Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-07-22
Thomas A. Hendricks.
A Sketch Of the Political Career Of
the Democratic Candidate for
Vice-Fr.sident.

Thomas "A. Hendricks was born q
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.
Ills father had sufficient property TO
educate his children, and at the agt'
of twenty-five young Hendricks was
graduated at Hanover College. lie
went Immediately to Clambersburg,
Pa, where he studied law, and two
years later was admitted TO the bar.
lie than returned to Indiana, and in
the village of Shclbyvillc hung on.
his shinglc. Old acquaintances say
lic made Il quick success. both by lis
knowledge Of the law and by his al
tractive personal characteristics. II
is said that the late Governor Morton.
when opposing young Hendricks.
could usually win before u jury, bul
in an argument before Judge Hen
dricks would beat him every time.
In 1913 Hendricks was elected q
member Of the State Legislature, and
tSo years later helped to form Cou-
stitulion for his State. The next five
years he served his district in Con-
grcss. Then one morning, while sit
ting on the pOrtico of his home III
Shelbyyillc, Il friend handed him a
i'rankcd envelope postmarkcd "Wash-
ington." II was from Franklin Pierce,
asking him TO come Oh TO Washington
and take the office Of Land Commis
sioncr. lie accepted, and for nearl,
four years discharged the duties OF
the post. lie remained in Office one
year longer than he intended to be-
cause ofa controversy with Land on
icer Burch of Missouri. Burcll's son
had taken up very large tract Of the
best land in Missouri, and Durcl
wanted to get patent for the young
man, contrary to law and right
Hendricks cut of the grab aud stayed
in Office long enough to see that il
should not again be attempted
While Commissioner he heard and
decided 22,000 contested land claims
His standing before the people oi
his State made him the Democrat,
candidate for Governor in 1860. Thi.
was not good year for Democratic
candidates, and Henry S. Lane de.
teatcd him. Lane went to the Senate
at once, and Morton succeeded to th,
Governors chair, Two years latcl
the Democrats turned the State Leg
islature and Senate inside out, ant
the new Houses at once elected Hen
drieks United States Senator for thu
term expiring in 1869. This was th,
opportunity which Hendricks needed
to give him n national reputation
Democrats could do little more than
protest IN those days, but Hendricks
protested against the Republican re
construction methods so cllcctuallN
that he was The most conspicuous
candidate. before the National Dem
ocraiic Convention held in New Yorl
City in 1865, New York's delegate,
and all the Northwest backed him
but Ohio kicked over the traces, voted
perSistcntly for Seymour, and finally
with the aid of the gallery gods,
created a stampede.
In 1876 Mr.. Hendricks was nominated
for Vice President on the ticket tha
has since become famous owing tc
the events thatimmediatcly followed
the election of that year,
Mr.. Hendricks selection for TIL,
second place onthc ticket by the Chic
ago Convention, last week, was SO
unanimous, it may be conjccturet
that his nomination. will be as pop
ularly received by his party at large