In 1871 , Stevenson defeated incumbent Thomas C. McCreery for his seat in the U.S. Senate after criticizing McCreery for allegedly supporting the appointment of Stephen G. Burbridge , who was hated by most Kentuckians , to a federal position . In the Senate , he opposed internal improvements and defended a constructionist view of the constitution , resisting efforts to expand the powers expressly granted in that document . Beginning in late 1873 , Stephenson functioned as the first chairman ( later called floor leader ) of the Senate Democratic caucus . He did not seek reelection in 1877 , returning to his law practice and accepting future Kentucky Governor William Goebel as a law partner . He chaired the 1880 Democratic National Convention and was elected president of the American Bar Association in 1884 . He died in Covington on August 10 , 1886 , and was buried in Spring Grove Cemetery at Cincinnati , Ohio
1880 Democratic National Convention
1880 Democratic National Convention
John W. Stevenson