The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-12-12
HENDRICKS.
His Character as Citizen and an
Official.

Correspondence Of the Enquirer.
ISDIANAPoLIs, Dec. 2, 1879.
A lie in politics may be 50 often re-
Ipeated BY the enemies OF man that his
friends will come TO believe il. This
was notably the case with the late Sem
Iaior Morton. And il j. none the less
the case with Governor Hendricks. For
wears il has been charged that he j. q
coward, a straddlcr. rider Of the fence,
and all those things which 90 10 make
Iup n hesitating. time serving character.
Perhaps no man Of his eminent abilities
land frankness has ever been so much
misunderstood. When he has talked
freely. but with his natural modesfy, the
politician verscd in The tricks Of the
business has assumed that lie did not say
All that he meant, or under the cover OF
words hid his real meaning. Twenty
years of acquaintance, though opposed
10 him politically, has given me some
knowledge of him that many who know
him only casually could not possess.
/ In 1861 and 1862 partisan democrats
were not popular in Indiana. A ma
jority Of the voters were democratic up
on all issues, except the extension OF
slavery or the dissolution Of the Union
Before The election in October, 1862. In
diana had sent over eighty thousand
men. most of them voters. 10 the army.
Probably nine ont Of every ten OF those
who lad enlisted would have voted the
Republican ticket had thcy remained in
the state and the circumstances had been
as they were. hut 80 many had gone
ont of the state that the democracy car
ricd the election. having large majority
il the legislature. That body elected
Mr.. llcndrrk. senator. The ection
was proper ono 10 have been made. for
among all the democrats in the state.
perhaps no one could or would have. in
that irving period, been so loyai 10 the
union Of the states. and at the same time
loyal 10 Democratic principles. as was
Mr.. Hendricks. His record as senator
was always conservative. but always on
The Sidc Of the union and the consiiiu-
iion as the Democracy understood it,.
While disagreeing with the policy Of The
then administration, he never. Nv vote
nr word. admitted want Of faith in our
ls,sfrm or OF the right Of the govern
ment 20 protect itself or enforce the laws.
| In conversationwith republican friend
lin 1864 he said, s.The rebellion started
las an organized resistance 10 the laws.
land The government has accorded 10
those in the rebellion the rights ~ bcllig-
crcnts IN war. am in favor OF using
MI The power Of the government 10 en-
force an constitutional laws. but ] am
NOT ~ favor or the enactment Of laws
which are intended only 70 aid partisan
measures. or which. IL LEFT on the statute
books after fhc conflict ends. might he
used ~ any party for purposes not con-
sisicnt with the liberties which our form
lof government intended all the people
should enjoy"
PERSONAL C0wARDIcE
is one OF the charges made against Mr..
Hendricks. and is ono that he deserves
less than any other. II required moral
|in Indiana afier April, 1863. No one
will pretend that Governor Morton did
not hold the reins with hard hand and
with good reason, too. But Governor
Morton knew Just where and when "a
bear down with heavy hand. but thou
sands Of his followers did not. While
the governor was making an effort "a
lenforce the laws his licutpnants were
teaching the followers that all democrat.
were disloyal, and had no rights which
any loyal man was bound 10 respect
This sort Of teaching took root, and made
IN cxtrcemly unpleasant for conspcuOn.
democrats. Indeed, II II not certain
that ifa soldier had seen III 10 shoot Mr.
Hendricks, he would have been punished
at all. Under such circumstances. MIR
A.