The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-12-02
The Late Vice-President.

The country was startled on Wednes-
day night of last week by the announce
ment that Vice-president Thomas A.
Hendricks had suddenly died of paraly-
sis of the heart at his home in Indian
apolis. Mr.. Hendricks had had pre-
monitory symptoms for several years,
but had been in fairly good health for
some weeks. Four vice-presidents be-
fore Mr.. Hendricks have died in office
George Clinton and Elbridge Gerry in
the first and second terms of Madison {;
William r. King in Pierce's term, six
weeks after his Inauguration; and
Henry Wilson in the second term of
General Grant.
Thomas A. Hendricks was born at
GAINESVILLE, Ohio, September 7, 1919.
He graduated from South Hanover
College in 1910, studied law and began
the practice of his profession at Shelby
vile, Ind, in 1S43. In a few years he
became a lawyer of excellent standing.
After service in the legislature, he was
elected to congress in 1851 and 1853.
During his second term he provoked
strong opposition from his constituents
by voting for the repeal of the Missouri
compromise, and was defeated for re-
nomination. He remained in private
life for a few months only, when Presi-
dent Pierce appointed him commits
sioner of the general land office. His
management of this office was generally
regarded as creditable. In 1860 he ran
for governor against Henry S. Lane
and was defeated. In 1868 he was
elected to the United States senate
was again defeated for governor before
his term expired by eight hundred ma
jority, but was elected TO that office in
1872 by twelve hundred majority,
though his state in that year gave
General Grant six thousand majority.
Mr.. Hendricks was candidate for
president before the democratic con-
vention of 1868, and by 1872 he had
rallied large following, but his party
opponents in his own state defeated
him. He, however, accepted the Sec
ond place with Tilden. He denounced
Tilden's course during the exciting
months following the election, opposed
the electoral commission, and said the
thing for Tilden to do was to demand
the Office and let the supreme court
pass upon the title. In 1880 he was an
aspirant for the presidency, but was de-
feated by the Mcdonald faction in his
own state. Last year he failed of the
first place, but accepted the second,
and carried Indiana by good majority.
He has since been regarded as the rep
resentative of the conservative element
of his party, as opposed to the reform
policy of President Cleveland. He
leaves widow, but no children. They
had only one child, a son, who died
young.
In private life Mr.. Hendricks was es-
teemed for his courtesy, integrity and
ability. He was reputed an excellent
lawyer, but he was more widely known
as an active and aggressive politician.
In his congressional career he won con-
siderable distinction as a debater, and
served with marked ability on impor-
tant committees. During the civil war
his loyalty was often questioned. How
ever this may have been, he was an ag-
gressive opponent of the war measures
of Lincoln's administration. He de-
nounced the emancipation act, advo-
Gated the greenback imitation theory,
opposed the resumption act and sup
ported the proposition to pay the ma
tional debt other than in coin. AS a
statesman among the democrats he was
not equal in rank with Tilden, Bayard
or Thurman, but his abilities were emf.
nently respectable, and he had g
stronger hold upon the confidence of 6
majority of his party than any other
democratic leader of the present time.
Congress.