The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1885-12-19

ted the office and went to Washington
He acted as Commissioner during the
latter half of Pierce's Administration
and the earlier half of Buchanan's, du
ring which time he signed upward OF
100000 land warrants and settled more
than 2O.OOO contested land cases, few
of which have been overruled. He re
signed the office in 1850, when he re-
turned to practice his profession in
SheIbyville.
He did not remain quiet very long.
His party was preparing for the con
test of 1850, and Mr.. Hendricks was
unanimously nominated by the Indiana
Democrats as their candidate for Gov
ernor. His opponent was Col. Henry
S. Lane The Democratic party was
divided by the contest between Doug
lass and Breckenridge, and Mr.. Hen
bricks was defeated. Again he return
ed to his law practice, which lie now
transf rred from ShelbyvilIe to Indian
apolis. He entered into partnership
there with Oscar B. Hord, late Attor-
ney General. of the State.
At the beginning of the rebellion Mr..
Hendricks deprecated civil war. and
favored an honorable constitutional
compromise to avert its horrors. At Il
meeting of the Indiana Democracy,
however. held in January, 1861, the
Committee on Resolutions, of which
Mr.. Hendricks was chairman, moved
that 1t was the highest al IN aud duty of
patriotism to preserve the Union in
it's integrity and maintain the Federal
compact in its spirit.
Early it, 1851 MIR. Hendricks was cho
sen to the United States to succeed Da
vid S. TurpiD, who had held Office for
eighteen days. Mr.. Hendricks took
his seat on March 4. 1868. and sat un-
til 1869, being tor four years a colleague
of Henry s. Lane and for two years II
colleague of Oliver P. Morton. He ear
ly gained a placed among the Demo-
cratic leaders in Congress, and served
with distinction on the Committees on
Claims, the Judiciary, Public Lands,
and Nava! Affairs. He was active in
opposition to the measure Overturning
the old State Governments, the impO-
si,ion of test oaths, the Civil Rights
bill, the Freedman's Bureau bill, and
other similar facts.
In the impeachment trial of President
Johnson, Senator Hendricks took
eadins part for the defense. and OBJ
jected to Senator Wade the acting Vice
i resident, taking his seat as one of the
triers and voting. when he was himself
the next in succession in case the Pros
ident were found guilty.
While Mr.. Hendricks was still in the
Senate. the Democratic National Con-
vention of 1865 was held, at which he
was prominent candidate for the Pres
idency. On the 2lst. ballot taken
there Gen. Hancock had l351s votes
to Senator Hcndricks's 1872. The break
for Seymour than began, and he was
elected by acclamation. Senator Hen
bricks ives nominated in tho year of
his retirement from the Senate for the
Governorship of Indiana, but was de-
feated by Conrad Baker by about 500
votes. Mr.. Hendricks then returned
to indianapolis. and resumed his law
business with Mr.. Hord and his cousin,
Abram w. Hendricks.
In 1872 he was again unanimously
for Governor, his opponent
being Gen. Thomas NJ. Browne. Mr..
was elected.by l,l4S major
ty, and, except the Superintendent of
Of Public Instruction. was the only
Democrat elected to State Office in In
diana. He was inaugurated as Cover
nor Jan. Is, 1873. His approval of the
Baxter bill. providing for local license,
called down on him much disapproval.
The enactment was not in accordance
with his views of legislation, bat had
been passed by both branches of the
He decided that its pro-
vision were not in violation of the Con-
and that it was not case of
hasty legislation. Believing that the