The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-07-07
Sketch of Governor Hendricks.

lNOmaS AnuTeW I1eHurlcks, Vi lHuldla,
who has been placed in nomination as
the Democratic candidate tor Vice President
is five years younger than Mr.. Tilden, hav-
ing been born in Muskingum county. Ohio.
three years old his father removed to Shelby
county, Indiana, and that State was his
home ever atterward. Mr.. Hendricks re-
ceved liberal education, and graduated
from Hanover College in lS4l, after which
he studied law in the office of the late Judge
Thompson, of Chambersburg, Pa, and was
admitted to the Franklin county bar i'll
1913, the distinguished jurist, jeremiah 5.
Black, being at the time the presiding JUS
tice of the courts Of the county.
He returned to Indiana after coming to
the Bar, and began the practice of his pro.
fesson. Success was not long in coming to
the young lawyer, and he soon acquired not
only competence, but a high place at the
Bar. He bad not been long at the Bar,
however, when he began his political career.
In 1913 he was chosen a member of the
Indiana Legislature andlin 1850 he served
in the State Constitutional Convention. Dur
| ing the next five years he was q representa-
tive in Congress, and in 1855 President
Pierce appointed him Commissioner of the
| General Land Office. He continued to
hold this position under Mr. Buchanan's ad-
ministraton until 1859, when he resign
| ed.
In 1860 he was the Democratic candidate
for Governor of Indiana, but was defeated
by Henry S. Lane. Lane was soon after
wards chosen United States Senator, and in
1868 Hendricks became his colleague in the
Senate. At that time the Democracy was a
very weak minority in that body, but Mr.
Hendricks succeeded in making great rep
utation in the Senate both as a statesman
and lawyer, He was active and outspoken
in opposition to the Republican measures of
the time, among them the bill overturning
the old State governments of the South, the
Civil Rights bill and the Freedmans Bureau
bill. In the impeachment trial of Andrew
johnson he played an important part, and
added greatly to his reputation as a lawyer.
In single term in the Senate Mr. Hen
bricks acquired position of great prom
inence before the country, and he placed
himself so far forward in his party that since
1865 he has been generally regarded as
among the Democratic candidates for the
President. But for the Greeley movement
he might have been nominated in 1872.
After his retirement from the Senate in
| l NJ lei al, 10 Ia.
tice of his profession at indianapolis, but he
was not long allowed to remain out ofpub-
lie life After Greeley's nomination ut
Baltimore Hendricks was induced to accept
a nomination tor Governor of Indiana, in
order to strengthen the Presidential ticket,
and, after bitter canvass, he was elected
by II small majority, the rest of the ticket,
except the Superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton being lost to the democracy. The per-
sonal popularity of Governor Hendricks car
ried him through, but he had the advantage
of having an opponent against whom the
temperance sentiment of his State was ar
rayed. He has made an acceptable Cover
nor and has offended only in one respect
by signing local option liquor BILL which
was subsequently, repealed
II Governor Hendricks is a man Of strong
and generous instincts Socially he is one
Of the most agreeable men in public life,
and he carries the urhanity for which he Is
noted into the court room as well as the eX-
ecutive chamber No one meets Ia m with.
out being charmed by his socety. lie pos
sesses a fund of wit and anecdote which
make him charming companion. His
words ielicitously chosen, his sentences al
| ways well constructed and his elocution
| nuent and EASY His house is full of hooks
and paintings, and although not u scholar in
the higher sense, he is well vened in ltera.
ture and has been an especially close student
) of English and American oratory. In bust.
/ ness affairs he is careful, methodical and
prompt-liberal without being extrayagant
and he has the reputation of being an
! honest man. His name on the ticket is ex.
pected to add materially TO Til lens strength
IN the West but whether this will prove
the case can only be tested in the Noyem
Der crucible.