The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-12-18
Skettbrs of Gbarattrr.
NATHANIEL PRENT1ss RANKs

sketch of the history of Nathaniel p. Banks,
a member of Congress from Massachusetts,
who is one of the leading candidates for
speaker:
Mr.. Banks was born in Waltham, Mid
dlesex county, Massachusetts, on the 18th
of January, 1916. As his middle name in
dicates, he is descended, on one side, from
the Prentiss family, of New Hampshire.
AT the age of twelve years he began TO
work in n cotton factory. At a later age he
assisted his father, who was house carpen-
ter. He next learned the machinist's trade,
and worked Mt it in Waltham and Boston
He never had any schooling after he was
twelve years of age. Prior TO that he ut
tended the public school in his native town,
and was considered an apt and quick scho-
lar.
In 1916, Mr.. Banks entered his name in
the Office Of the Hon. Robert Rantoul, Jr.,
then United States District Attorney, in
bar, and commenced practi"" :" DosUUn'--
Mr.. Banks commenced his political life in
1910, as u supporter of Martin Van Buren,
and the subtreasury scheme. In lS4S he
was elected member of the Legislature
of Massachusetts,, from the town of Wal
than. There were only about twenty DEM
ocrats III the House that session. 1t was
the year that the party ran down under
Gushing and Cass. Mr.. Banks took an ac-
tive part in the proceedings of the House
sustaining Cass and his Nicholson letter,
and Gushing.
In 1851, Mr.. Banks was elected to both
the Senate and the House in Massachu sets,
but accepted a seat in the House, and was
chosen speaker by the coalition between
the barnburner democrats and the freesOil-
ers. He had been a leader of the coalition
movement before the people, and made II
very large number of popular addresses
He was the most active liberal democrat in
the State. His style of oratory was Office
tive, and he seemed to be general favorite
on whom the differently political factions were
all inclined to look kindly. In 1852 he was
reelected Speaker of the House. In 1853
he was a member of the convention called
to revise the constitution of Massachusetts,
and was chosen to preside over its delibera-
tions. This convention numbered among
its members, Judge Allen, Rufus Choate,
Judge Sprague, Gen. Wilson, Gov. Bout
well, Mr.. Knowlton, Gov. Morton, Gov.
Briggs, and others of the most distinguish
ed men of all the political parties in the
State. AT this time Mr.. Banks was also u
member of Congress, having been elected as
a democrat the previous fall.
In 1854 Mr.. Banks ran for Congress ds q
candidate of the regular Democratic Con-
vention III his district, and of the Know
Nothings, and was elected by about seven
thousand majority. The Administration
Democrats bOlted the nomination on ac-
count of Mr.. Banks opposition to the Ne
braska bill.
Mr.. Banks has wife and Two children
He is good looking man, with something
of the clerical and puritanic appearance
which belongs to New England, but without
the stilted stiffness which characterized
Winthrop.
Mr.. Banks is fond Of retirement, although
he has had a boistcrious political life. All
his studies, even that of law, have been pur-
sued principally in private. He has great
fondness for literature, and has acquired by
his own unaidcd efforts good knowledge
Of the principal languages of Northern and
Southern Europe. Though not an advocate
of the Maine law, he is strictly temperate,
and is even said never to have drank glass
Of liquor in his life. The paleness of his
cOuntenance would seem to indicate that
a glass of wine for the stomach's sake would
do the gentleman no harm.
HUMPHREY MARSHALL. .
The New York Herald also 0ivns +ba FOL.