reference to the Presidency. Not because he professes to be a leading
statesman of the country, for it is but recently that he has become a
national legislator, or participated, to any great extent, in national
politics. But possibly for this very reason many eyes are turned
toward him as a fit subject for the suffrages of the Charleston
convention.
Joseph Lane is a native of North Carolina, and was born December 14,
1801. In 1804 his father removed his family to Kentucky, and in 1816
young Joseph crossed the Ohio, and entered a store in Warwick County,
Indiana. What his opportunities were, in early life, for education, we
do not learn, but that they were slight cannot be doubted--a common
school education being all that was within his reach. The rest he
procured for himself in the wide school of the world.
For several years Lane followed a mercantile life, marrying early, and
changing his residence to Vanderberg County. He first tried the paths
of public life as a member of the Indiana legislature, the people of
Warwick and Vanderberg counties liking him so well that they invited
him to become their representative in the State legislature. He proved
himself to be a capable, and, indeed, popular legislator, so much so,
that his constituents kept him in the Senate or House of
Representatives of the State, off and on, for more than twenty years.
He was always in the legislature a manager, rather than a talker. He
has never claimed the title of orator, for he was not bred to it, nor
ever had an aptness for it. But he showed at once that he possessed a
genius for legislation, and was kept constantly by the people at the
business. In the Indiana legislature, he strenuously opposed the
project of repudiation which, in the dark days of Indiana, was
supported by many of her citizens and politicians. His independent
course against the proposed measure of dishonor, was all that saved
the State from the terrible step, and this fact is generally admitted
by her people, irrespective of their politics.
The military career of Gen. Lane now began, and is sketched by one of
his friends in the following language:
"In the Mexican war, Gen. Lane was among the first to respond to the
call for volunteers, by enlisting as a private in the 2d Indiana
regiment, of which he was subsequently elected colonel. He, however,
took the field with the rank of brigadier general, having been
commissioned by President Polk, at the solicitation of the Indiana
Congressional delegation. His subsequent conduct fully justified this
honor. Soon after reaching Mexico, he was appointed by General Butler
civil and military governor of Saltillo, but after the battle of
Monterey, received orders to join General Taylor with his brigade. He
was first under fire at the terrible battle of Buena Vista, on the 22d
and 23d of February, 1847, and particularly distinguished himself in
the furious encounters of the second day. With a command reduced to
400 men, by details sent to check a flank movement of Santa Anna,
General Lane maintained the position he occupied against an attack of
6,000 Mexicans. It appears almost incredible that he was enabled to
roll back such an overwhelming force. When Santa Anna made his last
desperate attack on the Illinois and Kentucky regiments, General Lane,
at a critical moment, hastened to their support, and his timely aid
enabled the column to reform and return to the contest, and thus
contributed largely to the victory that crowned the American arms. In
September, 1847, General Lane was transferred to Scott's line. On the
20th of September he took up his line of march for the capital at the
head of a column of volunteers, including some horse, and two pieces
of artillery, and amounting in all to about 2,500 men. On the way,
Major Lally joined him with 1,000 men, and at Jalapa his force was
further augmented by a company of mounted riflemen, two companies of
infantry (volunteers), and two pieces of artillery. At this time the
gallant Colonel Childs, U.S.A., was holding out Puebla, against a
siege conducted by Santa Anna in person. Foiled in this effort, the
Mexican general moved toward Huamantla, with the purpose of attacking
General Lane's column in the rear, simultaneously with another attack
from the direction of Puebla. But General Lane, who, throughout the
campaign, exhibited the highest military qualities, penetrated the
design of the enemy, and leaving a detachment to guard the wagon
trains, diverged from the main road and marched on to Huamantla, which
he reached on the 9th of October. The Mexicans, dismayed at his
unexpected appearance, hung out white flags, and the Americans began
to enter the city.
