Henry S. Lane

Henry Smith Lane
Born	Template:Birth date Near Sharpsburg, Bath County, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	June 19, 1881(1881-06-19) (aged 70) Crawfordsville, Indiana, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Politician, lawyer, banker, military officer
Years active	1830s–1870s
Known for	13th Governor of Indiana; U.S. Senator from Indiana; key figure in founding the Republican Party

Henry Smith Lane (February 24, 1811 – June 19, 1881) served as a United States Representative, Senator, and was the 13th Governor of Indiana. Notably, he holds the distinction of being Indiana's governor with the shortest term, stepping down just two days after taking office to accept a U.S. Senate seat following his party's victory in the Indiana General Assembly. Originally aligned with the Whig Party and advocating for compromise with Southern states, Lane emerged as a prominent Republican leader beginning in 1856, overseeing the party’s inaugural convention and delivering its keynote speech. He was instrumental in securing Abraham Lincoln’s nomination. After the Missouri Compromise was repealed, Lane adopted abolitionist views and, throughout the Civil War, was a vigorous supporter of the Union cause in the Senate, endorsing measures to defeat the Confederacy.

Family and background

Born near Sharpsburg in Bath County, Kentucky, Henry Smith Lane entered the world on February 24, 1811, to parents James H. and Mary Higgins Lane. His education was classical in nature, provided by private tutors, and he pursued legal studies that culminated in his admission to the bar at Mount Sterling in 1832. In 1835, Lane relocated to Crawfordsville, Indiana, where he worked at the Bank of Indiana and established a law practice largely centered on criminal law.

Lane opposed slavery from an early age and was a supporter of Henry Clay during his time in Kentucky. At just 20 years old, he addressed the Colonization Society in 1831 with an anti-slavery speech asserting that slavery could not endure permanently. While he resisted the expansion of slavery, Lane did not advocate for its immediate abolition; instead, he believed that if restricted, slavery would eventually disappear. In 1833, he married Pamela Bledsoe Jameson; their marriage produced no children. Tragically, Pamela died in a stagecoach accident in 1842; Lane survived with only minor injuries.

Engaged actively in Whig politics, Lane represented Montgomery County in the Indiana Senate in 1837 and served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1838 to 1839. He was elected to fill a vacancy in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1840 and secured reelection by a significant margin in 1841, serving until 1843. During his congressional service, he promoted compromise with Southern states regarding slavery and criticized abolitionists whom he believed were fostering division.

Mexican–American War

During the presidential campaign of 1844, Lane traveled extensively throughout Indiana supporting candidate Henry Clay. In 1845, he wed Joanna Maria Elston, daughter of Isaac Compton Elston—an influential investor in the Bank of Indiana. After the election concluded, Lane returned to his legal career but became increasingly involved following the outbreak of the Mexican–American War. In May 1846, he participated in drafting resolutions committing troops for the military campaign against Mexico.

Lane took an active military role by raising a company and serving as lieutenant colonel of the First Regiment Indiana Infantry. His unit’s duties were primarily focused on guarding supply routes and military posts within Mexico rather than engaging extensively in combat. Once their term of service ended, Lane came back to Indiana and publicly criticized Whigs who opposed the war for failing to support it adequately. Subsequently, he organized another company within the Fifth Indiana Regiment Infantry, remaining stationed in Mexico until the conflict concluded.

Party Realignment

Following the conclusion of the war, Lane sought election to Congress in 1849, contesting against Joseph E. McDonald, but he was narrowly defeated and subsequently withdrew from public office. He transitioned from practicing law to banking in Crawfordsville by 1854. That same year, Lane aligned himself with the newly established Know Nothing Party, joining many former Whigs who had grown disenchanted. Within the state legislature, he was a fervent advocate for electing a Know-Nothing candidate to the U.S. Senate, a stance that ignited intense political divisions in Indiana lasting until the American Civil War. Democrats obstructed the party’s representation at the federal level, with State Senate President Ashbel Willard wielding his influence over votes to block any Senatorial appointments. In response, the Know-Nothings took control of the General Assembly.

This political struggle precipitated the swift disintegration of the Know-Nothing movement but simultaneously enhanced Lane’s national prominence due to his opposition to Democratic forces. In 1856, he participated in the inaugural Republican National Convention, where he was elected convention president and earned acclaim for his eloquence. Upon returning to Indiana, Lane vigorously campaigned statewide on behalf of the Republican Party. The Republicans made significant gains in the legislature and, with some Democratic backing, succeeded in electing Lane and William McCarty to the U.S. Senate; however, the Senate declined to seat them.

The repeal of the Missouri Compromise in 1857 marked a turning point for Lane, shifting his perspective on slavery from one of compromise to outright abolitionism and prompting him to champion strong anti-slavery initiatives on a national scale.

Campaign for Governor

Lane persisted in advocating Republican principles throughout Indiana. In 1860, he secured the Republican nomination for governor at the state convention, running alongside lieutenant governor candidate Oliver Morton. Their opponents were Democrats led by Thomas Hendricks. An arrangement was reached whereby Lane would soon take a seat in the U.S. Senate while Morton would remain as governor. The duo conducted extensive campaign tours across Indiana.

Following a significant address in Evansville, Lane attended the second Republican National Convention and played an instrumental role in securing Abraham Lincoln’s presidential nomination. Lincoln and Lane developed a cordial relationship; Lincoln once jokingly remarked, "Here comes an uglier man than I am."

Back in Indiana, Lane faced Hendricks again in debate at Fort Wayne. Although Hendricks demonstrated superior debating skills, Lane’s commanding oratory enabled him to avoid additional debates and focus on delivering speeches statewide. The election was tightly contested; Lane emerged victorious by roughly 1,000 votes and was inaugurated as governor on January 14, 1861. Nevertheless, he resigned after only two days to accept his previously arranged U.S. Senate seat, allowing Morton to assume gubernatorial duties.

Service as Senator

Lane was chosen by the Indiana Legislature under Republican control; however, the Democratic-majority U.S. Senate initially refused to seat him. As southern states began seceding and their influence diminished, Lane was eventually admitted to the Senate. His tenure lasted from March 4, 1861, until March 3, 1867, during which he supported President Lincoln’s policies throughout the Civil War. While serving in the Senate, he chaired the Committee on Engrossed Bills during the 37th through 39th Congresses and also held membership on the Committee on Pensions during the 39th Congress.

Return to Private Life

Following the conclusion of his Senate service, Lane went back to Crawfordsville and chose not to pursue any further elected positions. He took on the role of special Indian commissioner from 1869 to 1871 and was later designated by President Ulysses S. Grant as commissioner responsible for improvements along the Mississippi River.

On June 18, 1881, Lane entertained guests at his residence in Crawfordsville but soon experienced intense chest discomfort. He passed away the following day, likely due to a heart attack. His passing garnered widespread national recognition, with commemorative events held throughout the United States. Lane was laid to rest on June 21 at Oak Hill Cemetery, where former governors and senators served as his pallbearers. A monument was subsequently erected by the state to honor his gravesite.

See also

• List of governors of Indiana

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Dumas Malone (ed.), Dictionary of American Biography, vol. 5, part 2, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons (1961), pp. 574–575.

External links

Retrieved on 2009-04-23

• Biography and Jacob Cox portrait from the Indiana Historical Bureau