Danville Political Club
Encyclopedia
The Danville Political Club was a debating society based in Danville, Kentucky
from 1786 to 1790.
paymaster
by the name of Major
Beatty wrote in his journal that, while staying in Danville, he and his companions were "very much disturbed by a Political Club which met in the next house where we slept and kept us awake till 12 or 1 o'clock." Also, two letters mentioning the Club were written from Peter Tardeveau, a member of the Club, to two other members. Beyond this, no references to the Club have been found. Whether the Club was meant to be kept secret or the lack of references to it was purely accidental is not known.
The existence of the Club may never have been known if not for the discovery made by Thomas Speed II in 1878. Speed, the grandson of the Club secretary Thomas Speed
, discovered a bundle of papers labeled "Political Club papers" while cleaning out his grandfather's desk. The elder Thomas Speed had kept meticulous notes of the Club's activities throughout its existence, though some were scribbled on bits of newspapers and old letters. Speed's grandson published the documents through The Filson Historical Society
in 1894.
Thirty men belonged to the Club at one time or another, though no more than fifteen were ever present at any given meeting. A list of these members follows, with founding members listed in italics:
So prominent were these men in the history of Kentucky that Thomas Speed II opined "Full and complete biographies of some of the members would present a history of Kentucky from the beginning of its settlement past the first quarter of the ensuing century." Eleven different Club members participated in at least one of the ten constitutional conventions that helped separate Kentucky from Virginia. Samuel McDowell was president and Todd was secretary of the 1792 convention that produced the first Kentucky Constitution
.
While studying at The College of William & Mary, Brown had been a member of the first ever chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, and he borrowed heavily from that organization's constitution. Consequently, by the second meeting, held a week later at the home of Thomas Barbee, Brown was able to present a draft document to the Club. After two readings and several amendments, the constitution was approved.
Initially, meetings took place on Saturday nights at Grayson's Tavern in Danville, although fewer than half of the Club's members were residents of that city. In May 1787, the Club relocated their meetings to the courthouse in Danville and convene at 3:30 PM. Fines were levied against members for being late to meetings, leaving a meeting early, or missing a meeting without an acceptable excuse. (One acceptable excuse was the wooing of a woman, but only if doing so out-of-town.) Six members were considered a quorum
, and at each meeting, a president was elected for the duration of that meeting. The Club constitution also called for the election of a secretary and treasurer who would serve until removed or unable to execute their duties. Thomas Speed was chosen as the secretary and Thomas Allin was chosen treasurer at the second meeting.
The topic of debate for each night was selected a month in advance. Some nights, the topic was related to the district of Kentucky's relationship to Virginia; other nights it was national in scope. For several consecutive meetings, the members debated the federal constitution
, clause by clause, and suggested amendments. The resulting document was found in Thomas Speed's desk under the title "The Constitution of the United States as Amended and Approved by the Political Club." Perhaps the most remarkable suggestion was offered by George Muter on February 23, 1788: "[T]he Federal Constitution ought to be preceded by a Declaration of Rights!" A committee composed of Innes, Greenup, Belli, Craddock, Todd, and John Brown were charged with drafting such a declaration, but if they carried out this charge, the result has been lost to history.
Danville, Kentucky
Danville is a city in and the county seat of Boyle County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 16,218 at the 2010 census.Danville is the principal city of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Boyle and Lincoln counties....
from 1786 to 1790.
Discovery
There are very few extant contemporary references to the Political Club. A U.S. armyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
paymaster
Paymaster
A paymaster often is, but is not required to be, a lawyer . When dealing with commission payments on contracts dealing with large amounts of money , most banks in the United States are very wary of handling such large amounts of money...
by the name of 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. ...
Beatty wrote in his journal that, while staying in Danville, he and his companions were "very much disturbed by a Political Club which met in the next house where we slept and kept us awake till 12 or 1 o'clock." Also, two letters mentioning the Club were written from Peter Tardeveau, a member of the Club, to two other members. Beyond this, no references to the Club have been found. Whether the Club was meant to be kept secret or the lack of references to it was purely accidental is not known.
