The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-06-16
Correspondence of tho n. Y. Sun ]
THE PRESIDENCY IN 1872.

fCarrcspondence of tho N. Y. Sun
THE PRESIDENCY IN 1872.
A Democratic Statesman in Public and
Private Life-Thomas A. Hendricks from
Hanover College to the United States
Senate.
INDIANAPOLIS, March 1S.--There is
no doubt that Mr.. Hendricks owes
much of his success to the prestige
of his name. He belongs to an old
family of Scotch Irish descent, who
have been distinguished in the last
two generations at least for o high
order of intellect and strong reserve
force OF character. He is, in the first
place, the nephew of his uncle, as
they used to say of Louis Napoleon.
The uncle, William Hendricks of
honorable memory, was once Cover
nor of Indiana. He was subsequent
" elected to the United States Sem
ate, where he was tho first to bring
the State into favorable notice. He
was active in promoting the system
of internal improvements, which, like
many other gigantic enterprises,
failed of its own weight. From an
ideal portrait of the ancient statesman
which adorns the Governor 8 room,
it may be inferred that there was
more Irish than Scotch blood in his
veins. 1t has the black hair, blue
eyes, and purely red and white COM
plexion, and there is an expression Of
candor and generosity that in life
must have been charming. Then
again, Mr.. Hendricks, unlike his dis
tinguished French prototype, is
THE SON OF HIS FATHER.
From what can he learned of the
old residents, John Hendricks, gen.
tleman, belonged to stricter school
than the joyial Governor. Well ed
ucated, and reared in the strictest
Presbyterian faith, he came half u
century ago to Indiana, where he
naturally assumed superiority over
the majority of unlettered men who
made up the early population of the
State. The first settlers of middle
Indiana were mainly natives from
Ohio. Kentucky, Virginia and Penn
sylyania, the prejudice against Yam
KEGS being so great that if one ex-
pected to thrive lie was forced to
give out that he was from the South.
There was more social distinction
than obtains in the present day, the
claim to aristocracy being pretty
equally divided between the Ken
tucky Baptists and Ohio Presbyteri-
ans. Mr.. Hendricks was of the lat
ter class. He had been born in
Pennsylvania, but he came TO this
State direct from about GAINESVILLE,
Muskinghum county. that head coun-
try, that center of Buckeye civiliza-
ton, whence emanated such brilliant
lights as Ewing, Sherman, Sheridan,
and others, and where, indeed
THE AMERICAN TALLEYRASD
was born. His father was govern
ment official besides. He had the
appointment from Gen. Jackson OF
Surveyor of State, and in that ca-
pacity, became generally known and
respected by the public, whose SER
want he was, but with whom he was
never familiar. II the truth must be
told, that worthy gentleman was the
least bit of an aristoerat. He lived
in state in a great rambling country
house that was the wonder and adj
miration of the country for miles
around. 1t is pointed Quite this day
with pride to the travellers whizzipg
by on the cars, and presents with its
extensive grounds the very picture
of comfortable house.
The presiding genius of that home
was gentle, motherly woman, who
tempered the cold atmosphere OF
pride, intelligence and religious zeal
with the sweet influences of charity
and love.
Here began the education of Mr..
Hendricks, and to those early associ-
ations may be traced the love of home,
and pets. and of country life which
characterizes the man TO this day.
From the village school he was
transferred to Hanover College, where
under the most liberal tuition he
grew in knowledge and in that self
possessed dignity of character which
has sustained him through life. II
was the old-fashioned school of Latin
and pride, dignity and Greek meta.
physics ard reserve; but the lessons
there learned stood him in good
stead in the prosecution of his legal
studies, I believe they were continued
the legal studies at Chambersburg
Pa.
If I were writing biography Of
Mr.. Hendricks I would now have
come to the interesting chapter enti
tied
coURTsHIP AND MARRIAGE
and I may add that if I were writing
a romance, would ask for no better
material than is afforded in his alb
sorbing love for a gay and beautiful
girl who became his wife. AS it is
suffice it to say that he married Mis-
Morgan, near Cincinnati, and settled
near Shelbyville, Ind. Here he sooI
gained an enviable reputation at th'
bar. The secret of his success wa
his close attention to business, an(
the conscientious discharge of hi
duty to his clients. No matter hov
.rifing the cause, he engaged in j
with zeal that made it his own ant
insured its success.
AS yet he had not given any atten
ton to politics, but in 1848 he wa
chosen to the Legislature. He can
not be said to have made his mark il
that session. He was exceedingl