Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/30

10 1840 Mr. Crittenden took an active part in favor of Gen. Harrison. He was re-elected to the senate at the expiration of his term, but resigned his seat to accept the appointment of attorney-general in Harrison's cabinet. On the death of Plarrison, and the accession of Mr. Tyler, Mr. Crittenden's views of national policy not being in harmony with those of the new president, he retired from the cabinet. Mr. Clay having decided to retire from the senate in 1842, Mr. Crittenden was ap- pointed to fill the vacant seat ; and at the expira- tion of the term was again elected for a full term. In 1848 he was elected governor of Kentucky, and resigned his seat in the senate to fill that office. Notwithstanding the intimate relations between Mr. Clay and himself, he favored the nomination of Gen. Taylor in 1848 as the whig candidate for the presidency, but only after Mr. Clay had assured him that he would not be a candidate. When the jiresident died, and Mr. Fillmore suc- ceeded him, Mr. Crittenden accepted the port- folio of attorney-general in the new cabinet. The great question as to the constitutionality of the fugitive-slave law was referred to him, and he prepared an opinion in favor of it. In 1855 he was once more elected to the senate, and took a leading part in the discussions of the impor- tant questions that came before congress in the course of the next five years. The sentiments uttered by him were eminently national, and he exerted his full strength in a patriotic effort to effect a satisfactory settlement of the disturbing elements that imperilled the perpetuity of the Union. He opposed the repeal of the Missouri compromise, and, in expressing his views of the questions growing out of the Kansas troubles, vig- orously opposed the policy of the administrations of Presidents Pierce and Buchanan. He favored the election of Bell and Everett in the presidential canvass of 1860. He vehemently opposed seces- sion, and supported Mr. Lincoln's administration, holding that it was the right and duty of the gov- ernment to maintain the Union by force. He ex- erted his full power to effect a compromise between the contending parties, but, failing to accomplish it, took his stand for the government. In the hope of maintaining the Union, he proposed an amendment to the constitution in December, 1860, providing for the re-enactment of the Missouri compromise, and the prohibition of any interfer- ence by congress with slavery wherever it should be legally established. Mr. Crittenden had "been six times elected to the senate, and his last effort in that body was to save the Union. On 4 March, 1861, he presented the credentials of his successor, Mr. Breckinridge, and retired. Returning to Ken- tucky, he urged his state to stand by the Union, and held it firmly against the appeals of the other states of the south. He became a candidate for a seat in congress, and, being elected, took his place in the house of representatives, where he was at once recognized as a powerful leader. He offered, on 19 July, 1861, the following resolution, which was adopted with only two dissenting votes : " Re- solved by the house of representatives of the con- gress of the United States, That the present de- plorable civil war has been forced upon the country by the disunionists of the southern states, now in arms against the constitutional government, and in arms around the capital ; that in this national emergency congress, banishing all feelings of mere passion or resentment, will recollect its only duty to the whole country ; that this war is not waged on their part in any spirit of oppression, or for any purpose of conquest or subjugation, or purpose of

overthrowing or interfering with the rights or es- tablished institutions of those states, but to defend and maintain the supremacy of the constitution,, and to preserve the Union with all the dignity, equality, and rights of the several states unim- paired ; and that as soon as these objects are ac- complished the war ought to cease." He opposed the employment of slaves as soldiers, and he denied the power of congress to organize the state of West Virginia. His last speech, delivered 22 Feb., 1863, showed that his force had not abated. He denounced the conscription bill, and declared that the war had been changed from its original pur- pose. He was again a candidate for congress, but died before the election. Mr. Crittenden's per- sonal qualities were fine. He made friends every- where ; there was cordiality blended with dig- nity in his manner ; his voice was musical in con- versation, and captivating in his public speeches. By Thomas Corwin and others of his compeers he- was esteemed the most able debater in the senate, — His son, George Bibb, b. in Russellville, Ky., 20 March, 1812 ; d. in Danville, Ky., 27 Nov., 1880, was graduated at the U. S. military academy in 1832, served in the Black Hawk expedition, though not at the seat of war, and resigned, 30 April, 1833, He volunteered in the Texan revolution of 1835, and was taken prisoner at Meir, on the Rio Grande,, by the Mexicans, who carried him with his com- pany to the city of Mexico, where he was confined in a foul prison until released, through the inter- vention of Daniel Webster, nearly a year after- ward. On one occasion the Mexicans decided to shoot a certain number of the prisoners as a meas- ure of retaliation, and Crittenden, being an officer, was one of the first to draw lots to determine- which of them should die. He drew a favorable lot, but when a friend who had a family drew a fatal black bean, he gave to that soldier his white bean, and risked his life in another chance. He served through the Mexican war as captain of mounted rifies, and was brevetted major for gal- lantry at Contreras and Churubusco, was one of the first to enter the city of Mexico, became major of mounted rifles, 15 April, 1848. served on frontier duty, was promoted lieutenant-colonel, 30 Dec, 1856, and on 10 June, 1861, resigned and joined the Confederate service. He was commissioned brigadier-general, and soon afterward major-gen- eral, and was assigned, in November, 1861, to the command of southeastern Kentucky and a part of eastern Tennessee. On learning that Gen. Zolli- coffer had moved his forces across the Cumberland at Mill Spring, he gave orders to recross the river, but Zollicoffer delayed executing the order until the rise of the river rendered it impracticable to- transport the artillery. When Gen. Thomas ap- proached with a large force, on 18 Jan., 1862, Gen. Crittenden ordered an attack. The Confederates- attempted to surprise the Union troops at Fishing Creek ; but only two regiments came up to begin the attack in the morning of 19 Jan., and after the death of Gen. Zollicoffer the troops were demoral- ized. Gen. Crittenden effected the retreat of his forces across the river, leaving the artillery be- hind. He was severely censured for making the attack, was kept under arrest until November, and soon afterward resigned his commission. He con- tinued to serve as a volunteer on the staff of Gen. John S. Williams, who frequently followed his ad- vice and gave him the command of bodies of troops. After the war he resided in Frankfort, Ky., where he was state librarian from 1867 to 1871. — Another son, Thomas Leonidas, b. in Russellville, Ky.. 15 May, 1815; d. on Staten Island, 23 Oct., 1893, wasad-