The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1884-07-26
A Sketch of the Political Career of the
Democratic Candidate for
Vice-President.

Thomas A. Hendricks was born a
Buckeye, his native place being a
small village in Muskingum county
not far from GAINESVILLE, O. In 1922
when he was three years old, his
father moved to Shelby county.
Ind, and that state has since been
his home. His father had sul1ici-
ent property to educate his children
and at the age of twenty-five young
Hendricks was graduated at Han
over College. He went Immediate
ly to Chambersburg, Pa, where he
studied law, and two years later
was admitted to the bar. He then
returned to Indiana, and in the vii
lage OF Shelbyville hung out his
shingle, Old acquaintance say he
made quick success, both by his
knowledge of the law and by his
attractive personal characteristics.
1t is said that the late Governor
Morton, when opposing young Hen
bricks, could usually win before a
jury, but in an argument before a
Judge Hendricks would beat him
every time.
In 1S4S Hendricks was elected a
member of the State Legislature,
and two years later helped to form
o constitution for his state. The
next five years he served his dis
trict in Congress. Then one morn
ing, while sitting on the portico of
his home in Shelbyville, a friend
handed him a franked envelope
postmarked "Washington." F yas
from Franklin Pierce, asking i'm
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 be-
cause Of a controversy with land
officer Burch of Missouri. Burch's
son had taken up very large tract
of the best land in Missouri, and
Burch wanted to get a 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 at
tempted. While commissioner he
decided 22,O00 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 Dem
ocratic candidates and Henry S.
Lane defeated him. Lane went to
the Senate at once, and Morton sue
ceeded to the governors chair. Two
years later the Democrats turned
the State Legislature and Senate
inside out, and the new House
at once elected Hendricks United
States Senator for the term expiring
in 1869. This was the opportunity
which Hendricks needed to give
him a national reputation. Dem
ocrats could do little more than pro-
test in those days, but Hendricks
protested against the Republican re-
construction methods SO effectually
that he was the most conspicuous
candidate before the National Dem
ocratic convention held in New
York City in 1868. New York's
delegates and all the northwest
backed him, but Ohio kicked over
the traces, voted persistently for
Seymour, and finally. with the aid
of the gallery gods, created a stam-
pede.
In 1876 Mr.. Hendricks was nom
mated for the Vice Presidency on
the ticket that has since become
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 convention, was so unani-
nous, it may be conjectured that
his nomination will be as popularity
received by his party at large.