Page "John J. Crittenden" Paragraph 65

In April, the General Assembly called a border states convention to be held in Frankfort in May.

Slates of delegates were nominated by both the Unionists and Southern Rightists, but war broke out before the election of delegates ; the Southern Rights delegates withdrew from the election, and the Unionist slate, including Crittenden, was chosen by default.

On May 27, 1861, Crittenden was chosen chair of the convention and called it to order.

With war having largely precluded any good the meeting could have accomplished, only nine of Kentucky's twelve delegates were present, along with four from Missouri ( out of seven elected ), and one from Tennessee ( and his election was questionable ); Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware sent no delegates.

Ultimately, the convention accomplished little beyond calling on the southern states to reconsider their secession and on the northern states to moderate their demands.