KENTUCKY. (An Indian word signi fying "the dark and bloody ground.") The name of one of the new states of the United States of America.
2.. The territory of which this state is composed was formerly a part of the territory of Virginia. See VIRGINIA. This latter state, by an act of the legislature passed December 18, 1789, "consented that the district of Kentucky, within the jurisdic tion of the said commonwealth, and according to its actual boundaries at the time of passing the act aforesaid, should be formed into a new This state was admitted into the Union under an act of congress passed the 4th of February, 1791, the enacting clause of which is as follows: "Be it enacted, that Congress doth consent that the said district of Kentucky, within the jurisdiction of the commonwealth of Virginia, and according to its actual boundaries on the 18th day of December, 1789, shall, upon the 1st day of June, l 792, be formed into a new state, separate from and inde pendent of the said commonwealth of Virginia. Upon the aforesaid let of Juno, 1792, the said new state, by name and style of the State of Kentucky, shall be received and admitted into the Union as a new and entire member of the United States." See 1 U. S. Stat. at Large, 189. This state claims that the Ohio river to low-water-mark from the mouth of the Big Sandy river, the northerly bound ary of the state, to the Mississippi, is part of her domain, by virtue of the construction given by the supreme court of the United States to the Virginia acts of cession of 1781 and 1783. See 5 Wheat. 374.
3. There have been three constitutions adopted by the state : the first at Danville, on the 19th of April, 1792; the seeond at Frankfort, on the 17th of August, 1799 ; and the third at Frankfort, on the lltb of June, 1850. Under the latter constitution all civil officers except the secretary of state are elected by the people. Duelling is prohibited; and any one who, directly or indirectly, gives, accepts, or knowingly carries a challenge to any person or persons to fight in single combat with a citizen of the state, either in or out of the state, is deprived of the right to bold any'office of honor or profit in the state, but may be pardoned by the governor after five years, and loses, in addition, the right of suffrage for seven years. Const. 1851, sec. 20.
A voter must be a free white male citizen of the United States, twenty-ono years of age, and must have resided in the state two years, or in the county, town, or city in which he proposes to vete, one year, next preceding the election, and in the precinct in which he proposes to vote sixty days at least next before the election. The counties are divided into precincts; and no one can vote but in the precinct where he resides. Under this constitution, in all elections by the people, and also by the senate and house of representatives, jointly or separately, the vote shall be personally and publioly given viva voce; but dumb persons can vote by ballot.
The Legislative Power.
4. This is exercised by a general assembly, com posed of a senate and house of representatives.
The Senate is composed of thirty-eight members, elected quadrennially by the people of each senato rial district for a term of four years. A senator must be a citizen of the United States, thirty years old at least, and for six years a resident in the state. The House of Representatives is composed of one hundred members, elected biennially by the people for the term of two years. A representative must be a citizen of the United States, twenty-four years of age, and for two years a citizen of the state. The house is to impeach, and the senate try impeach ments.
The Executive Power.
5. The Governor is elected quadrennially by the people for the term of four years, and is ineligible for the succeeding term. He is commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the state, except when called into the service of the United States, when he is to command only upon recommendation of the general assembly. He nominates, and, with the consent of the senate, appoints, all officers except those whose appointment is otherwise provided for. He is invested with the pardoning power, except in certain cases, as impeachment and treason. A Lieutenant-Governor is chosen at every election of governor, in the same manner and to continue in office for the same time as the governor. He is ex officio speaker of the senate, and acts as governor when tho latter is impeached or removed from office, is dead, or refuses to qualify, resigns, or is absent from the state.