The existence of the Club may never have been known if not for the discovery made by Thomas Speed II in 1878. Speed, the grandson of the Club secretary Thomas Speed
Thomas Speed
Thomas Speed was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky.Born in Charlotte County, Virginia, Speed was taught by his father. He moved with his parents to Kentucky in 1782. He was employed in the office of the clerk of the general court. He engaged in mercantile pursuits at Danville and Bardstown in...
, discovered a bundle of papers labeled "Political Club papers" while cleaning out his grandfather's desk. The elder Thomas Speed had kept meticulous notes of the Club's activities throughout its existence, though some were scribbled on bits of newspapers and old letters. Speed's grandson published the documents through The Filson Historical Society
The Filson Historical Society
The Filson Historical Society is a historical society located in the Old Louisville neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky. The organization was founded in 1884 and named after early Kentucky explorer John Filson, who wrote The Discovery, Settlement, and Present State of Kentucke, which included one...
in 1894.
Membership
According to the Club's first constitution, new members of the Club had to be elected unanimously. Later, the requirement was lowered to a two-thirds majority.Thirty men belonged to the Club at one time or another, though no more than fifteen were ever present at any given meeting. A list of these members follows, with founding members listed in italics:
- Thomas AllinThomas AllinThomas Allin was a soldier and surveyor who became an early settler and political leader in Kentucky. He served in the Revolutionary War, first in the North Carolina militia and then as part of general Nathanael Greene's campaign.Following the war, Allin settled in the Kentucky district of Virginia...
- Joshua Barbee
- John BelliJohn BelliMajor John Belli was the Quartermaster General of the U.S. Army from 1792 to 1794. The first settler in Scioto County, Ohio, he lived there until his death in 1809....
- James BrownJames Brown (Senator)James Brown was a lawyer, U.S. Senator from Louisiana and Minister to France. He was the brother of John Brown, the cousin of John Breckinridge, James Breckinridge and Francis Preston, the brother-in-law of Henry Clay, the uncle of James Brown Clay, Henry Clay, Jr., John Morrison Clay, the great...
- John BrownJohn Brown (Kentucky)John Brown was an American lawyer and statesman heavily involved with creating the State of Kentucky.Brown represented Virginia in the Continental Congress and the U.S. Congress . While in Congress, he introduced the bill granting Statehood to Kentucky. Once that was accomplished, he was elected...
- Abraham BufordAbraham BufordAbraham Buford was a Continental Army officer during the American Revolutionary War, best known as the commanding officer of the American forces at the Battle of Waxhaws.-Biography:...
- Robert Craddock
- Robert Dougherty
- Baker Ewing
- Willis GreenWillis GreenWillis Green was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky.Born in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, GreenBirth date unknown.He attended the public schools.He settled in that part of Virginia which is now the State of Kentucky....
- Christopher GreenupChristopher GreenupChristopher Greenup was an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative and the third Governor of Kentucky...
- Harry InnesHarry InnesHarry Innes was the first United States federal judge in Kentucky.Innes was born in Caroline County, Virginia, the son of the Reverend Robert Innes and Catharine Innes. Innes attended Donald Robertson's school and William and Mary College...
- Gabriel Jones Johnson
- William Kennedy
- William McClungWilliam McClungWilliam McClung is a former United States federal judge.Born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, McClung graduated from Washington College William McClung (July 12, 1758–1811) is a former United States federal judge.Born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, McClung graduated from Washington College William...
- Samuel McDowellSamuel McDowellSamuel McDowell was a soldier and early political leader in Kentucky. He was the father of Dr. Ephraim McDowell.McDowell participated in three major wars...
- William McDowell
- George MuterGeorge MuterGeorge Muter was an early settler of Kentucky and served as chief justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals.-Early life and military career:Muter was born in Madison County, Virginia. He was the son of a German father and a Scottish mother. Little is known of his early life.During the Revolutionary...
