The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-02

State, and while we throw our weight into the
the present trouble, let us endeavor to aid in
that more permanent and lasting settlement
that must flow from a restoration of amity and
cordially among all our people, North and
South. Then, as you have met IN legislative
capacity, you should place Indiana, in this con-
trOversy where she rlghtfully belongs, as a con-
sentative, law-abiding and union State: SHOW
to the people OF the Confederacy that Indiana
viii maintain the constitutional rights OF every
State in this Union; that she will extend
| to the South all rights In the Terri
tories belonging, to this government that
she would claim for herself; that
she will look to the constitution and the laws
TO determine rights OF property, and not permit
any moral question TO interfere to effect that
determination, and that all property recognized
by the constitution and laws shall be alike pro
tected. This position, although it may not affect
the action of the extreme Southern States, yet
1t may do much to bring about a convention OF
the border free and slave States And regarding,
- 40. These states TO DC conservative, anu IN
be well for the peace of this country II they
could meet IN convention and consult together
IN regard to the present unhappy differences
existing between the North and the South. They
might, by their conservative action, induce the
extremists of the North and Sonth to pause and
reflect upon the consequences which must neces-
sarily result from their fanatical course, and II.
by their action, this much could be gained, there
sentative elements Of the country these unhappy
differences might be satisfactorily settled, aud
| the best government under Heaven saved from
the horrors OF disunon and civil war.
These recommendations of Governor Ham
mond were favorably received and acted on
| by the Legislature. Subsequently a SUBJ
treasury law was passed, and is still upon the
statute books. Although the Legislature he
addressed failed to provide for the creation of
house of refuge for juvenile offenders, a
subsequent one passed such law. 1t was
| during the administration of Governor
| Baker that the institution at Plainfield was
established, but part of the honor for its
creation justly belongs to Governor Ham
mond.
Governor Hammonds recommendation
that Indiana should be represented in a
convention Of the border States then about
| to be held, was adopted. Five days after
the delivery Of his message, Lieutenant-gov-
| ernor Morton became Governor by reason of
| the resignation of Governor Lane, who had
| been elected to the United States Senate.
| Governor Morton was opposed to Indanas
| sending delegates to the Peace Congress, but
| the Legislature passed joint resolution for
their appointment whereupon the Governor
| named Caleb B. Smith, Pleasant A. Hackel-
man. Godiove S. Orth, Thomas c. Slaughter
and Erastus w. H. Ellis as the delegates
The Peace Congress met at Washington
city Feb. 4, 1861. and organized by the cleo
ton of John Tyler, once President of the
| United States, as its president. Much was
| hoped from it, but nothing obtained. There
were several propositions before it-notably
the one named for Mr.. Crittenden-looking
to a compromise of the differences
between the sections; but they we're
all rejected. The delegates from Indiana
| opposed all compromise or concessions to the
South, and after several days of fruitless
efforts to reach an accommodation the con-
vention adjourned Governor Hammond
was in favor of the Crittenden compromise,
and if he had had the selection of the Indi-
ana delegates he would have chosen men
who would have supported that measure.
| About the time Governor Hammond
/ of of h
Rheumatism fastened itself upon him and
never let go its hold. After this time
he suffered almost continuously and
was compelled to walk with clutches.
He tried all manner of remedies to get relief,
but to little purpose After awhile asthma
| attacked him, and in the summer of 1874 he
went to Colorado, hoping to be benefited
by its climate. But the dry air of the
| mountains failed to work cure He died
at Denver, Aug q, 1874, and four days after
ward his remains reached Indianapolis and
were taken to the house of John NJ. Talbot,
an old friend of the Governors. On the day
of their arrival Governor Hendricks issued
an order for the closing of the State Offices
during the obsequies. On the afternoon of
| Sept l. the funeral took place at Mr.. Tai
bolts residence, Rev. F. NJ. Bird officiating.
The pail -bearers were Governor Hendricks,
Major Gordon, Judge Roache, Aquilla Jones'
Captain Dodd, Hon. Joseph E. Mcdonald,
William Mansur and Simon Yandes, who
escorted his remains to Crown Hill ceme-
terry, where they were buried.
Gov. Hammond was the first Lieutenant
governor of Indiana to become Governor OH
| account of DEATH In 1922 Lieutenant-governo
Boon became Governor, succeeding Jonathan
| Jennings, and in 1925 James Brown Ray,
! President of the Senate became Governor, as
the successor of William Hendricks but in
| both cases the vacancies were caused by resig-
| nation and not by death.
| Governor Willard died October s. 1860 and
| Governor Hammond served until the inaugu-
ration of Governor Lane, Jan. IA, 1861. Two
| DAYS afterward Governor Lane resigned and
Lieutenant-goverpor Morton became Cover
| nor Thus it will be seen that in period of
| 103 days Indiana had four different Governors,
a fact without parallel in the history of the
| country, so far as my knowledge goes.
| Governor Hammond was not SNOWY man,
| but he was an able one. much ADLER than the
public gave him credit for. He had an an-
| alytie and logical mind, and was remarkably
clear in stating his positions and drawing his
| conclusions. He had not great learning, but
| be was close observer of events, and during
| life gathered a mass of information not
| found IN books. He was not particularly
we'll read in the law, but he was a good law
/ yer, for he comprehended principles and was
able to apply them in his practice
While Governor Hammond's residence was
| at indianapolis from 1919 until he died. ex-
cept the year he was at Terre Haute, yet he
made several changes in the location of his
| business He would have succeeded anywhere,
for in ability he was far above most of his
competitors at the bar, but he would hardly
be well settled at one place before he would
close his Office and open one elsewhere He
was not content to watch and wait" but
wanted the business to come at once.
Until he became afflicted with rheumatism
| Governor Hammond was an unusually fine
specimen of physical manhood. He walked
with a spring and moved with the agility of
an athlete He was of medium height, COM
pactly built and of dark complexion His
head was large and well-shaped. While the
gentle, it never betrayed passion. or emotion
He was cool, deliberate and self-possessed,
keeping his feelings and temper under per