The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-11-26
OBITUARY.
George HI. Pendleton. Author Of the Civil
Service Law, and Ex-Minister to Germany.


BRussELs, Nov. 25.-Hon. George Fl:
Pendleton. late United States minister at
Berlin, died in this city last night. In his
.sixty-ifth year.
Mr.. Pendleton succumbed to a stroke OF
apoplexy. His death occurred in the Hotel
Bellevue. where he had been lying sick for
six weeks. His two daughters were present
when he died. The funeral services Will be
held III the Protestant Church on Wednes-
day next. The body will remain In the
church for several DAYS, and Will De taken
thence to America.
George Hunt Pendleton was born in Gin
%cinnati, o.. July 10. 1926. He came of Wing
and Federalist stock. his grandfather hav-
ing been Mai. Nathaniel Pendleton, adj
jutant-general, aid, and the most trusted
friend of Gen, Nathaniel Greene, and after
ward United States Judge in Georgia; and
his father. Nathaniel Greene Pendleton, a
Wing leader in Cincinnati. a Representa-
tive in Congress during Harrison's admin
istration. and a devoted follower of Henry
Clay. Gentleman George" as Mr.. Pendle-
ton was long Familiarity called, received his
education at the Woodward High-school
and Cincinnati College, and In 1874 went to
Europe, where. after some time spent IN
study at Heidelberg. he travelled for three
years, and became acquainted with
languages. manners and men in ali the
chief capitals. Returning home, he
began the practice of the law in
partnership with George K. Pugh,
afterward United States Senator. At the
same time he allied himself with the Demo-
cratic party, and made himself a factor in
Ohio politics. In 1853 ne was elected to the
State Senate. In 1854 he ran for Congress,
and was beaten. but two years later was
elected, and three times thereafter was re-
turned, serving until 1860. In the campaign
of 1860 he supported Douglas for President.
In Congress he first opposed the issue of
paper money, but during his last term, and
for some years after his retirement from
that body he took the ground that the gov
eminent bonds which had been issued to
obtain funds with which to carry on the
war against the rebelliOus States should be
paid with ~greenbacks. This idea became
quite popular in Ohio and in several other
the "~greenback" theories. the advocates of
which afterward played so important a
part In the politics and legislation of the
country. Mr.. Pendleton was everywhere
recognized as the champion of the green
back idea. and was strongly urged by many
Western men for the Democratic nomina-
tion for the presidency IN 1868 on that
ground alone. His financial views were
very unpopular among the Eastern Demo-
Gratis, and while they admired the personal
character and ability of the man, they
looked upon his financial teachings as per-
niciOus in the extreme.
During the war he was a member of the
House military committee, and in the
T~hirty-third Congress he served as chair
man of a special committee on the subject
of admitting Cabinet officers to the floor of
the House and giving them the right to ex-
plain measures of legislation affecting their
departments, n plan which he zeal0usly
advocated. On Dec. 10, 1861, Mr.. Pendleton
offered in the House a resolution declaring
that Congress alone had the power to sus-
pend the privilege of the writ of habeas
corpus. The resolution was rejected by a
vote of los to 20. On Dec. IL, 1868. Mr..
PendletOn'S resolution declaring that the
arrest and trial of Clement l.. vallandig-
ham by military commission were acts of
mere arbitrary power and a palpable viola
ton of the Constitution of the United
States was rejected by a vote of AZ to n.
In 1854 he was candidatef for Vice-president,
with Mcclellan, on the Democratic ticket,
and carried only the States of New Jersey,
Delaware and Kentucky. But in 1868 he
was at first far ahead of all other candi-
dates for the Democratic presidential
and q half votes of getting
that empty honor, which finally was
granted to HoratiO Seymour. Next year
he ran for Governor OF Ohio, and was beaten
L VI - y Ii thO CduIC NCdt
he was elected president of the Kentucky
Central railroad.
In 1872 he made a second visit TO Europe,
In 1878 he was elected to the United States
Senate The most notable feature of his
senatorial career was his advocacy of civil.
service reform. He was the author of the
bill under which the executive departments
of the government are now conducted, and
urged its passage in a notable speech in the
Senate on Dec. 13, 1881. Upon the expira-
ton of his term he was appointed, in 1885,
by President Cleveland, minister to Ger.
many, in which capacity he served unit he
suffered a paralytic stroke a few months
ago, since which time he has travelled about
the continent in scar ch of health.
Mr.. Pendleton was "A graceful speaker, a
versatile scholar, and a polished man of the
world. He was married in 1886 to Miss
Alice Key. daughter of the author of 1.-THE
Star-spangled Banner" and niece of ex,
Chief-justice Roger b. fancy. They had a
son and two daughters. They had a hand,
some mansion in Cincinnati, q cottage al
Newport, and a fine house in Washington,
where they ranked among the most exclu.
sive and aristocratic families.