Bramlette, Thomas E.

INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF GOVERNOR THOMAS E. BRAMLETTE [drop-title over first column of text].

Frankfort, KY: Frankfort Commonwealth, Tuesday, September 1, 1863. Newspaper extra. Double-folio broadside, 21 5/8 x 15 1/2 inches, printing the inaugural address in six columns of dense text, with an editorial introduction to the address covering half of the first column and announcements and advertisements filling out three quarters of the sixth column. Bramlette (1817-1875; 23rd Governor of Kentucky, 1863-1867), a judge at the beginning of the Civil War, resigned to accept an appointment as a colonel in the Union army, raising and commanding the 3rd Kentucky Infantry; in 1862 he declined a promotion to brigadier general to accept Lincoln's appointment as U.S. District Attorney for Kentucky. The following year he was nominated for the governorship by the Union Democrats, winning election easily. In his inaugural address Bramlette spoke out forcefully for the Union and government under its constitution, "we have now, and will have at the close of the rebellion, the identical constitution, which the extremists seek to destroy," and opposed raising African-American regiments, arguing that "arming of negroes humiliates the just pride of loyal men and injuriously affects their interests," worrying further about what might happen to such soldiers once the war is over. Bramlette supported the 13th amendment abolishing slavery, but finished his four-year term opposing passage of the 14th and 15th amendments. Not recorded separately on OCLC (which locates one copy of a 14-page pamphlet printing of the address). Paper toned, but a very good copy. Folded. (10793). Item #64407

Price: $2,000.00