The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-01

jury, and this kind of Interpretation had for itself the
choicest medium, a voice which persuasion had her
self attuned to the very touch.
His imagination was strong, active, vivid; not law
less but sedulously tempered to the theme
be dealt with. None knew better than
he when to use it, when to forbear
His best field lay in those causes involving life, per
sonal freedom, the vindication of character, and in
those questions concerning human conduct of either
public, private or corporate nature. which beset the
ever-shifting line depending upon what is STYLED dis
erection or construction. Here the rule is not to be
found in statutes, text-books-only in the mind,
heart and conscience of those who sit in Judgment or
In the hints contained In those grand repositories OF
the law. spoken and unspoken. the constitutional or
ders and ordinances of the United States.
1t was his fortune many times to face hatred most
deadly, prejudice un Sparing, the unreasoning odium
and fury of the time-fruits of the great military and
civil commissions which characterized the war. In
such conJuncture no difficulty Disconnected him, no
peril appalled,. He will be ~remembered as an earnest
defender of popular rights, of civil and political
liberty as defined by law-as a leader for a quarter of
a century. steadfast and discreet-of the constitutional
majorities of the North and West, which he found in
weakness and which he left in power.
His name will be the synonym of professional honor,
tional bar, for many years of the bar of this city and
county, and for a yet longer period of the bar of the
State. He is one of those who will always continue to
be a member here. His association with us can never
be lost. His membership has passed beyond the con-
tingency of employment, of verdict, Judgment or
appeal His name and presence will here have an as
lit p6rpeUulCy III lis DldIn6ltSS lie, OlS elOQuoDU
labors, his lofty example, so worthy yet so difficult of
all imitation. Thomas A. Hendricks-brave pure and
wise-farewel.
EX-SENATOR M~'DoNALD's EMARK
Judge Turpie was followed by Ex-senator
Mcdonald, who spoke as follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Indiana Bar: I
need not remind you that the occasion which calls us
together is one of unusual s~oemnity. The national
flag at half-mast, a city draped in mourning, and the
many sad faces that throng our streets, all attest the
fact that one who had enshrined himself in the
hearts of the people of this State and had inscribed his
name high up in the roll of the distinguished men of
our country had closed his earthly career; and while
we, his brothers of the bar, have met to pay to his
memory that honor to which it is entitled. on account
of the high rank he held in our profession, a nation
bows its head in sorrow. Monuments may be
erected to perpetuate his name, but none will
be more enduring than the memorial you will
this day enroll upon the records of the courts. 1t is
the lawyers monument, and will remain when monu-
ments OF brass or stone have crumbled, and fallen,
and mingled with the dust. The memorial and reso-
lutlons you are about to adopt speak of him, his
character and career. and render it unnecessary for
hendricks has been a conspicuous figure in
the public affairs of tie State and
the Nation for more than the third of a century, and
IN every position he has filled. whether at the bar or in
official station, he has left a record almost free from
criticism. He first became known to the people of
the State as a member of the constitutional conven-
ton of 1850. Two years later he entered Congress
as a member from this district, and when his
eventful life was ended by his sudden death,
~ d ucIulIS ne ScCOui UlgUcSU CI1Ce l. Un0 GlLL OF
the American people. The most eventful period of
his life, to my mind, was that passed in the Senate of
the United States. He entered that body on the 4th
of March, 1868, and served the full term of six years.
Six more e~ventful years have never occurred
in our history. In that time the Rebellion
was put down and the Union restored.
as to the conduct Of the war and in the restoration
which followed its successful issue. he took a leading
and Of diiifsffe e hs sne part, and In ;nd tns mf Ssd
no limit except the demands upon them. Upon
the opposing doctrines of reconstruction and res
t~oration" he took the side of restoration and by
the ability displayed in behalf of the cause he espoused
IN that august body made a record that stands out in
bold relief, and will grow brighter with time. AL
though Vice presidentH Hendricks was much engaged
in political life, he never lost his hold upon the law,
but as often as opportunity offered returned to it with
a zest, and displayed a knowledge and ability in its
practice that would lead one who did not know to
the contrary to believe that it had been his sole
study and pursuit. SO that in the legal profession in
our State his name will always hold a front rank. 1t
is this that makes the offering of his brethren of the
bar of Indiana on this occasion so appropriate. |
therefore, Mr.. Chairman, second the motion for the
adoption of the memorial and resolutions, and that
they be entered upon the records of this court, upon
the records of the Supreme Court of the State, and
that a copy, together with the proceedings of this
meeting. be delivered by the secretary to the widow of
the late Vice-president.
JUDGE wILLIAMsoN's REMARKS
Hon. Delana E. Williamson, of Greencast tie,
then spoke as follows:
III UdT duu lcpdl lTIcuQS nave dSS6U1UIeuu nucr Sdu
and sorrowful circumstances. Great calamities appall
the brain; the heart only gives utterance to it's emo
tions. Again our capital is shrouded in mourning. A
distinguished tellow-citizen is dead-one of the truly
great men of a nation of so. 600, 600 people; one
whose fame radiated from this capital to the borders
of the land. The people of other States knew Vice
president Hendricks as a statesman, the party
leader, as the representative of a great party.
We knew him as such a man, a citizen, a lawyer, and,
knowing him in these relations, appreciated his great
qualities of head and heart. The private dead are
quietly laid away. and with expressions of sympathy
to the immediate friends. The great world moves on
without further comment. The deceased takes rank
among the dead. according to merit in life. This is in
accordance with natures law. But when a man of
public, as well as private worth, a wise counselor.
a statesman, and the distinguished leader of
men falls, we exclaim, Can it be possible9 Such
were the expressions of men, without regard to party
relations, when the sad word was given out that Vice
president Hendricks had just passed over the river of
death. Standing at the apex of his fame, within easy
reach of the highest honors of his country, surround
ed with the brightest prospects, the fatal bolt comes,
and without warning to himself or his friends, our be-
loved and respected felow-citizen passed from this to
that other world. To the human mind death has a
terror that subdues the hardest heart. And still there
is a beautiful afterpicture connected with our
departed friends. With death the asperities of life
cease, personal ambition, party prejudice, with all
the strong possessions OF our nature, at once surren-
der to our tender and better emotions. At the tomb
we pause and look at the man and his character while
living. From this standpoint let us take a view of
the character of Vice-president Hendricks. As a hus-
band his high consideration and tender devotion to
his wife entered into and became q part of his public
life. AS a citizen his private character stood without
blemish and without question. His moral and religious
virtues were examples for all.
AS a lawyer, he was able, learned and eloquent, his
private virtues adjoining all the walks of his pro-
fessional life. In his public character as representa-.
tive in the State Legislature, member of the consti-
tutional convention, representative in Congress, Com
missioner of the General Land Office, United States
senator, Governor of the State of Indiana and Vice.
president of the United States-in all these stations, de-
manding the exercise of the highest talent. the greatest
discretion of judgment, and in the midst of the great
est human excitement, I have never heard one word
uttered against his private or public character. He
leaves for our admiration and example a character
rich in all the virtues that constitute the Christian
gentleman, the able lawyer, the wise statesman, the
party leader and the public officer. AS a Republican,
and party opposed, / am proud of the opportunity of
laying this tribute of love and respect upon the altar
of his memory.
HON. JOHN r. %CoFFRoTH's REMARKS.
Hon. John K. Coffroth, of Lafayette, next
spoke to the memorial. His remarks were as
follows:
Gentlemen of the Bar. Goyernor Ha,dr;ol,s .or,a