The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-02
GOV. ADRIAN A. HAMMOND,
Fhe Occupant of the Gubernatorial
Office just Before the War.
His Early Political Life and Services-His
Relations to the State Debt and to the
Peace Congress of 1861.

N
Written for the Journal by William Wesley woollen
Abram A. Hammond, once Governor of
Indiana, was born at Brattleboro, VT, March
21 1914. He came to Indiana when six years
old, and was raised at Brookville, where be
studied law with John Ryman, lawyer OF
note of that place In 1885, having previously
been admitted to the bar, he removed to
Greenfield, in Hancock county, and COM
menced the practice of his profession. While
a resident of Greenfield, he was chosen prose-
cutting attorney of his circuit, and acquitted
himself with decided ability in the Office. In
1910 he removed to Columbus, Bartholomew
county. and soon afterward formed
a partnership with John H. Bradley
in the practice OF the law. In 1876
Mr. Hammond and Mr.. Bradley removed to
indianapolis, and the next year to Cincin-
natl, But not being satisfied with their To-
cation. they returned to the former city in
1910 and resumed their practices. In 1880
the Legislature of Indiana passed a law Gre
ating Court of Common Pleas for Marion
county Mr.. Hammond was chosen the first
judge of this court. He however, held the
office but short time, resigning it to form a
partnership with Hugh O'Neal, celebrated
criminal lawyer of his day. In 1852
Judge Hammond went to San Fran
cisco, CAL, and became a partner
in the practice of the law with the eminent
Rufus A. Lockwood. The next year he re
turned to Indiana, and in 1855 removed to
Terre Haute and formed a partnership with
Hon. Thomas H. Nelson in the practice of
law. He lived in Terre Haute until elected
Lieutenant-governor of the State.
In 1856 the Democratic State convention
of Indiana nominated the late John c. Walk
er for Lieutenant-governor Soon after the
nomination had been made it was discov-
cred that Mr.. Walker was not eligible for
the Office by reason of his not having reached
the constitutional age. He therefore with-
drew from the ticket, leaving the vacancy to
be filled by the State central committee.
On the dissolution of the Wing party,
after the disastrous campaign of 1852, many
of its members entered the ranks of the De-
moeracy. There was but little difference in
the national platforms of the two great par
ties in that year. so these recruits had not far
TO CO. Judge Hammond was one OF the
most prominent men in Indiana who took
the new departure, and as there was dispo-
stion to recognize this element of the Dem
oeratic party, the State central committee
put him on the ticket in the place of
Mr.. Walker. He had not been prominent
politician, but he was well known over the
State as an able lawyer. He made an active
canvass speaking in the principal cities, and
rl,AK. tlDA H.
tenant-governor. He made a most excellent
presiding officer OF the Senate, his rulings
being so fair and his decisions so just that
even his political opponents bestowed enco-
miums upon him.
During the time that Mr. Hammond was
Leutenant-governor and Governor, the
Democratic party was greatly distracted by
the slavery question. The President, Mr..
Buchanan, and his cabinet held the doctrine
that the constitution of the United States
protected slavery in the Territories, and that
Shareholders had the legal right to take their
slaves into the Territories of Kansas and Ne
braska. Mr.. Douglas, the great apostle Of
popular sovereignty, controverted this posi-
ton, and contended that the people of the
Territories had the right of determining the
question for themselves so soon as they had
organized civil government. In an elabo-
rate paper, published in Harper's Magazine,
he argued to this effect with great
force and FEASIBILITY, if not with irresistible
logic. There was an 'irrepressible confiict"
between the two wings of the Democracy,
which eliminated at the Charleston conyen-
ton in 1860, and severed the party in twain.
That convention adjourned without making
a nomination, and subsequently reassembled
at Baltimore. where one wing of the party
nominated Mr.. Douglas for the presidency
and the other John C. Breckenridge. The
fight between the factions was bitter and re-
Ientless-more bitter than against the Repub-
8 III
followed the lead of Douglas, but many of
the politicians tried hard to compass
his overthrow. Previous to the meeting
of the Democratic State convention of 1860
Governor Hammond went to several county
conventions for the purpose of using his in
fuence to have administration delegates sent
to the State convention. The writer saw him
at the convention in Jefferson county, and
well remembers his efforts to have delegates
chosen who would sustain Mr.. Buchanan.
He was fully in accord with Senator Bright,
Governor Willard, United States Marshal
Robinson, and others in their opposition to
popular sovereignty as eXpounded by Doug
las, and, with them, he favored the admis-
sion of Kansas under the Lecompton consti-
tuition. But he did not follow Senator
Bright into the Breckenridge move
ment The organization of the party
in Indiana was for Mr.. Douglas,
and Governor Hammond stood by the or
ganization. He, however, gave Mr.. Douglas
but passive support, his heart not being in
the fight. A Breckenridge electoral ticket
was formed, which received u 800 votes in
the State but had these votes been added
20 those cast for Mr. Douglas, Mr.. Lincoln
would still have carried Indiana. His vote
was 39,033 that of Mr.. Douglas ll5, 500, that
OF Breckenridge IL, 295 and that of Bell
(Union) $500. 1t will thus be seen that Mr.
Lincoln's majority in the State over all OPP
position was 1923.
Governor Willard died at st. Paul, Mimi,
Oct 5, 1860, and Mr.. Hammond became
Governor On Friday, Jan. IL, 1851, he de-
liyered his first and only message
to the Legislature. III it he
refers to the death of Governor Willard;
TO the borrowing of s125,OO of Winslow,
Lanier & Co., of New York, to pay the semi