Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-11-26

panies, and We're telephoned to the White
House. They We're corroborated soon
afterwards by telegram from Ex-Governor
William E. English to President Cleveland,
telling him that Hendricks had dropped
dead at his house. The President immedi-
ately notified the members of his Cabinet,
and called special meeting of his advisers
at $50 P. NJ. The news was posted upon
the bulletin boards of the newspapers and
news agencies, and tspread rapidly through
the hotels and down town places of resort
1t created much excitement among politi-
clans everywhere. and afforded q new and
interesting item of speculation in political
futures.
HIS PUBLIC LIFE.
Hendricks was very well known in
Washington. He belonged to two genera
tons of politicians. Grey headed veterans
of political warfare remembered him as a
Representative in Congress from 1851 TO
1850 as the Commissioner of the General
Land Office, under Pierce and Buchanan,
until 1859 and United States Senator i'll the
eventful six years embraced between 1868
and 1869. The younger generation knew
him as candidate on the ticket with Til
den, in 1876. and as Vice President between
the months of December, 1884, and March.
1888. He came to Washington a few days
before the inauguration of President Cleve-
land, delighted with the idea of presiding
over the Senate for four years, and conf
dent OF long lease of power for the Dem
ocratic party. He appeared in excellent
health, notwithstanding his &C years, and
he was frequently seen in Pennsylvania
avenue on bright days walking brskly to
and from the Capitol. When Hendricks
first became a Senator there were few Dem
ocratic members of that body The re-
bellion was in progress and war leg
lslatlon OF the most extreme charac-
ter was daily considered by Congress.
Hendricks probably represented the DEM
ocratic party of the North in the discussion
of the determination of the questions of
that day with more ability and effect than
the majority of his colleagues. In debate
he was very plausible and conciliatory.
He was smooth spoken, apparently the
frankest of men, and he often gained an
advantage over an opponent by his suave
and diplomatic manner. Behind this
smiling, agreeable exterior was courage
resolution, determin ton, and he never
abandoned his cause until its defeat was
inevitable. He had warm friends and bit
ter enemies, in national politics as well as
in those of the State of Indiana. Nc
Donald fought Hendricks in Washing
ton as bitterly as in Indianapolis,
and the struggle between them lasted until
the last hour of the Vice Presidents life.
Hendricks was not believer in the ideas
of the advanced civil service reformers, and
he did not think it beneath his dignity as
Vice-President to urge before the different
Departments the appointments of friends
to Federal offices.
THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.
The chief political interest that attaches
to his death is involved in the question OF
the Presidential succession. Although
every effort was made in Congress to pass a
bill that should forever determine how the
office of President should be filled in the
event of death, resignation or inability,
all the measures proposed failed.
President Cleveland to-day stands
of a Republican President in the White
House. Should he die, the President pro
tenn. of the Senate, who will be chosen i'm
mediately on the reassembling of Congress,
would become President, until such time
as special election could be held and a
constitutional succession established. 1t
has been customary, before the expiration
of Congress, to elect a President pro tenn
| of the Senate, as presiding officer, in the
event that any accident should betall the
Vice President. Hendricks was urged last
winter to vacate the chair for the purpose
of eiecting President pro tenn, but this
he steadily refused to do. His reason was
that Arthur refused to consent to the
election Of a Democratic President pro
TEN. during his short term of ser
vice as VicePresident, because the Demo-
| cratic party then had u majority
OF one in that body, and Mr.. uenarirks
said that he did not propose to permit the
Republicans now to elect a President pro
TEN. 1t was pointed out to him that in
case he should meet with an accident. the
Republicans being in the majority in the
Senate, would elect a presiding officer, but
he answered that cOncedng such to be the
case, he saw no reason Of sufficient weight
TO induce him to change his determination
The consequences that if Cleveland should
die or resign before the first Monday in
December, there would be no President.
until, upon the assembling of the Senate,
President pro tempore would be elected
to perform the duties of Chief Magistrate
| CABINET MEETING-PRocLAMATI BY THE
PRESIDENT.
WASHINGTON, November 25th.-The Cab
| met meeting tonight was attended by all
| the members except Secretary Manning
| and AttorneyGeneral Garland 1t was de-
| cided that the President and members of
the Cabinet should attend the funeral of
| the Fice-President. When the Cabinet ad-
journed the President issued the following
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
| WASHINGTON, D. c., November 25, 1885.
To the People Of The United States: Thomas A.
Hendricks, Nice-President of the United States,
died to day at o'clock P NJ, at indianapolis
Ind, and 1t becomes my mournful duty to an
| nounce the distressing fact to his fellow-couu-
| trymen. In respect to the memory and eminent
and varied services of this high Official and pa
triotic public servant, whose long career was so
full of usefulness and honor to his State and to
| the United States it is ordered that the
| national flag be displayed at halfmast
| upon all public buildings of the United States;
! that the Executive Mansion and the several ex-
| ecutive departments in the city of Washington
| be closed on the day of the funeral. and he
draped in mourning for period of thirty DAYS
| that the usual appropriate military and naval
| honors be rendered, and that on all Legations
and Consulates of the United States in foreign
countries the national flag shall be displayed at
half-mast on the reception of this order and the
usual emblems of mourning be adopted for
| thirty days. GROVER CLEyFIASD
By the President:
I. F. BAYARD, Secretary of State.
SUGGESTION TO CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, November 25th.-The fol-
| lowing was sent to the Secretary of the
Senate
EXECUTIVE MANSION
WASHINGTON ID. c., November %. iSS5.
| Hon JUSOD nc(onE 81,