The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-10-17
HENDRICKS AND THE NEGRO.
The Political Record Of Bourbon Sympa-
thtzar

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The investigation Of the political record OF the
democratic candidate for vice president says
Washington correspondent of the New York
Tribune, is being prosecuted in that city with
some striking results. The speeches made by
Mr. Hendricks in the course of his six years
here in the United States senate are found to
contain passages FAR more fragrant in their ex-
preston of hostility to certain now well-estab-
lished public expediencies, If not decencies,
than those in his addresses made from the
Indiana stump, and already reported His
acts and expressions in regard to the treat
ment and rights of negrSes, as they dis
overed in The Congressional Globe, are espec-
ally and sensationally bad. They are indeed
almost brilliant in their badness. What shall
be said at least of the man who as late as 1861
opposed and fought the repeal of the fugitive
slave acts Of 1898 and 1S50i This, it appears
Mr.. Hendricks did, resolutely. Prior to this,
however, his antagonism to the negro had been
thorough and consistent, in number OF acts
in the senate.
On February 10, 1864, Mr.. Sumner arose in
the senate, and, after stating the circumstances
under which reputable negro, the surgeon of
a colored regiment. had been forcibly elected
from car in this city, offered resolution
directing the senate committee on the District
of Columbia to consider the eXpediency OF fur-
Their providing by law against the exclusion OF
colored persons from railroad privileges in the
District.
Hendricks, who was a member of the senate
committee on the District, made violent
speech against the consideration Of Mr.. Sum-
ner's resolution. In the course OF this speech
he said at seems to be considered great
outrage that the negroes of the District of Col
umbia are not allowed to take their seats in the
same cars with the white men and women who
travel ON the railroads OF this city. II were
to express an opinion on the subject l should
say the outrage would be the other way"
Senator Summers reply to this outburst was
spirited and memorable. He read to the senate
well-written, digniied letter Of the negro
surgeon. addressed to the judge advocate, in
explanation of his delay in reaching session
car, and then said in rebuke of the Indiana
Bourbon: ~ believe that the writer of this
letter had Just as much right in that car as the
senator from Indiana, and believe that II was
Just as great an outrage to eject him from the
car as it would be to eject the senator. | go
further and / say-1 merely take him Tor an
.lustration-that the election of that senator
from car would not bring upon this capital
half the shame that the election of this colored
officer from the car necessarily brings upon the
rapital,-o the election of any other senator
for do not mean, of course, To make the re-
mark personal; but as the senator from In
diana has entered into this discussion and
chooses to vindicate this inhumanity, allude
to him personally"
Again on May IL, 1864, the bill to equalize
the pay of soldiers In the United States army
was introduced in the senate; the bill having
reference to the nay of the colored troops. This
bill Mr. Hendricks Enthusiastically opposed.
He said sententiously: II believe that every
dollar that is paid away of the peoples money
to support negro troops In the tied is SO much
money lostp-although before this time the