The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-12-04
MIR. HENDRICKS, CAREER.
COnSpicUOuS i'm National and State
Politics for NLanY Ycars.

Thomas Andrews Hen tricks was bern in
Muskingum County, Ohio, near the city of
GAINESVILLE, September I, 1919, and conse-
qu"ntly was in the Goth year of his age His
father, Major Hendricks, removed his family
to Madison, Indiana, when the future Vice
President was but year old. After receiv-
ing good school education, he attended
! Hanover College, one of the pioneer institu-
tons of learning in the West. After his
graduation he studied law and at an early
age was admitted to the bar Since that
time he has been prominent in the legal pro-
fCsslon, except when he was commissioner OF
the general land Office and the two terms
two years each when he was governor
of the State of Indiana. For thirty
seven years he has been before the
pubic-ever since he was elected to
the Indiana legislature in 1S4S In 1850 he
was elected a delegate to the convention
which framed the present constitution of his
state, and was very active in its councils,
The following year he was elected a member
of Congress for an unexpired term, and was
returned to the House at the next election
In 1888 he was appointedby President Pierce
commissioner of the general land Office, which
position he held until 1859. Mr. Hendricks
was elected to the United States Senate in
1865. In 1872 lie was elected Governor Of
his State over Colonel Tom Browne by O4S
ma iority, and served in that capacity until
blue Jeans Williams took his seat in 1871
Mr.. HendrCks's ability and political sagac-
lty made him a prominent candidate for the
presidency as far back as 1868 and in the
convention of that year he at one time led all
the other aspirants, receiving the solid vote of
the States of New York, Indiana, Minnesota,
and other States in the great Northwest
Ohio. however, threw her vote and influence
for Horatio Seymour, and caused a stampede
which resulte in Mr.. Seymour's nomination
Shortly attcrward he was made the candi-
date of his party for governor of Indiana.
and, after most exciting campaign, in which
n hat wit
nent, Conrad Baker, he was defeated by a
plurality OF 9l2 votes. After the election of
1872, and before the meeting of the electoral
college, Horace Greeley, the standard bearer
of thu Democracy, died. When the electors
met Mr.. Hendricks received forty-two out of
the sixty-three to which his party were en-
titled
At the Democratic National convention in
st Louis in 1879 which nominated Mr.. Tilden
for President, Mr.. Hendricks was nominated
for the Office of Vice President on the first
ballot. In the election of that year rilden
and Hen tricks received 4,2Sl, $50 popular
votes to 4,Oj3,9j0 cast for Hayes and Wheel
err. The electoral votes of Florida, Louisi-
ana, South Carolina and Oregon were dis
puted. The story of the formation Of the
electoral commission, and its decision by a
vote OF eight TO seven in favor of Hayes and
Wheeler, is too well known to require repeti-
ton here. Mr.. Hendricks returned once more
TO his law practice in Indianapolis his firm
now becoming Baker, Hendricks, Hord &
Hendricks. Conrad Baker. the Vice Presi
ent's OLD political opponent, was a member
of the firm.
MIR. Hendricks was again a candidate for
the Presidency in 1850, but the nomina-
ton was given to General Hancock Mr.
Hendricks opened the campaign in be half of
Hancock and English in Marion, Ind. on
August II, 1850, and worked actively for
them during the rest Of the campaign.
In 1854 the Democratic National coaven-
ton met in Chicago, Mr. Hendricks for the
first time attending it as n delegate. H.
placed the name of senator Mcdonald before
the convention as a can lidate for the presi-
dency, but on the second ballot re 'eived him
self the votes of all tho Indiana delegates ex-
Cept his own. Governor Cleveland, however
had more supporters in the convention than
Mr. Hen1riclIS, AMI received the nomination
tor President. When the convention was
ready to receive nominations for the vice
presidency Mr. Wallace, Pennsylvania arose
and pres 'nted Mr.. Hendrcks's name.
Governor Waller, of Connecticut, Gov
ernor Hubbard of Texas, and other
prominent DELEGATES supported tie
nomination, and upon the roll
call, every vote of the delegation was cast
for him. The enthusiasm of the convention
was great, and finally all present joined in
singing odd Hundred" as the only means OF
giving it expression.
On the 4th of March Vice President Hen
bricks was sworn into office. He occupie,
his chair as president of the Senate durin.
the session of that body called to take action
ON President Cleveland's nominations. Sinc,
the adjournment of the Senate the Vice
President has spent the summer, as was his
custom, in indianapolis and Saratoga,
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