The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1876-09-07
Sketch of Gov. Hendricks

AuOLudS AuuIGWS i6HuElCkS, OF
Indiana, nominated as the demo
cratic candidate for Vice President,
is five years younger than Mr.. Til
den, having been born in Muskin-
gum county, September Z, 1919.
When he was only three years old
his father removed to Shelby county,
Indiana, and that State was his
home ever afterward. Mr.. Hen
bricks received a liberal education,
and graduated from Hanover Col
lege in 1871, after which he studied
law in the Office of the late Judge
Thompson, of Chambersburg, Pa,
and was admitted to the Franklin
County Bar in 1843, the distin-
guished jurist, jeremiah S. Black,
being at the time the presiding JUS
tice of the courts of the county.
He returned to Indiana Immediately
after coming to the Bar, and began
the practice of his profession. Sue
'cess was not long in coming to the
young lawyer, and he soon acquired
not only a competence but a high
place at the Bar. He had not been
long at the Bar, however, when he
began his political career. In 1S4S
he was chosen a member o. the In
diana Legislature, and 1850 he serv-
Ell IN the State Constitutional Con-
vention. During the next five years
he was representative in Congress,
aud in 1855 President Pierce ap-
pointed him Commissioners of the
General Land Office. He continued
to hold this position under Mr..
Buchanan's administration until
1889, when he resigned. In 1860
he was the democratic candidate
for Governor of Indiana, but was
defeated by Henry S. Lane. Lane
was soon afterward chosen United
States Senator, and in 1868 Hen
bricks became his colleague in the
Senate. At this time the democra-
cy was a very weak minority in that
| body, but Mr.. Hendricks succeeded
in making a great reputation in the
Senate, both as q statesman and a
lawyer. He was active and out
spoken in opposition to the repub-
lican measures of the time, among
them the bill overturning the
old State governments of the South,
the Civil Rights bill and the Freed.
mans Bureau bill. In the impeach.
ment trial of Andrew johnson he
/ played an important part, and add
cd greatly to his reputation as 9
lawyer. In a single term in the
Senate Mr.. Hendricks acquired q
position of great prominence before
the country, and he placed himself
so far forward in his party thai
since 1868 he has been generally re
garded as among the available dem
ocratic candidates for the Presi
dency But for the Greeley move
ment he might have been nomina
ted in 1872.
After his retirement from the
Senate in 1869 Mr.. Hendricks re
turned to the practice of his profes
sion at indianapolis, but he was no
long allowed to remain out of pub
lie life. After Greeley's nOmina
tion at Baltimore, Hendricks wa
induced to accept a nomination foi
/ Governor of Indiana, in order tC
strengthen the Presidential ticket
and, after a bitter canvass, he wa;
elected by a small majority, the res
OF the ticket, except the Superin
tendent of Public instruction, being
lost to the democracy. The per
sonal popularity Of Governor Hen
bricks carried him through, but b,
had the advantage of having an op
ponent against whom the temper
ance sentiment of his State was ar
rayed. He has made an acceptable
Governor, and has offended only il
one respect-by signing a local op
tion liquor bill, which was subse
quently repealed.
Governor Hendricks is a man o
J strong and generous instincts. So
cially he is one Of the most agreea
bic men in public life, and he carrie
the urbanity for which he is note'
into the court room as well as th
executive chamber. He possesse
, a fund Of wit and anecdotc whic
makes him a charming companion
His words are felicitously choseI
his sentences always well construct
ed and his elocution fluent and easl
+ His house is fun of books an
7 paintings, and, although not
+ scholar in the highest sense, he
we'll versed in literature and ha
been an especially close student {
English and American oratory. ]
: business affairs he is careful, m'
|, thodical and prompt-liberal viii
out being extravagant-snd he hs
the reputation Of being an homes
man. His name on the ticket
expected to add materially to Ii
}. den's strength in the West.