Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-12

myers. IL was not long before the
law hrm intimated TO the student that he
was "a brainy young man." and they soon
| ieit Justified In fxing liberal "a airy, which
! ihey found him abundzntly able TO earn.
mr. Cleveland was admitted to practice ~
an attorney In 1859. Amer his admission
ne continued with his preceptors for four
years, which, with the previous four years
served as student, give him eight years Of
the best kind Of legal experience. He was
tben appointed assistant district attorney
Tor The county OF Erie. which position be
nlled for period Of three years. He was
nominated by the Democratic county con-
vention in 1865 for district attorney to
succeed Mr.. Torrance, and was defeated.
Mt. Cleveland then formed law co-part-
nersbip with the late J. V. Vanderpool ION
The LIST OF January. 1867 which was CON-
nnued until August, 1869. lie then be-
came member OF the urn OF Laning,
Cleveland a Folsom. the late A. T.. Laning
and the late Oscar Folsom being his assO-
ciatos. This firm remained in existence
LOT less Than two years, and until Mr..
Cleveland retired therefrom 10 assume the
duties OF sheriff OF Erie county, TO which
Office he was chosen at the election in NO.
Vemter, 1870. AT the expiration OF his Off
cial Term as sheriff he became member OF
the firm OF Bass, Cleveland IL Bissell. with
Hon. Lyman X. Bass and Wilson 5. Bissell
as associates. This was strong and popu-
lar nrfD, and at once commanded large
and lucrative practice. At the close OF Mr..
BASIS congressional career his falling health
induced him 10 seek residence in COlora-
do, tesulting IN a dissolution OF the CO.
partnership and the formation OF another
under the name OF Cleveland & Bisseil. In
December, 1881, Mr.. George J. Sicard was
admitted as paitner in the law firm, which
was then styled Cleveland, Bissell & Sicard.
and continued TO the time OF his election as
Governor OF New York.
In November, 1881, Mr.. Cleveland stood
as the Democratic candidate for MAYOR OF
Buffalo. His reform ideas were well
known, and on that issue large number OF
the opposing party voted for him, securing
bis election by a decided majority. As
mayor bis administration was such IS to
justify every expectation founded upon his
private character and political record. He
had occasion several times to Interpose his
veto between the city treasury and the
schemes OF plundering politicians, and he
always did it fearlessly. In word, his
course was such that the eyes Of all the De-
mocrats in the State were turned toward
He was elected to that Office in November
1882, by majority OF 192,S54 over Charles
J. Folger, the Republican nominee, and he
took possession Of the Executive chamber
on the 1st OF January. 1888.
OF bis record az Governor, his personal
appearance, his habits, and manner, an Al
bany letter OF recent date saws Since
Governor Cleveland came into office he has
not been absent from his desk more than
six weeks. Prom this must be deducted
the three weeks he was in the AdirOndacks
last summer. His official life Is monOtO-
nous, irksome. He reaches his desk at .
in the morning. he opens his private let
tiers, and at half-past is ready to receive
callers, many OF whom are members OF tho
Legislature, who come 10 explain the ma
ture q their bills. Therefore there is no
lack OF callers. In turn or i'm delega-
tons he receives them, and this is
kept up without interruption until l..
when he goes to lunch. He fakes
from forty minutes to an hour to walk
10 srd from bis residence and to lunch.
by he is surely In his Office 20 see his
caller. These he receives until long after
6. Then he goes 10 dinner, and at hali-paSt
7 Is back in his Office, when he locks him
self UP with bills. After the Legislature
sdiourns be has more leisure. Men having
business with him have learned his methods.
They know he means what he says. Upon
his words confidence and reliance can be
placed, no matter how important OF trivial
the subject. Inquiries are pretty apt to
quickly ascertain his views. lie has that ex-
tremely rare faculty OF reaching safe conclu-
sions after few moments study. He is a
man who seldom loses his temper unless
persistently yeYedi by men who seek to
argue him out OF what ne expresses and be-
lieyes to be a safe and wise decision. He
impresScs men with his frankness and eX-
plicit manners, and his visitors dsplrt
satisfied with the verdict. They quickly
recognize the fact that his conclusions are
reached FROM Unborn conscientious motives.
He Is not Sweryed one iOt or title by parry
or personal friendship 10 do what he con-
cludes Is not right. Hence his pardons
and his yetoes show that they have been
dictated by sound common sense.
Governor Cleveland has q vigorous, rO-
bust constitution. He possesses = large
frame, is inclined to cOrpulency, has Il ner-
vous, sanguine temperament, light COM
plexiOn, thin, brown hair, with tendency
10 badness, and his general make-up Is
what ladies would properly decide to be
good looking. But none OF them have rs
yet succeeded In capturing his hand or his
heart, for he is still bachelor. He has no
symustby for that snObbishness that leads
some people 10 style themselves " society
Ccoplc." He - ioYill, genial companion,
and probably chiefly delights In association
with his own sex. His residence Is the
Executive mansion. about half n mile dis
tant from the Capitol. lie always walks in
nd in m nj
tains q republican simplicity. He is en-
phatcally man Of the people.
Governor Cleyeland's thorough legal
trimming has served him well IN the Execu-
tive chair. 1t Is some years since Thorough
lawyer (Mr. Tilden) last held the office.
His practice has been TO scan all OF the bulls
sent to him, and not to depend implicitly
upon the advice OF other lawyers. n some
governors have done. lie makes thorough
work OF this Inspection, and his vetOeS
carry conviction with them. There could
he no other outcome after his application
Of = strictly legal analysis TO the mass OF
miscellaneous legislation that reaches him.
In spite OF the amendment TO the State Con-
stltutiOn forblGding special legislation many
bills OF that sort have entered his chamber
only 10 be killed. The same care and
painstaking were observable when moro
general interests were At stake. He vetoed
q general streot-railroad bill because the
rights OF the people were so loosely guard
ed. His veto OF the Buffalo fire-depart-
ment bill was against the interests OF GER
tain party managers in his home city, but
be vetoed it for that very reason, and
because il was not in the interest OF
the PEOPLE st large. The same care OF
the public led him TO veto bill which
removed many OF the present restric-
lions, and allowed the trustees OF savings
banks to invest in wildcat securities. His
veto Of the prison commission bill was be-
cause be thought it ought to report sooner
than next January. He has steadily put
his foot on all measures to exempt from
taxation. His disapproyal OF two or three
OF the New York reform bills was because
they were so loosely drawn. The re-
mainder OF these bills had been already
signed.
In his pardons, Governor Cleveland has
taken the greatest care to ascertain all the
facts, and he has never altered the sentence
OF the court except for good and sufficient
reasons.
THOMAS A. HENDRICKS.
sketch of the Democratic Nominee for Vice