USA > Indiana > Biographical and historical sketches of early Indiana > Part 11
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In 1840 the Democracy of Indiana nominated General Tilgh- man A. Howard, then a member of Congress from the Seventh District, for Governor of the State. General Howard resigned his seat in Congress to make the race, and Edward A. Hanne- gan and Henry S. Lane became candidates to fill the vacancy. In many respects they were alike. They were both wonder- fully eloquent, but neither very logical. Mr. Lane was elected, defeating his competitor some 1,500 votes. The next year he was again a candidate for Congress, and defeated John Bryce by an immense majority. He never was elected to Congress after this.
In 1844 Mr. Lane stumped Indiana for Henry Clay, and none mourned the defeat of the Kentucky statesman more than he. On the breaking out of the Mexican war he engaged earnestly in the work of raising troops and stimulating the war spirit among the people. In May. 1846, he attended a war meeting at Indianapolis and participated actively in its proceedings. He was a member of the committee on resolutions, and assisted
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in drawing those adopted by the meeting. The resolutions were preceded by the following preamble :
.. WHEREAS, The cherished malice of the Mexican govern- ment toward the United States has at length resulted in the au- dacious invasion of our territory by her troops, and the shedding of American blood on American soil."
This preamble was followed by a series of resolutions, one of which pledged the government the support of the West " with- out regard to political distinctions." The account of this meet- ing. published at the time, says that " Henry S. Lane being called for by the meeting, addressed it in that peculiar strain of inspiring eloquence for which he is so distinguished, and which is possessed by- few other men of our country." No man in the State was warmer in his support of the war than Mr. Lane, and few did so much to enthuse the people and unite them in its support. But he did other things besides talking to aid the country in its war with Mexico. He raised a company of volunteers, and when the first regiment was organized, he was chosen its major. While in the field he was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy, and served as such until the regiment disbanded. His regiment was engaged most of the time it was in Mexico in guarding supply trains and protecting posts, but nevertheless its services were valuable to the government.
After the expiration of the term for which Colonel Lane had enlisted he returned to Indiana, landing at Madison. The night of his arrival he made a speech in the Madison Court- house in support of the war. He was a leading Whig, and in this speech he severely attacked those men of his party who opposed the war with Mexico. He declared that if Governor Corwin and others of his school were to shape the policy and lay down the principles for the Whig party, it would become the duty of all patriotic men to abandon it. The fiery eloquence of the speaker kindled anew the war spirit at Madison, and a company was soon organized, which went into the field as part of the Fifth Indiana Regiment, commanded by Colonel James H. Lane.
In 1849 Colonel Lane was again a candidate for Congress in his district. His opponent was Hon. Joseph E. McDonald.
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afterward a Senator of the United States. The contest between these distinguished men was conducted with entire good feel- ing, and resulted in the election of Mr. McDonald.
On the organization of the People's party in 1854. Colonel Lane entered it. That party having a majority of the Legisla- ture that year, Colonel Lane came to Indianapolis and labored for the election of Joseph G. Marshall to the United States Sen- ate. But the Democrats, having control of the Senate. refused to go into an election for Senator, and none took place.
When the Republican party was formed. Colonel Lane took a position at its head in Indiana, and such was his reputation throughout the country that when the national convention of the Republican party met in 1856 he was chosen its president. His speech on taking the chair was wonderfully eloquent and spirit-stirring. The delegates became so enthused during its delivery that they cheered the speaker to the echo. The con- vention nominated Fremont and Dayton for President and Vice- President, and Colonel Lane at once took the stump in Indiana in their support. They were defeated at the election which followed, but the principles they represented soon became dom- inant in the country.
In 1859 Colonel Lane and Colonel William M. McCarty re- ceived the votes of a majority of the members of the Indiana Legislature for United States Senators. They went to Wash- ington and contested the seats held by Senators Bright and Fitch, but the Senate decided against them.