"The treacherous Mexicans, however, opened a fire on his advanced
guard, under Captain Walker, and a terrible contest took place in the
plaza. General Lane, in the meanwhile, was engaged with the
reinforcement brought up under Santa Anna; but after a furious battle,
the Americans were victorious, and the stars and stripes waved in
triumph over Huamantla. The remains of the Mexican force fell back on
Atlixo, where they were rallied and reinforced by General Rea. General
Lane, coming up after a long and fatiguing march, found the enemy
strongly posted on a hill-side about a mile and a half from the town,
and immediately gave them battle. After a desperate conflict, the
Mexicans gave way, and threw themselves into Atlixo. At nightfall,
General Lane established his batteries on a commanding eminence, and
opened his fire on the town; but the Mexican troops having retreated,
the civil authorities immediately surrendered the place, and the
Americans took possession of it. Throughout the remainder of the
campaign, General Lane was in active service, and contributed greatly
to its fortunate issue. His operations exhibited a striking
combination of intelligence and daring. With a Napoleonic celerity of
movement, he appeared almost ubiquitous. Wherever and whenever his
presence was most needed, then and there did the 'Marion of the
Mexican war' make his appearance. The long marches executed by his
command excited the admiration of military men as much as their
chivalric daring in the field. General Lane succeeded in infusing into
his troops his own spirit of patient toil and brilliant valor. After
marching many leagues under a broiling sun, reflected from arid plains
and rocks, through rugged defiles and lonely valleys, the presence of
the enemy always found them ready to rush into battle, resistless and
undaunted. Far away from the scenes of strife, we read of General
Lane's exploits with mingled admiration and astonishment, and the
barbarous names of Tlascala, Matamaros, Galaxa, Tulaucingo, became
'familiar in our mouths as household words,' when illustrated by the
valor of the American general. The story of his deeds read like a
romance, and there was that in the character of the gallant volunteer
which enlisted the warmest sympathy. He was the true type of the
American citizen soldier, abandoning the tranquil delights of home,
and the honors of a civic career, for the toils and dangers of war, at
the call of his country, and learning the military art by its
exercise. To the fiery and impetuous valor which distinguishes the
French soldier, General Lane united the stern resolution which
characterized the old Roman warrior, but he repudiated the Roman
military maxim, 'Woe to the vanquished!' as unworthy of an American
officer. The wounded enemy received as much attention at his hands as
a wounded comrade, and as he had communicated to his men his spirit of
endurance and valor, so he impressed them by his example of humanity
and moderation in victory. In July, 1848, General Lane returned to the
United States, and was appointed by President Polk, Territorial
Governor of Oregon. After a perilous journey, he reached his post in
March, 1849, and immediately organized the government. After being
superseded by Governor Gaines, under Taylor's administration, he was
elected by the people of Oregon, with whom he was universally popular,
as delegate to Congress. In 1853, the outrages of the Indians in the
southern part of Oregon, called him once more to the field at the head
of a small force of volunteers and regular troops, and after a
desperate battle near Table Rock, in which he was severely wounded, he
succeeded in forcing them into submission and peace."
General Lane labored faithfully to bring Oregon into the Union, and at
last succeeded, for in February, 1859, the Oregon bill passed the
House of Representatives, and he having been elected senator of the
young State took his seat in that body, and chose the long, or six
years' term.
General Lane has taken little part, as we have said, in the recent
party politics of the day, though, in the winter of 1857-8, he did
make a speech in defence of the Lecompton Constitution. He was not
however ultra in his sentiments. We quote his speech, which was short,
on the admission of Oregon into the Union. It will be seen that
portions of the speech relate to General Lane's personal history:
"Mr. Speaker, I have not yet had an opportunity of addressing
myself to the House in behalf of the admission of Oregon. It is a
matter of very great importance to the people of that territory,
and of the whole country. I would not now trespass on the time of
the House, were it not for the purpose of making a personal
explanation.
"I find in the 'Oregon Statesman,' a paper published at Salem,
Oregon, a letter purporting to have been written from this city,
bearing date the 17th of June last, in which it is charged that I
had managed to prevent action on the admission bill, for the
purpose of obtaining double mileage if elected to the Senate. If
that letter had not been published in a Democratic paper, I would
not have noticed it; but as it has been, I feel it my duty to say,
that if the letter was written here, the writer of that letter
knew very little about me.
"Money, I thank God, has not been a consideration with me in the
discharge of my official duty. It has had no influence over my
action, official, moral, political, or social. I have never
coveted money. I desire only the reputation of an honest man; and
that I intend to deserve always, as I have deserved heretofore
that reputation. I did all I could to bring Oregon in; and when I
found we could not, I said to you, Mr. Speaker, I said to the
Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate, I said to the Sergeant-at-Arms of
the House, that if elected and admitted to the Senate, I would not
take double mileage, or double compensation. Throughout all my
official action, I have studied the strictest principles of
economy toward the Government. When I was appointed Governor of
Oregon territory, in 1848, I paid for my own outfit, and travelled
across the plains to the territory of Oregon without the cost to
the Government of a single cent. When I arrived at San Francisco,
I had to make the trip from there to Oregon by water. I had run
out of money, and I borrowed enough to pay my passage to Oregon
City, and I paid it as soon as I earned it out of my salary.
Though I was offered a free passage by the quartermaster, who went
out in the same vessel with a small detachment of troops, and who
thought I was entitled to a free passage, yet I declined to accept
the offer.
