Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-12-03
Death Or vIoe-pre.Iaea, Henarlcl..

telegraph wires conveyed the startling newt
that Vice-President Thos. A. Hendricks had
died suddenly at his residencein Indianapolis
of paralysis Of the heart. The news was
startling in the extreme, as nothing had beer
intimated that he had even been feeling un.
well. His death was a peaceful one, full
particulars Of which are given in this issue
The sad event spread deep sorrow over the
entire country, and his death was recognized
by all as national calamity. To the Demo.
cratic party his loss is almost irreparable
He was Democrat in the strictest sense OF
the word, and in his long and eventful life nc
act or deed of his was ever given TO the detri-
ment Of his party. He was reyered and be-
loved by his party as probably no other living
Democrat was, unless we except Samuel j.
Tilden. His funeral took place on Tuesday.
Thomas Andrews Hendricks was born
September, 7, 1919, on farm near GAINESVILLE,
Ohio. His father, John Hendricks, was a
native of Western Pennsylvania. The family
were among the earliest settlers of Westmore-
land County. The mother of Thomas Hen
bricks was of scotch descent, whose maiden
name was Jane Thompson. When the sub
iect of this sketch was six months old his
parents removed from Ohio to Madison, In
diana, where the childhood of Thomas A..
Hendricks was passed under the happiest
auspices. His father was a devoted
churchman, and founder and principal sup
port of Presbyterian Church in his COM
munity, while his mother is remembered q
woman of gentlest nature. After attending
the village school Thomas was sent to South
Hanover College, where he soon acquired q
good, practical education, and then began
the study of law at home, under the instruc-
tion Of Judge Major. The final period of
study he prosecuted under the tuition of his
uncle. Judge Thomson, of Chambersburg,
Penn, and was admitted to the bar at Shell
byville, Ind. He was elected to the Indiana
Legislature in 1S4s, and since that time he
has been prominently identified with the
history of the State and the nation. In 1850
he was appointed, without opposition, as
Senatorial delegate to the convention en-
powered to amend the State Constitution
In 1851 he was elected to Congress from the
indianapolis District, and was reelected in
1852. He was again candidate in 1854, and
was defeated. He again returned to his pro-
fession, in which he was rapidly achieving
eminence, when President Pierce appointed
him Commissioner of the General Land
office, mark of Executive favor which was
unsolicited and unexpected. The wisdom of
the selection was attested by the satisfactory
manner in which the duties of the Office were
discharged. At that time the business of the
Office was of the greatest importance, the
sales, entries and grants being larger than
ever before in the history of the country.
The term of four years as Land Commits
sioner was followed by an unsuccessful race
for Governor in 1860, his successful COM
petitor being Henry s. Lane. In 1862 he
took an active part in the State campaign |
which resulted in Democratic Legislature, |
and this Legislature elected him United |
States Senator by unanimous party vote. |
the Democrats were small minor
ity in the Senate, Hendricks was the recog-
nized leader of that body. His career in the |
Senate is thus sketched: "He favored the |
earnest prosecution of the war, and voted for |
supplies to sustain the army. He was op,
posed to CONSUMPTION, and favored the en-
istment of volunteers and payment of sol
iiers' bounties. At the close of the war he /
leld that the States engaged in the rebellion
lad at no time been out of the Union, and |
we're, therefore, entitled to full representa-
ion in Congress. He maintained that the
,eople of those States should have entire con-
rol of their respective State Governments.
These views placed him in opposition to the
reconstruction policy which was adopted by
he majority in Congress. He also opposed
he constitutional amendments, because the
Southern States were not represented, and
BECAUSE, in his opinion, such amendments
hould not be made before sectional feeling
lad time to subside. He held that amend
nents to the Constitution should be consider
d only when the public is in cool, deliber-
tie frame of mind"
His. term in the Senate expired March 4,
1863, when he once more returned to the prac-
ice Of law. In 1872 he was elected Governor
# Indiana. He was inaugurated January 13,
873, and served full term of four years. His
administration was probably the wisest that
indiana ever had. Four years prior to his
lection as Governor he was warmly support
d in the Democratic National Convention at
Jew York for the Presidency. The Demo-
ratio National Convention held at st. Louis
n June, 1876, nominated him for the Vice
Presidency, with Samuel j. Tilden as the
lominee for President After the decision
f the Electoral Commission Governor Hen
ricks, accompanied by his wife, made a
hort European tour, passing summer in
treat Britain, Germany and France. Re-
urning home, he resumed the practice of law
n Indianapolis, where his practice was i'm
ortant and lucrative. The Chicago Conven-
ion assembled July s, 1884. Mr.. Hendricks
vas nominated for Vice President of the
United States on the 4th day of the conven-
ion, July 11th.
IE The labor organizations of Cleveland
ave adopted resolution protesting against
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