The Republican State convention of 1860 nominated Colonel Lane for Governor and Oliver P. Morton for Lieutenant-Gov- ernor. Their Democratic competitors were Thomas A. Hen- dricks and David Turpie. It is questionable if four men of equal ability were ever pitted against each other as candidates for Governor and Lieutenant-Governor in Indiana. They started out to make joint canvasses, and for some time continued their debates. The candidates for Governor began their canvass at Jeffersonville. They then went to Charlestown, thence to New Albany, and then down the river, stopping at the leading towns. until they reached Evansville. Soon after they spoke at Evans- ville Colonel Lane left Mr. Hendricks and went to Chicago to attend the convention which nominated Abraham Lincoln for
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President. When the convention was over he returned to In- diana and resumed his debates with Mr. Hendricks, speaking first at Fort Wayne, and afterward at several other towns in the northern part of the State. After filling these appointments Colonel Lane refused to further extend the joint discussion, and during the remainder of the campaign canvassed by himself. In this he acted wisely, for while he was Mr. Hendricks's su- perior as a popular orator, he was not his equal as a debater. The election resulted in the choice of Colonel Lane by a large majority, and on the 14th of January, 1861, he took the oath of office and entered upon his official duties. In his message to the Legislature he said :
"The novel, alarming and treasonable assumption that any State in the Union has a right, under the Federal constitution, to secede at pleasure is a doctrine unknown to the constitution, at war with the principles on which our government was es- tablished, and destructive of those high and sacred objects
sought to be accomplished by the confederation. The doctrine of secession, peaceable or forcible, now or at any other time, is a dangerous heresy, fraught with all the terrible conse- quences of civil war and bloodshed, and leading directly to the utter ruin of all our institutions. This heresy has not yet poisoned the public sentiment of Indiana, and may God, in his kind providence, put afar off the evil day which shall wit- ness its prevalence amongst us. I most sincerely believe, and am proud to declare, that the people of Indiana, of all parties, are true to the constitution and loyal to the Union; and that they will always be in the future, as they have shown them- selves to have been in the past, willing to yield a ready and cheerful obedience to all the requirements of the constitution of the United States, and to maintain and uphold at all times. under all circumstances, and at every hazard, the glorious form of free government under which we live."
Two days after the delivery of this message Governor Lane was elected to the Senate of the United States. Ile at once resigned the governorship, having held the office but two days- the shortest term in that office on record in Indiana.
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In the Senate Colonel Lane did not attain any great distinc- tion. It was not the place for the exercise of his peculiar tal- ents. These were better suited to the hustings than to a legis- lative body. He was placed upon the Committee of Military Affairs, and upon that of Pensions, and reached the chairman- ship of the latter committee before his senatorial term expired. He zealously sustained the government in its war for the Union, voting it all needful supplies, and upholding its hands in every way he could. But he was not an ultra man, and did not advo- cate ultra measures. In the beginning of the trouble he had favored concessions to the South not inconsistent with national honor and national union, but when the flag was fired on at Fort Sumter the compromising spirit left him. Absolute and unconditional obedience to the law was the only condition he had to offer the South after that.
When Colonel Lane's senatorial term expired he returned to his home at Crawfordsville, and never afterward held public office, unless the appointment of Indian Commissioner, tendered him by General Grant, may be said to have been a public one. He lived at his pleasant home, at peace with the world and en- joying the affection of his neighbors and friends until the end came. And when it did come grief abounded throughout the State.
On the afternoon of Friday, June 18, 1881, Colonel Lane was upon the streets of Crawfordsville enjoying his usual health. In the evening he entertained some of his friends at his resi- dence, and after they had gone, retired to bed as usual. He was taken sick in the night, suffering from smothering spells and pains in the region of the heart. The next morning, how- ever, he arose, dressed himself, and for some time sat on his porch, smoking. About II o'clock that morning he com- plained of being unwell. He undressed himself and went to bed, and continued to grow worse until half-past one o'clock that afternoon, when he died.
