Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. IV.djvu/26

 8 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS attempted to brow-beat a witness, never excited the sympathy of a jury for a witness by any show of unfairness. His skill as a nisi prius lawyer was surpassed by his power before the higher and ap pellate courts. He put himself on paper admir ably, and his briefs are models of strength and con ciseness. He was deferential to the courts, cour teous to his opponents, generous to his colleagues. He showed no fussy fear that he would be shoul dered to the rear. It was not necessary. It soon became evident to his opponents and associates that he was the conspicuous figure in the fight. Unlike many able attorneys, he cared more for success than for an exhibition of his own powers. Law yers who had never met him were sometimes led to think that his abilities had been overrated; no law yer who ever encountered him in a forensic fight came out of it with such an opinion. His com manding abilities as a lawyer stood him in good stead in his political career, which began with the organization of the Republican party. He became conspicuous in Indiana politics in 1860, when, as a candidate for the office of re porter of the Supreme Court, he made a thorough canvass of the State. His first debate with Gov. Hendricks was in that year. By some mistake of the campaign committees he and Hendricks were announced to speak the same day in Rockville. Hendricks was then the Democratic candidate for