The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-26

practice at Shelbyville
In August 1855, he was sitting in his law Office
in Shelbyville engaged IN an intricate matter of
litigation, his thoughts and dreams remote
from politics or official life as the zenith from
the nsdir, when the postmaster came in and
handed him official envelope under the frank
and autograph subscription of President Pierce.
Upon examination the contents proved to be an
autograph letter from President Pierce, offering
Mr. Hendricks the important position of Com
missioner of the General Land Office. The
place was utterly unsolicited. Mr.. Hendricks
though duly appreciative of the honor conferred
was undecided. and his first impulse was to de-
cline to rellnqush his profession But, on re-
Fiction, he concluded to confer with his father
and to act upon his advice. That evening he
spent at the paiernal residence. The proffered
honor was canvassed in all its phases, both per-
sonal as to Mr. Hendricks and to the President
and it was finally decided to accept the Office.
month later the new Commissioner was at the
helm Nearly two hundred clerks were under
his charge. During the almost four years of
his incumhency about four hundred thousand land
patents were issued and $4,000 contested land
cases we're settled. The clerical conduct OF that
branch of the government was the pride of the
Interior Department: aud it is complimentary
to Governor Hendricks administration that of
all his multitude Of decisions in contested cases,
rarely has one been reversed by courts In 1859.
firing of his administrative duties, Commissioner
Hendricks resigned, and returned to his law
practice in Sbelbyville.
Dir. Hendricks had hardly settled comforta-
bly, in his professional seat before the party of
which he mad now become conspicuous mem
Der and acknowledged young leader, called upon
him to be their State standard bearer in a most
notable campaign. He was nominated by the
Democracy for Governor in 1860, his opponent
being nominally Col. Henry S. Lane, of Crawfor,is
vile with Oliver p. Morton then in his prime
OF mental and physical vigor, in the background
for Lieutenant governor, to add all his strength
and popularity TO the contest. 1t was an ex-
tremely heated contest, with uniform success
for the new Republican party in the North.
Lane and Morton were elected and Mr.. Hen
bricks returned to his profession. In the
autumn of 1860 he removed to Indianapolis and
opened law ONCE.
The Indiana Legislature. elected in 1862, was
Democratic, and his party friends chose Mr..
Hendrcks 10 be United States Senator for six
wears. beginning March f. 1863 Two years pre-
vious the Republican Legislature had elected
Colonel Lane to the United States Senate. in ac-
eordance with the agreement, when Mr.. Morton
went on the State ticket In 1860 for Lieutenant
governor, after having run for Governor in 1856
Senator Hendricks took his seat in the north leg
lslative hall at the national Capitol March 4, 1863
and served four years as colleague OF Colonel
Lane. Morton succeeding Lane as senator,
Hendricks was, therefore, colleague of Morton
for two years Mr. Cornell. in biographical
sketch of Senator Hendricks, speaking of his
services as senator. says:
"rnis was a period during which the Demo
weak minority. Nothing possible save
able protest against the various reconstruction
measures adopted and this was to be made in
the face of the strong popular prejudice through
out the country, as we'll as strong opposition III
the Senate chamber. Mr. Hendricks at once
took the lead among the Democrats. and made
for himself national reputation. 1t is sufi
cient proof of the abiity and success of Mr.. Hend-
ricks in the Senate, that. toward the close of
single term, he placed himself aniongithe fore
&C h,.x a-kxy Il
candidate for the presidency. In the national
convention of 1868 he was brought forward, and
at one time led all other candidates, receiving
the solid vote of New York and the Northwest"
During the last years of his senatorial term
he took the ground that the seeding States had
never been out of the Union and that, there
fore, they were entitled to- exactly the same
rights as the other States. He therefore advo-
Gated the immediate admission of congressman
and senators from those States During the last
year of his senatorial service, his party at home
demanded of him again to lead the State ticket.
In 1868 he was pitted against his law partner,
Conrad Baker, for Governor. These two gen
tlemen made An exciting joint canvass Of the
State and when the returns were finally counted.
1t was found that in full vote Hendricks lacked
942 ballots of success Ii was a closely contested
race, each standard-bearing coming off the bat
tle-feld with sincere respect for the others
ability. Upon the expiration Of his term as
senator March a. 1863 Mr.. Hendricks resumed
the practice of the law in indianapolis. For
three wears thereafter he was assiduously en-
gagged in his professional duties. The presiden-
tial campaign of 1872 approached The Greeley
new departure took place. For the third time
the Indiana Democracy demanded of their leader
that he should make the race for Governor Mr..
Hendricks yielded against his OWE wishes and
ut great personal sacrifice, and accepted the
nomination. The campaign was full of excite
Hent, and, like all Indiana political battles was
holly contested. The result was that Thomas
A. Hendricks was elected Governor of Indiana
for four years. His majority over Tom Browne
was between eleven and twelve hundred. II is
q subject of special consideration that he was the
only Governor elected by the Democratic party
that year in the Northern States
The nomination of Governor Hendricks, on
the national Democratic ticket. for Viee-presi
dent, along with Governor Tilden. at ST. Louis.
in 1876 and the great presidential contest of that
year, with the subsequent proceedings and in
auguration of Hayes, are events fresh and
familiar TO the intelligent reader. In an inter-
view the day after the election of 1876, dispatch
was shown him. in which Mr. Hayes had said he
did not care for his own defeat, but his heart
full OF sympathy for the poor negro Mr. Hen
bricks read the dispatch, but declined interview
ing. as the propretes would not allow him to
speak on a subject which Mr. Tisden alone could
talk about.
but there is contingency under which you
may be called upon to speak or act on this very
subject"
Should such time come and hope it will
not. will act, and without fear. The negro is
a citizen. and would deal with him and his
rights precisely as l would with any other citi
zen of the country. / would 60 as far towards
protecting the legal rights of the humblest black
citizen as / would those of General Grant or
Mr.. Tilden himself The executive mot law
maker in any sense. and if should ever fill that
Office would enforce the laws without regard to
the prejudice of any class or party"
The Oregon electors had their row over Gro
nin and the country saw that trouble was
arising which might end seriously to our insti-
tutions Various plans were suggested, threats
were made, and civil war was feared by many
people. Mr.. Hendricks was asked for an inter
view which was again declined, but he showed a
letter which he had written to the repre-
sentative Democrat who was supposed to
have charge of Mr. Tilden's plans and interests
In th at letter Mr.. Hendricks said there was but
one line to follow, the Constitution. which di-
rected just what to do. Mr. Tilden had been
elected, and the moment he began to arbitrate
with the managers for Mr. Hayes, that moment