The news of Colonel Lane's death was telegraphed over the country, and created a profound sensation. He was universally popular in Indiana, and his death was mourned as sincerely by his political opponents as by his political friends. The people of his town held a meeting the day he died, and passed resolu-
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tions testifying of their love for the dead statesman. When the- news reached Indianapolis Governor Porter issued an order that " the State offices be draped in mourning for a term of thirty days, and that on the day of the funeral they be closed." On Monday, June 20, the State officers met and resolved to attend the funeral in a body. The same evening a public meeting was. held at Indianapolis, over which ex-Governor Hendricks pre- sided, to testify of the high respect in which the deceased was. held by the people of the State capital. In his speech stating the object of the meeting, Governor Hendricks said :
" It is now twenty-one years since we were the candidates of our respective parties for Governor, and I came out of that campaign respecting him most thoroughly, and have so con- tinued to do ever since."
In his speech at this meeting Senator McDonald said :
"In 1849 we were competitors for Congress. He was always the soul of honor, and generous to his opponents alike in the- practice of the law and on the stump."
General Coburn said :
"Caleb B. Smith was a more fluent and graceful speaker. perhaps, General Howard more stately and polished, Samuel Parker excelled him in the keenness of satire and ridicule, but in the intensity of force, point, and a wonderful drollery, Lane was simply unapproachable."
General Harrison said of him :
" There was no personal malice in his speeches ; if they con- tained hostility or bitterness it was directed towards the political principles of his opponents. He was, to an eminent degree. a man of the most genial and kindly feeling, of an open-hearted .. sympathetic disposition."
Judge Gresham said :
"The conditions under which Colonel Lane came forward and gained his power do not now exist, and perhaps never will
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again. That power consisted largely in his ability to speak to the feelings of men. He depended greatly upon the inspiration of the moment. Thoughts came as he spoke, and he made a better speech ex tempore than by writing it out."
The Committee on Resolutions, consisting of Major Jonathan W. Gordon, John M. Butler, Thomas A. Hendricks, Albert G. Porter and Joseph E. McDonald, reported to the meeting a memorial, in which they said :
" In private and social life he was a model man and citizen. * * His peculiar gifts as an orator fitted him for the field of politics, and he entered it with all the enthusiasm of his na- ture. * * He was a wise man, just and generous withal ; and many a charitable act that was known only to his giving hand will be revealed by Him who seeth in secret and rewardeth openly. He was capable of intense enthusiasm and passion, but able to restrain and direct them to ends of beneficence and order. His last year was like the hour of a glorious and cloud- less sunset ; and even now, that he has left us, his light still streams far up our skies to enlighten and cheer us amid the gloom of the present."
Tuesday, June 21, was designated as the day the remains of Colonel Lane would be laid at rest. The hour of the funeral was I o'clock, but long before the time arrived, business in Crawfordsville was suspended, and the people began to meet in the grounds about the home of the distinguished dead. The bells were tolled, and gloom hung over the city like a pall. Among the distinguished persons from a distance were ex-Sena- tors Hendricks and McDonald, Governor Porter, Senators Harrison and Voorhees, Judge Gresham, and many other noted men. The religious services were conducted by Rev. John L. Smith, after which the remains, followed by an immense con- course of people, were taken to Oak Hill Cemetery, deposited in a vault, and subsequently buried. The pall bearers were Samuel Binford, Governor Porter, James Heaton. R. B. F. Peirce, Peter S. Kennedy, Senators Voorhees and Harrison, B. F. Ristine, Prof. Campbell and Governor Hendricks. Some of these gentlemen had often met him on the hustings and been
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the objects of his keenest satire and inimitable drollery. but these contests had left no stings, and they mourned him as a friend.
The monument erected to the memory of Colonel Lane is thus described :
"It is an obelisk of Scotch granite, from the quarries of Aberdeen, Scotland, resting upon a double base of American granite, which is eight feet and two inches square. Upon the first Scotch granite base is the name · Lane' in raised, large block letters. Within the die is a polished panel. upon which inscriptions are to be carved. On the die, which is bordered by polished columns, are the letters. 'H. S. L.,' forming a beautiful monogram. The shaft is thirteen feet high, and is surrounded by a finial, the terminal of which is a polished ball. The height of the entire structure is thirty-two feet. The monument weighs forty-five tons. It is a magnificent piece of workmanship, and is a worthy memorial of the distinguished man whose resting place it marks."
