in a lengthy impromptu speech.
Following his release, Isaac Desha traveled to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
under an alias, where he robbed and killed another man. He was identified based on family resemblance and the silver pipe that had earlier saved his life. After being arrested, he confessed to both murders, then committed suicide.
Later life and death
Harrison County, Kentucky
Harrison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1794. As of 2010, the population was 18,846. Its county seat is Cynthiana...
. He was displeased with the election of Thomas Metcalfe
Thomas Metcalfe (US politician)
Thomas Metcalfe , also known as Thomas Metcalf or as "Stonehammer", was a U.S. Representative, Senator, and the tenth Governor of Kentucky. He was the first gubernatorial candidate in the state's history to be chosen by a nominating convention rather than a caucus...
as his successor. Not only did they not agree politically, Desha believed that the governorship should go to a high born aristocrat. Though Metcalfe was the son of a Revolutionary War soldier, his nickname of "Old Stone Hammer" indicated his pride in his humble trade of masonry
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
.
During the final years of his life, Desha and his wife Margaret moved to Georgetown, Kentucky
Georgetown, Kentucky
Georgetown is a city in Scott County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 29,098 at the 2010 census. The original settlement of Lebanon, founded by Rev. Elijah Craig, was renamed in 1790 in honor of President George Washington. It is the home of Georgetown College, a private liberal arts...
where his son, a physician, lived. Desha died at the his home
Payne-Desha House
The Payne-Desha House is an historic house located on land west of Royal Spring Branch near downtown Georgetown, Kentucky, USA that was the built in 1814 by Robert Payne, a Kentucky war hero from the Battle of the Thames. Also, the house was the last residence of Joseph Desha, the ninth governor...
in Georgetown, Kentucky on October 11, 1842 and was buried on the grounds. The state erected a monument in his honor over his grave. In 1880, both Desha's body and the monument were moved to Georgetown Cemetery
Georgetown Cemetery (Georgetown, KY)
Georgetown Cemetery located in Georgetown, Kentucky, is the burial site of two Kentucky Governors; James F. Robinson and Joseph Desha, and Kentucky Confederate Governor George W. Johnson. Other famous politicians buried in the cemetery are James Campbell Cantrill, a Democratic nominee for Governor,...
.
See also
- History of KentuckyHistory of KentuckyThe history of Kentucky spans hundreds of years, and has been influenced by the state's diverse geography and central location.-Origin of the name:The name "Kentucky" derived from an Iroquois name for the area south of the Ohio River...
- Old Court-New Court controversyOld Court-New Court controversyThe Old Court – New Court controversy was a 19th century political controversy in the U.S. state of Kentucky in which the Kentucky General Assembly abolished the Kentucky Court of Appeals and replaced it with a new court...
- Beauchamp–Sharp Tragedy