The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-04-21

argument. The sceae in all it's circum-
stances was peculiarly exciting and dra-
matte. His argument did not convince the
court, and the charge was point-blank
against him; but, strange to say, his argu-
ment upon the legal question had convinced
the jury, and It's verdict was given in ac-
cordance with that conviction and against
the charge of the court.
HOW HE HANDLES CASE.
Mr.. Hendricks ia remarkable for the readi-
ness with which be gathers up and gets well
in hand the questions both OF law and of
fact. in any case in which he Is engaged. In
this readiness no advocate in the country
excels him, and very few equal him. Other
lawyers may be found who surpass him In
special branches of practice, but IL would
not be easy to find any averaging SO high in
all its branches. He has no specially as an
advocate, being alike efficient in the civil
and the criminal court, and in all kinds and
forms of actions. Other lawyers may be
found who possess in higher degree some
of the intellectual qualities that 90 TO make
up great advocate; but few, Ii any, eau be
found who possess so many OF those quallSes
In so high an average degree.
Mr. Hendricks belongs to a family noted
in the history of Indiana. His uncle, Will
liam Hendricks, was secretary OF the con-
vention that formed the first constitution OF
the State, was Indiana's first representative
in Congress, her second governor, and for
two full terms represented her in the Sem
ate OF the United States. John Abram Hen
bricks a cousin, fell at the battle or Pea
Ridge while leading his regiment against
the enemy; and Thomas Hendricks, another
cousin, was killed in the Teche country
while serving in the Union army. 10 fam
lily 30 DISTINGUISHED he is the most dis
tiDguished, and in one noted for its ability
ne Is the ablest
Mr.. Hendricks father WAS an elder IN tbs
PRESBYTERIAN church, and the son was baptized
10 that church and brought up under its in
fiuence. He never joined any church until
about 10 years ago, when he became menu
Der Of the Protestant Episcopal church, and
is now one OF the wardens of s.. Paufs ca
thedrsl. Although his religious home is not
IN The church of his fathers, be is a believer
in the fundamental doctrines of that church,
being Calvinist without guile.
AS PUBLIC MAN.
Mr. Hendricks has been a prominent man
for many years, and, like all public men,
has been criticised and found fault with, but
no one ever called in question his private or
official integrity. In tnis respect he is abs0-
lutely unasssilable. As a public speaker
Mr.. Hendricks is persuasive and logical.
His public addresses are usually cae!ully
prepared. Although ali ex;emporaneous
speaker of rare power and force, he seldom
or never appears upon the platform to de
liver his first speech in political campaign
without having his manuscript in hand. He
reads in a clear voice, of great strength and
power. 1t is his habit when delivering q set
speech TO inject il to 1t many extemporan-
eous sentences, without in anywise destroy
ing its symmetry or marrlng its beauty;
therefore it is apparent that his printed
speeches do not convey a correct idea OF his
real ability, for many of the best things he
says are spoken of hand The writer remem
bers an exam pie of this which he deems
worthy or mention here.
GUBERNAToRIAL CAMPAIGN.
In the summer OF 1872 Mr.. Hendricks was
nominated by the Democracy for governor
OF IndIsns, and made an elaborate speech on
accepting the nomination. The weather was
intensely hot, and the windows Of the build
ing in which he spoke were lowered for the
purpose Of ventilation Party spirit ran
high at the time, and some of his political
enemies organized a plan to Interrupt and
| annoy him. A couple OF drums ana fife
/ we're brought into requisitiOn and made to
do duty in the dirty work Negro musicians
were employed to manipulate thu - instru-
ments, and as this band, followed by lot of
rowdiss, yelling for Morton, marched and
/ countermarched Ia3t the house. the speak
1 er'e voice was completely drowned. This
/ greatly incense3 his friends, aud one OF them
arose TO ais feet and proposed to rally q
force and "cleGn out the niggers." The
proposition took like w!ldire, and as the
excited men were leaving to carry the pro.
/ ject into execution, Mr.. Hendricks ran to the
/ front OF the platform as though he would
/ Jump to the parquet below, and when he
reached its verge, exclaimed in his loudest
| tone: Let them alone The loon shrieks
| loudest when il hears the storm coming.
The rowdy looms upon the street hear the
/ thunder of an outraged people and 5se the
/ lightning of the coming storm. LIST them
shrek" His words went TO the nerve-cen
tiers like electricity from a battery. They
! tinglCd in the ears and made the blood run
/ fast. At the moment some one shouted
| "Hurrah for Hendricks" and "Hurrah for
| Hendricks shook the building from found
] alton 10 roof. The scene was one OF tbs
/ best illustrations of the power of words 10
SWAY the human mind ever witnessed in the
/ country. Tas writer has heard many
/ thirgs that stirred the heart and made the
/ blood Eallop, but nothing that approximated
/ in effect these words OF Governor Hendricks
A NAN OF CONVICTIONS.
Mr. Hendricks is a man of convictions.
/ de comes 10 his conclusions like all men oil
| logical minds, and when they are reached
/ he is not apt 20 change them. He is not az
/ gFessive, his mi I'D being cast in a conserve
/ tive mod, but he has the courage TO go
| INTO new domains Wne0 cOnVictlOn ana Cuty
take him there. He has been called iimid,
aud been changed With keeping himself so
poised on the fence" as to be able 10 vault
on either side with equal facility; but the
charge is false. No one who had the right to
know his views upon public question ever
asked for them in vain. He is not the man
to proclaim his opinions from the housetop
nor upon the street corner but at the proper
time and ia the proper place he never hesi-
tales TO give them. He has been so persls-
tently misrepresented upon this subject that
many persons, even OF his political faith, be-
lieve the charge to be true. He has long
been leader of his party. not only in his
/ State but in others, and no M N can be a
| party leader without the courage to espouse
cause and the courage to maintain it. Sen.
ato-s Mcdonald and Voorhees,, both able and
aspiring men, never dispute his leadership,
but follow him without question. Since the
sceptsr of Dsmpcratic leadership In Indiana
departed from Jesse d. Bright and was
placsd in the hand Of Thomas A Hendricks
no ore bas attempted to wrest il from him.
This would not be so were he the timid and
vacilleting man an unfriendly press would
have the people believe.
HABITS AND APPEARANCE,