"Then, in the discharge of my duties of Governor, in the
management of Indian affairs, I can say, that, for the smallness
of those expenses, there is no parallel to my administration in
that respect. During the time I was Governor of Oregon, and _ex
officio_ superintendent of Indian affairs, I visited fifty-odd
tribes of Indians, and gave them presents, small in amount, it is
true, but such as were necessary to keep them in a good
disposition toward the whites; and that for the whole amount of
expenses in travelling, I made not a cent of charge. My accounts
show not a single charge against the Government; and the whole
amount of expense, of whatever nature, for the whole eighteen
months that I visited those tribes of Indians, was less than three
thousand dollars. I mention these things in the way of a personal
explanation against the charges of a letter-writer.
"MR. KILGORE.--I wish to ask the gentleman from Oregon a question.
I understood him to remark that he would not have noticed the
matter had it been published in a Republican paper. Will the
gentleman let us know why he would not have noticed it if it had
been published in a respectable Republican newspaper?"
"MR. LANE.--The Republican papers have taken the liberty so often
of giving me so many hard raps that I have got used to it, and I
would not have taken it to heart. But this appears in a Democratic
paper, and in a paper that has had the Government public printing.
This is a fire in the rear that I do not like.
"I will say this: that I have had no cause of complaint of
letter-writers since I have been a delegate upon this floor. Very
few of them have taken the trouble to notice me favorably, and I
am sure I never should desire them to notice me unfavorably; but I
will say in vindication, or rather to the credit of the
letter-writers in this city, that I do not believe that this
letter was written in Washington. I believe it was written in
Oregon territory, and with a view, in my absence, to affect my
character as a public servant and as an honest man, and with a
view to prejudice the admission of Oregon; and perhaps in order
that the editor of this Democratic paper might still have the
benefit of his thousands of dollars annually for the public
printing.
"I have said this much about the letter-writers; and now I must be
allowed, as I feel the deepest interest in the admission of
Oregon, to say a few words upon this subject.
"MR. GOOCH.--I wish to ask the gentleman from Oregon if, in case
Oregon is admitted and he has a vote at either end of this
Capitol, he will vote to relieve Kansas from the effect of the
English bill, so called, and let her present herself for admission
when she chooses?
"MR. LANE.--I do not come here to make any bargain, contract, or
promises. I am an honest man; and if I am permitted to go into the
Senate I shall exercise a sound discretion and judgment, and with
a strong desire to promote the general good, prosperity and
welfare of a country that I love more than life; and I believe
that my official action through life is a guaranty that in all
matters I will do what I believe to be right.
"Now, Mr. Speaker, Oregon territory is peculiarly situated. I
think if there ever was a case in this country where a people were
entitled to the care, the protection, and aid of this Government,
it is the people of that territory. They went out there at a very
early day. I heard with pleasure, from gentlemen on the other side
of the House, a partial history of the early settlement of that
country. As early as 1832, 1833, and 1834, and from that time down
to 1839 and 1840, the missionary societies of this country took it
into their heads very wisely to establish missionaries upon the
Pacific. They sent out good and educated men, men who had a strong
desire to civilize the savages, to inculcate religious principles
among them, and encourage habits of industry and civilization.
Their missions were assisted by many old trappers, who, though
they had spent many years in the mountains, in pursuit of game and
furs, were yet men who had noble and pure hearts, and who readily
offered such aid and assistance as was in their power. Settlements
grew up around the missionary posts. Every effort was put forth by
these good people to influence the habits of the savages. They
were urged to be led upon the paths of Christianity and
civilization.
"In 1841, these settlements had been extended all over the
country, and their welfare depended upon order and good
government. They, therefore, organized themselves into a temporary
provisional government. A board was appointed to enact laws, and
judges were selected for the decision of all matters in dispute.
That provisional government continued until 1843, when a regular
form of government was adopted. George Abernethy was elected
Governor. A Legislative Assembly was created, judges were
appointed, and all the operations of a government went on as
smoothly as they do in any of the territories of the United
States. A post-office department was established, and mail service
was performed throughout the territory. Communication thus was
kept up with all sections of the Union and Oregon. That government
continued until 1848, when, by act of Congress, the laws of the
United States were extended over Oregon, and a territorial
government was voted to her. When I arrived there, in the winter
of 1848, I found the provisional government I have referred to,
working beautifully. Peace and plenty blessed the hills and vales,
and harmony and quiet, under the benign influence of that
government, reigned supreme throughout her borders. I thought that
it was almost a pity to disturb the existing relations--to put
that government down and another up. Yet they came out to meet me,
their first Governor under the laws of the United States. They
told me how proud they were to be under the laws of the United
States; and how glad they were to welcome me as holding the
commission of the General Government. Why, sir, my heart waxed
warm to them from that day.
