The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-03-10
HENDRICK AND SEYMOUR.

To the Editor of the Sentinel
SIR-The writer has read with some dis
gust, communication which appeared
within the last week from Fort Wayne and
published in the Cincinnati Enquirer, in
which Governor Hendricks was strangely,
to one who knew the facts in the case, taken
to task for the action of the Indiana delega-
ton at the New York convention in 1868,
which nominated Horatio Seymour for the
presidency. Tkfre has been disposition on
the part of 81 he evil minded persons, enc
mics of the governor, to accord to him the
defeat of the Hon. George III. PendletOn for
that nomination. Why such an idea
should ever have permeated any mans
brains is impossible to tell, unless
il be that malice towards the
present governor of Indiana has so far
gangrened that mans brains that he prefers
to tell lie rather than to state the truth,
which is open to investigation by any in
curing soul who desires TO learn the truth.
Ifsuch be the case ne may be written down
liar and dismissed as such. In 1868 Thomas
A. Hendricks was not an aspirant for the
presidency, had never been and probably is
not now The writer does not know his
wishes in that regard But he does know
that in 1865 Gov. Hendricks declined to say
to earnest friends who wished to use bis
h,
them to present it. At the same time Cover
nor. then Senator. Hendricks was earnestly
solicited to be a candidate for the demo-
cratic nomination, not only by senators
and representatives in congress, but by
prominent democrats from all parts of
the country. He steadily refused, upon the
ground that the democratic convention of
Indiana had expressed a preference for the
Hon. George III. Pendleton, of Ohio. True
enough, the expression of preference for Mr..
Pendleton was not made in connection with
the presidency, did not name him for the of
flee, and the passage of the complimentary
resolution was not one that might be con-
nected with aspiration for public office of
any kind. Mr.. PendletOn was, at that time
regarded, and still ought TO be, as the origin
ator and champion of an expansion OF the
currency, and the payment of the $50 bonds
in greenbacks. The position he occupied
then was the same that Gov. Morton now
fills: and the resolution of the conven-
ton was regarded by many persons
as simply meaning that they en-
tertained confidence in Mr.. Pendleton's fl
nancial views, believing them to be honest
" entertained, which is something they will
never say in favor of Mr.. Morton's views TO
the same effect. SO much for the quasi Pen
dleton instructions. 1t was known, even at
the time of the democratic state convention
January 8, 1868, that many earnest friends
of Governor Hendricks
DESIRED HIS NOMINATION.
at New York. A number of the delegates
appointed were squarely-spoken Hendricks
men. To defeat the aims of such delegates
an effort was made to have the Indiana
headquarters fixed at the Fifth avenue ho-
tel or the Hoffman house, which adjoins, the
two hotels being divided by Twenty fourth
street. In defiance of this arrangement Hon.
William Z. Niblank, then the member of
the national democratic committee repre-
senting Indiana, called a meeting of the In =.
diana delegation to be held at the parlors of
the st. Nicholas hotel on the second day of
July, 1865. All the delegates assembled
pursuant to that call except six. At that
meeting. on motion of Honorable Joseph K.
Mcdonald Ex-senator Fitch, of LOgans-
port was made chc'-r'na-. zrCre,ary APP
pointed, and a res0iO.i.'ii pissed 90 vote tor
Mr.. PendletOn for pres .ds1t, Gatll otherwise
ordered. At the same meeting a committee
was appointed of which Honorable Charles
A. Reeve, of Plymouth was chairman, to
procure permanent head quarters for the del
egation. These were finally on Twenty-first
street near Broadway. AT the new head
quarters on first roll call, full delegation
was present. The vote of the former meet
ing to support Mr.. Pendleton was affirmed,
with the provisO that the chairman, Hon. G..
n. Fitch, might convene the delegation for
consultation after casting four ballots. in the
event of no choice having been effected. In
accordance with this resolution, unanimous
ly approved, the delegation went into con-
ventiOn on the 4th of July. That was Sat
urday. Notbing'was done the first day ex-
cept preliminary work, preparatory to the
permanent organization. The night of the
4th of July splendid demonstration of fire.
works was made throughout New York, ex
tending from the battery to Harlem. The
convention adjourned to witness the
magnificent sight. BY Monday morning
many members of the delegation had been
solicited to present Mr.. Hancock as their
irst choice. 1t was impossible for them TO
do it. The course of Indiana was mapped
out and adhered to. In spite of the earnest
appeals of men from North Carolina, Geor-
gia, Maryland, Mischigan, Nebraska, Mis-
ouri, the great state of New York, and per-
haps others, Indiana had to hew to the line
first marked out, and faithfully did her rep
resentatives discharge the trust. During
the first day of balloting-the thir1 day of
the conventiOn-every vote was cast for
George II. PendletOn. To the surprise of
Indiapians on that day, North Carolina cast
solid vote for Governor Hendricks. Mich
gan followed the next ballot. Now
fork men were anxious to go with
che movement. But Indiana remained
faithful to Pendleton. The next bal
lot New York cast her vote for Hendricks.
When giving that vote, Hon. Samuel j. Til
den, man of great integrity and spotless
reputation, undertook 10 explain his rea-
sons. He was called to order by Colo mel
McCook, of Ohio. Subsequently Mr..
vALLANDIGHAM WITHDREW
the name of Mr.. Pendleton, and nominated
Governor Seymour in an elaborate speech.
He was not interrupted. Colonel McCook
also made lengthy speech on the occasion
no word of objection was raised from Iudi-
ana or elsewhere. When it was found that
the feeling in favor of Governor Hendricks
was very powerful, Col. itch called the In
diana delegation out to consult. The resultof
the consultation was that every delegate was
permitted to cast his owe vote as he pleased.
During the consultation two more ballots
we're taken in convention, and on both oc-
casion, the whole vote of Indiana was given
Mr.: Pendleton by JUDI sc Niblack who acted
under instructions in so doing. The fol-
lowing day-W ednesdav- when the state