In October, 1831, when but twenty years old, Mr. Lane de- livered an address before the Colonization Society in Bath county, Kentucky, which proves him to have been opposed to slavery in his youth. In his speech he said: " This society presents the only plausible way of removing the evil of slavery from this country." He was not an abolitionist, but a coloniza- tionist. In this respect he was like Henry Clay, at whose po- litical shrine he was a worshiper. He also declared that " The history of all times admonishes us that no nation or community of men can be kept in slavery forever; that no power earthly can bind the immortal energies of the human soul ; and how- ever unpleasant the reflection may be, it is nevertheless true that we must free our slaves, or they will one day free them- selves. Perhaps they may soon rise in their might and majesty of freemen and cast their broken chains at their feet with a mighty effort, which will shake this republic to its center. The light of history shows us that men determined to be free can not be conquered." The speaker lived to see the negro free and enfranchised, but the work was not accomplished by the
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Colonization Society. The great evil of human slavery could only be destroyed by the sword.
While Colonel Lane was an anti-slavery man, he did not, until after the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, favor anti- slavery agitation. In 1842, when in Congress, he voted to cen- sure Joshua R. Giddings for introducing his celebrated resolu- tions in the Creole case. The passage of the vote of censure on Mr. Giddings caused the sturdy old abolitionist to resign his seat and appeal to his constituents for vindication.
Colonel Lane became popular at a time when the world was in love with his peculiar oratory. He abounded in anecdote, was very felicitous in illustrations, and extremely happy in his applications of them. He spoke easily and fluently, and there was a peculiar charm in his delivery. He could enthuse a crowd as but few other men could do ; but he was not a logical speaker, and as a debater he was excelled by many of far less reputation as an orator than he. While in the United States Senate he seldom said a word. The debates of that body were not suited to one of his type, and, as a consequence, he seldom or never participated in them. On the hustings he was the equal of any man who sat in the Senate with him, but he felt his deficiencies as a Senator, and when his term expired refused to be a candidate for re-election. But in a canvass before the people he was superb. We never had a man in Indiana who excelled him in this respect, and but few who equaled him. While mingling among the people, addressing them from the stump, he felt his power, and was at home. He could then say, without the semblance of egotism, " My foot is on my native heath, and my name is Macgregor." It may truly be said of Colonel Lane that "He was not analytical or philosophical. He rarely attempted to make a speech instructive to the unin- formed or convincing to the undetermined. His mission, fixed by the character of his intellect and the intensity of his feelings, was rather to stir men up to act, to give them impulse and mo- tive, than to arm them for controversy or determine the direction of their action.":
Colonel Lane was a speaker, not a writer. He wrote nothing. unless it were a letter, or a paper designed for use at the time. He never wrote his speeches, and did not care whether they
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were published or not. He made them to influence those who heard them, and not those who were to come after him.
Colonel Lane was a member of the Methodist church, and was a God-fearing man. He was a gentleman, a patriot and a Christian, and was esteemed as such by those who knew him.
In person Colonel Lane was tall and slender and somewhat stoop-shouldered. His face was thin and wore a kindly ex- pression. In his latter days the long beard he wore was as white as snow. He moved quickly, and his bearing was that of a cultured man. 1 · " None knew him but to love him, None named him but to praise."
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OLIVER P. MORTON.
FULLY realizing the difficulty before me I commence this sketch of Oliver P. Morton. Sufficient time has not elapsed since he was a leading factor in the politics of the country for him to be correctly weighed and judged. He held high offi- cial positions and great power during a great civil war, a war that fanned the passions of the people to the fiercest heat. By many he was considered little less than a god, by some as little better than a devil. History will accord him the place of a man who accomplished great results ; of a man of strong will and passions ; of intense love of country and of great intellect. He had the weaknesses inherent in mankind, but his great deeds obscured them, and he will go down to future ages as the foremost man Indiana has yet produced.
Oliver Perry Morton, the War Governor of Indiana, was born in Saulsbury, Wayne county, Indiana, August 4, 1823. The original name of his family, which was of English origin, was Throckmorton, but the last member to so write it was his grandfather. The father of the late Governor left off " Throck " from the family name, writing it " Morton," which example was followed by his children. He called the boy Oliver Hazard Perry, but when the future statesman reached an age when he could determine for himself he eliminated Hazard from his name.