"Mr. Speaker, can any man upon this floor reconcile it with the
common dictates of justice to deny to this people a State
government? They are law-abiding; they have population; they are
competent for self-government: wherein is it that they are
deficient? My friend from Tennessee [Mr. Zollicoffer] said that he
voted for Kansas because of fear of disturbances; because,
forsooth, they were outlaws and bad men. Would not that be a
reward for defiance of the law?
"MR. ZOLLICOFFER.--The statement of the gentleman from Oregon does
me a great injustice. On the Kansas question there was great
excitement, connected with the question of slavery, which agitated
the public mind of the whole Union to such an extent that I
regarded it my duty to aid to bring Kansas into the Union, and at
once settle the agitation attaching to that territory. This
consideration was, to my mind, paramount to that of population.
"MR. DAVIS, of Mississippi.--I desire to ask the gentleman from
Oregon whether, from his knowledge of the country, he believes
there are ninety-three thousand four hundred and twenty people
there?
"MR. LANE.--I do. From my knowledge of the country, from the rapid
increase of population there, I believe that there are
ninety-three thousand four hundred and twenty inhabitants there;
ninety-three thousand four hundred and twenty white people, no
Chinamen or negroes counted. I am not only satisfied of that, but
I can show, I think, that Oregon, before the apportionment in
1870, will stand here with her representatives representing three
hundred thousand people.
"Mr. Speaker, she comes here with a constitution regularly framed,
and adopted by her people. It is the wish of those people that
they shall assume the responsibilities of State government. Are
they not entitled to it? Now I would ask the friends of her
admission to vote down all amendments. If the bill is to stand,
let it stand as it came from the Senate. If it is to fall, then
let it fall upon that bill. Do not refuse her request by
indirection; let the issue be fairly and openly made. She has been
fair and honest in her dealings with us, and why should we be
otherwise to her? My northern friends will believe me when I say
that the rights of every State of the Union are as dear to me as
those of Oregon. If I have a seat in Congress, I will be, at all
times, prompt to resent any trespass on the rights of the States
as secured by the Constitution. My affection rests on every inch
of this Union--East and West, North and South. The promotion of
the prosperity of this great country is the strongest desire of my
heart. I then ask gentlemen, on all sides of the House, on what
principle of justice or right, the application of Oregon can be
refused?"
In his personal appearance Mr. Lane is dignified and commanding. He is
uniformly good natured and his intimate friends assert that in his
judgments of men and political parties he is very fair. He is tall,
with a fine forehead, greyish hair, and florid complexion. As a
speaker, we have remarked, he is not distinguished, though he is
perfectly at his ease while delivering a speech in Congress.
JOHN McLEAN.
John McLean, or rather Judge McLean--for by the last name he is
everywhere known--has been member of Congress, Post Master-General,
General Land Office Commissioner, Judge in the State of Ohio, and
finally Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. We can add
that the man so prominent, so successful, is worthy of all his
advancement, for he has ever been a man of unswerving integrity, and
of lofty character. He was born in Morris County, New Jersey, on the
11th of March, 1785. Four years later, his father, who was poor,
removed to the West--first to Morganstown, Virginia, next to
Jessamine, Kentucky, and finally to what is now Warren County, Ohio.
This was then a wild country, and the hardy pioneer went at work and
cleared up a farm in it, whereon he resided forty years, and died in
the home which he had made in the wilderness. Here, too, lived John
McLean, the subject of this sketch, and worked upon the farm which he
afterward owned. There were few opportunities within his reach to
obtain a good education--this was at the beginning of the present
century--but to such schools as were to be found near home he was
sent, and made such rapid progress that when he was sixteen years of
age he was put under the care of a neighboring clergyman that he might
study the languages, and as his father's means were still somewhat
limited, he entirely supported himself and paid his tuition expenses
by his labor. He was already ambitious, and determined to study the
law. When he was eighteen years old, he made an engagement to write in
the clerk's office of Hamilton County, in Cincinnati, and entered the
law office of Arthur St. Clair, then an eminent lawyer of Cincinnati.
His writing in the clerk's office supported him, though he was obliged
to practise the closest economy. He took part in a debating society,
and by practice fitted himself for his future business. In the spring
of 1807, he married a Miss Edwards--before he was admitted to the
bar--which was doubtless in the eyes of all his prudent friends a very
foolish act. But so it did not turn out to be. Miss Edwards made him
an excellent wife, and the early marriage saved him from vice and
dissipation into which so many young men of his profession plunge at
his age. In the fall of the same year, Mr. McLean was admitted to the
bar, and returned to Warren County, where he speedily secured a large
legal business.
In 1812, he became a candidate for Congress, his district then
including Cincinnati. He had two competitors, but was chosen by a
large majority. One of his friends writes: