The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1884-07-26
THOMAS A. HENDRICKS.
A Sketch of the Political Career Of
the Democratic cadidate for

the Democratic cadidate for
Nice-President.
Thomas A. Hendricks was born Buck.
eye, his native place being small village
in Muskingum County, not far from zanes-
yiile, Q. In 1892, when be was three years
old, his father moved to Shelby County,
Ind, and that State has since been his
home. His father had sufficient property
to educate his children, and at the age OF
% years young Hendricks was graduated
at Hanover Collage. He went Immediately
to Ohambersburg, Pa, where he studied
law, and two years later was admitted to
the bar. He then returned to Indiana, and
in the village Of Shelbyville hung out his
shingle. Old acquaintances say he made a
quick success, both by his knowledge of
lawand by his attractive personal charac-
teristics. It is said that late Governor
Morton, when opposing young Hendricks,
could usually win before a jury, but in an
argument before Judge Hendricks would
beat him almost every time.
In 1913 Hendricks was elected member
of the State Legislature, and two years later
helped to form Constitution for his State.
The next five years he served his district in
Congress. Then one morning, while sit
ting on the portico of his home in Shelby
vile, q friend handed him q ranked enve-
lope postmarked Washington. u It was
from franklin Pierce, asking him to come
on to Washington and take the Office of
Land Commissioner. He accepted, and
for nearly four years discharged the duties
OF that post. He remained in office one
year longer than he intended to because of
q controversy with Land Officer Burch of
Missouri. Buroh's son had taken up q
very large tract of the best land in Mis-
souri,, and Burch wanted to get patent for
the young man, contrary to law and right.
Hendricks cut off the grab and stayed in
Office long enough to see that it should not
again be attempted. While Commissioners
he heard and decided $1,000 contested land
claims.
His standing before the people Of his
State made him the Democratic candidate
for Governor in 1860. This was not a good
year for Democratic candidates, and Henry
8. Lane defeated him. Lane went to the
Senate at once, and Morton succeeded to
the Governors chair. Two years later the
Democrats turned the State Legislature and
Senate inside out, and the new Houses at
once elected Hendricks United States Sena
tor for the term expiring in 1869. This
was the opportunity which Hendricks
needed to give him a national reputation.
Democrats could do little more than pro-
test in those days, but Hendricks protested
against the Republican reconstruction
methods SO efectually that he was the most
conspicuous candidate before the National
Democratic Convention held in New York
City in 1865. New York's delegtaesand all
the Northwest backed him, but Ohio Kicked
over the traces, voted persistsntly for Sey-
nour, and finally, with the aid of the GAL
lery gods, created a stampede.
In 1876 Mr.. Hendricks was nominated for |
the Vice-Presidency on the ticket that has
since became famous owing to the events |
that Immediately followed the election of
that year.
Mr.. Hendricks SELECTION for the second
place on the ticket by the Chicago Conven-
ton, week before last, was SO unanimous.
it may be conjectured that his nomination
will be as popularity received by his party
at large.