When Oliver was a boy he attended the academy of Prof. Hoshour at Centerville, but the family being poor he was placed, at the age of fifteen, with an older brother to learn the hatter's trade. He worked some four years at this business, and I doubt not became proficient in his calling, for he always
ENGRAVEDAND PHUNTED - AT THE- BUREAU' OF ENGRAVING & PRINTING. TREASURY DEPARTMENT. . U.S .-
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mastered anything he undertook. Concluding that the hatter's business did not suit him he resolved to abandon it and qualify himself for the profession of the law. With this object in view he entered Miami University in 1843, and remained there a couple of years. He then returned to Centerville and com- menced the study of the law with the late Judge Newman. He soon secured a good practice and rose to prominence at the bar. In 1852 he was elected Circuit Judge. He served on the bench about a year, when, preferring the practice to judicial service, he resigned. He then attended a law school at Cincinnati for one term, and resumed his legal practice.
Up to this time Judge Morton had been a Democrat. The county in which he lived was largely Whig, thus virtually pre- cluding him from holding elective offices. Had he been in political accord with the majority in his county he would, no doubt, have become prominent in the politics of the State at an earlier day than he did. But in 1854 politics underwent a change that brought him to the front. The repeal of the Missouri Com- promise created a rebellion in the Democratic party, and Judge Morton became a political rebel. He entered the "People's" movement in 1854, and in 1856 became one of the creators of the Republican party. He was a delegate to the Pittsburgh convention of that year, a convention that gave the Republican party form and shape, and breathed into its nostrils the breath of life. His prominence was such that in May, 1856, he was unanimously nominated for Governor of the State. His op- ponent was Ashbel P. Willard, a brilliant man, and the superior of Morton as a stumper, but greatly his inferior as a logician and a debater. Both the candidates were young and able. They canvassed the State together and drew immense crowds of people to hear them. The speeches of Willard were florid and spirit-stirring. those of Morton plain and convincing. He made no effort to be eloquent or witty, but addressed himself to the reason and conscience of his hearers. Although he was beaten at the polls, he came out of the contest with his popu- larity increased and with the reputation of being intellectually one of the strongest men in the State.
The defeat of Judge Morton for Governor in 1856 had a de- pressing effect upon him, as, indeed, did all his defeats. Mr.
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Murat Halstead, of Cincinnati, gives this account of a meeting between him and Judge Morton :
. The night after the day when he was beaten by Willard for Governor of Indiana, Morton called at my office, and was weary and depressed. His first State campaign had ended in disaster, and he seemed to have no political future. He was himself of the opinion at the time that that was the end of his career as a politician. Could he have looked ten years ahead he would have beheld himself a leading man of the country."
In 1860 Judge Morton was nominated for Lieutenant-Governor of Indiana on the ticket with Henry S. Lane. Colonel Lane was a more popular orator than Judge Morton, but far behind him in executive ability. Both were able, and they had able men to contend with. Judge Morton's opponent was David Turpie, afterward a United States Senator, and one of the strongest writers and debaters in the State. They made a joint canvass, and ably discussed the issues then before the country.
The election resulted in the choice of Lane and Morton, and when the Legislature convened in January, 1861, the latter was duly inaugurated Lieutenant-Governor of the State. Two days afterward Governor Lane was elected to the United States Sen- ate, and resigned the governorship, whereupon Lieutenant- Governor Morton became Governor. It was while filling this term as Governor that Morton did his best public work, and created for himself a fame as lasting as the State itself. A civil war was about breaking out when he became Governor, and few so well comprehended what would be its magnitude as he. While many believed the trouble would pass away without an armed conflict, and that if one did commence it would be of short duration, Governor Morton plainly saw its coming, and knew it would be one of the hardest fought and bloodiest con- tests the world ever saw. Many of Governor Morton's party friends, and among them Governor Lane, had favored conces- sions to the South before hostilities began ; but not so Governor Morton. The only compromise he had to offer the South was absolute obedience to the laws of the land. He opposed the scheme of a peace congress, and when the Legislature passed a joint resolution providing for the appointment of peace com-
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