The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-02-15
The Banks Victory.

II was only night before last that one OF
our active men in the House was converting
with two Southern Democrats who urged
him TO drop Banks and let the House be or
gained. Take anybody else, they urged,
and you may elect him in an hour-eyen IL
IL be Giddings. lie replied that our candi-
date was Banks, and we should elect him or
nobody. ave Civ you fair notice., they
rejoined, "that you can never elect Banks,
for we won't let you. We can't afford to
let you have 30 great q triumph rs the cleo
ton Of Banks would now be. Ii would
lisat bonfres on every Northern hill and
cause salutes to be fred in every Northern
city. Anything else you may do, but you
shall not elect Banks"
At the Leyee last evening, the President
congratulated Mr.. Aiken in advance on his
election TO the Speakership, saying that he
knew he would Be- chosen, and that he might
not SEQ him Immediately afterward.
Several "South Americans" now came in,
one by one. and voted for Aiken, notwith-
standing their reported declarations that
they would never yield to an opponent of
Americanism. But they stood out to the
last, and then surrendered, Internationally,
wretched prisoners Of war to the enemy they
had 80 long and 50 calamity defed. AT
last, all the ammunition seemed TO be ex-
hausted. The Clerk and the Tellers cast up
tho vote. Meantime Brown and Millward,
Of Pennsylvania, Cullen Of Delaware, and
Others, who had voted for "Henry NJ. Full
Ter 10 the last" rs Cullen said when his
name was called, were besiegcd by an anx-
ious host who, with arms around theirnecks,
eloqucntly besought them 10 vote for Aiken,
and save the Union from - Banks! "Ill
be-ifI dor' was the emphatic res
ponse which rolled across 10 my corner OF
the Hall from one Of number-and" 50 say
they all"
After several minutes delay, the Clerk
called 10 order. Mr.. Benson, OF Maine,
ruse to announce the result, rs one OF the
tellers. Ii was now nearly ! O'Clock, and
the great chandelier cast its glare over the
intensely excited concourse. "Licked, by
thundcr," Kissed one ofthe chivalry through
his set teeth. SCOT 'em, boys" said Mat
teson, rs he cayorted around in''sleepy hol-
low" and rolled his eyes from father Gid
dings to one and another Of the "old guard,
who had fought battles, but never won such
victory before. And the densely crowded
galleries looked down upon the scene in an
agony Of suspense, and hope, and fear
"Order," "Order! :" shouted the Clerk
and silence like death ensued. Mr. Benson
announced that Mr.. Banks had received one
hundred and three votes, Mr.. Aiken one
hundred, and that Nathaniel p. Banks, Jr.,
OF Massachusetts,, was duly elected Speaker
for the Thirty-fourth Congress.
There is glowing poetry in this result
Tho workingman from the Old Bay State,
gifted by nature and accomplished through
self culture, was pitted against the prince
Of Southern chivalry,-the wealthiest slave
holder in the universe gifted and ac-
complished son Of South Carolina, and the
former has won the hard contested race
Ii was the representative Of the industrious
masses. against one Of the brightest gems of
American electromagnetic the useful, gilt
tering steel triumphs Ger the shining and
attractive gold. But above all IA reckless
party. Administration forced upon the
country sectional issue, and with n view
To party success divided US upon the simple
question Of Slavery, the North has risen in
its might, and, despite the earnest malicious
efforts of very small squad Of doughiaces,
has declared its Independence, and asserted
its stern determination 10 rcpel the aggrcs-
sions Of Slavery. Look back from this
point, We doubling ones, five years, reflect
on :he progress which free sentiment has
accomplished within that time, and say
whether nothing has been gained for Free
dom by resisting the encroachments Of the
Slave power.
The city is full Of rumors as to a CORES
pondence or conference between Gov. Aiken
amp the South Americans, wherein he has
expressed his concurrence in their leading
principles. When Intercepted concerning
IL in the House 10 day, Mr.. "A. evasiyely an
swered that he iras not a candidate for Speak
r. Why did he not say, IL he truthiully
could, that he had given no assurance to one
of the South Americans calculated and in
tended to secure the votes Of that interest
ing party for the Speakerhip9 | am as
sured that such u letter was written, and
the vote shows that il had its effect. Every
American from the southwark Of the Poto-
mac-eyery one from the Slave States but
Cullen of Delaware and Winter Davis of
Maryland-voted for Aiken.
The Boston Bee gives the following sketch
Of the new Speaker
Elsewhere in our Congressional news, it
will BE- seen that Hon. Nathaniel Prentlss
Banks, Jr., has been elected Speaker of the
House. The career OF Mr.. Banks is full of
interest and hope, the more especially to the
young. He has risen to his present post
from the humblest Of life. His early days
witness him struggling with poverty, n boy
Of Is years working sixteen hours day in
the machine shop OF the Boston Manufac-
turin: Company, Mt Waltham. lie was
born in 1916, and is 40 years old. Ills first
appearance in public, except in Dramatic
Club, formed by the young men OF Waltham
was rs temperance lecturer, making his de-
bui in Wi.tertown. He read from manu-
script before him. Ii was creditable pro
duction. lie subsequently, obtained much
skill rs speaker, in the debating club of
the town. From that period, some fifteen
years, 10 the present, he has engaged more
or les in politics. Ills thirst for knowledge
has always been very marked; and to graft
fy il, while yet in the machine shop, he
regularly spent the hours after work until
midnight. Let those who see Mr.. Banks in
the chair Of the House Of Representatives,
remember that its price is twenty-t five yars
Of toll and study-a long and rugged path.
In 1913 he commenced the study Of law in
the Office Of the late Robert Rantoul, Jr.-
In lsi9, 80, 81, and 50 he represented his
native town in our Legislature; and in 81
and SO was chosen Speaker. lie was also
elected President of the Constitutional Con-
vention, one Of the most marked gatherings
ever held in Massachusetts, lie was elected
70 Congress in 1852, and again in lS5l.-I
On the last day Of nine tce,ks continuous
ballOting, he is elected as Speaker Of the
House; eliminating point, we happen to
know, Of his oft-cherished ambition.
Mr.. Banks is sigually self made man
He is indebted TO no adventurous aid for
what no has in his head. The circumstan-
ces by which he was surrounded in his early
days, no less than the counsels which sal
uted his ears, were anything bat encourag-
iny. Had he taken the counsel Of those
who affected to be wiser than himself (the
embodied spirit Of musty old fogyism, often
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