- James Nourse
- Stephen OrmsbyStephen OrmsbyStephen Ormsby was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky.He was born in County Sligo, Ireland, immigrated to the United States when a boy, and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.He pursued classical studies and studied law....
- James Overton
- John Overton, Jr.
- Benjamin Sebastian
- Peyton ShortPeyton ShortPeyton Short was a land speculator and politician in Kentucky. He was a member of the first Kentucky Senate...
- James Speed
- Thomas SpeedThomas SpeedThomas Speed was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky.Born in Charlotte County, Virginia, Speed was taught by his father. He moved with his parents to Kentucky in 1782. He was employed in the office of the clerk of the general court. He engaged in mercantile pursuits at Danville and Bardstown in...
- Peter Tardeveau
- Thomas ToddThomas ToddThomas Todd was an American attorney and U.S. Supreme Court justice. Raised in the Colony of Virginia, he studied law and later participated in the founding of Kentucky, where he served as a clerk, judge, and justice. He was married twice and had a total of eight children. Todd joined the U.S...
- David WalkerDavid Walker (congressman)David Walker was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky, brother of George Walker and grandfather of James David Walker.Born in Brunswick County, Virginia, Walker attended public and private schools....
- Matthew WaltonMatthew WaltonMatthew Walton was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky, cousin of George Walton and John Walton.Walton received a limited schooling.He served as member of the conventions held in Danville in 1785 and 1787....
So prominent were these men in the history of Kentucky that Thomas Speed II opined "Full and complete biographies of some of the members would present a history of Kentucky from the beginning of its settlement past the first quarter of the ensuing century." Eleven different Club members participated in at least one of the ten constitutional conventions that helped separate Kentucky from Virginia. Samuel McDowell was president and Todd was secretary of the 1792 convention that produced the first Kentucky Constitution
Kentucky Constitution
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the document that governs the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It was first adopted in 1792 and has since been rewritten three times and amended many more...
.
Meetings
The first meeting of the Political Club was at the residence of Samuel McDowell on the night of December 27, 1786. The founding members of the Club resolved to invite Muter, Short, Ormsby, Johnson, Tardeveau, Allen, William McDowell, Thomas Speed, and James Overton to join the Club. Also at the first meeting, Innes, Greenup, Belli, and John Brown were tasked with drafting a constitution for the Club.While studying at The College of William & Mary, Brown had been a member of the first ever chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, and he borrowed heavily from that organization's constitution. Consequently, by the second meeting, held a week later at the home of Thomas Barbee, Brown was able to present a draft document to the Club. After two readings and several amendments, the constitution was approved.
Initially, meetings took place on Saturday nights at Grayson's Tavern in Danville, although fewer than half of the Club's members were residents of that city. In May 1787, the Club relocated their meetings to the courthouse in Danville and convene at 3:30 PM. Fines were levied against members for being late to meetings, leaving a meeting early, or missing a meeting without an acceptable excuse. (One acceptable excuse was the wooing of a woman, but only if doing so out-of-town.) Six members were considered a quorum
Quorum
A quorum is the minimum number of members of a deliberative assembly necessary to conduct the business of that group...
, and at each meeting, a president was elected for the duration of that meeting. The Club constitution also called for the election of a secretary and treasurer who would serve until removed or unable to execute their duties. Thomas Speed was chosen as the secretary and Thomas Allin was chosen treasurer at the second meeting.
The topic of debate for each night was selected a month in advance. Some nights, the topic was related to the district of Kentucky's relationship to Virginia; other nights it was national in scope. For several consecutive meetings, the members debated the federal constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
, clause by clause, and suggested amendments. The resulting document was found in Thomas Speed's desk under the title "The Constitution of the United States as Amended and Approved by the Political Club." Perhaps the most remarkable suggestion was offered by George Muter on February 23, 1788: "[T]he Federal Constitution ought to be preceded by a Declaration of Rights!" A committee composed of Innes, Greenup, Belli, Craddock, Todd, and John Brown were charged with drafting such a declaration, but if they carried out this charge, the result has been lost to history.