The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-03-01
Gbe wteklq Minnesotiun.
From tho New York Evening Post.
Nathaniel p. Banks.

This gentleman, who, after an unexam-
pied contest of nine weeks duration, was
elevated on Saturday last, to the Office OF the
greatest political influence under our govern
ment, next to the Presidency, is one OF the
most favorable specimens with when our
national history abounds, of what are de-
nominated " self made men,"
I'm the twelfth year of his age, Mr.. Banks
graduated from the only school that he ever
attended, and entered a cotton factory in his
native village of Waltham, Massachusetts,
He subsequently assisted his father, who was
a house carpenter, and then learned the
trade of machinist, which he prosecuted
for some time in Waltham and Boston,
His employment did not prevent his finding
time to cultivate his understanding, while
gratifying constitutional taste for intellect
ual pleasures and in 1915 he entered the
Office of Robert Rantoul, then U. 3. Dlstrict
Attorney in Boston, as student OF law
He was admitted, and commenced practice
at the bar of Massachusetts, IN 1915.
Mr. Ranks had always been firm anu
consistent supporter of the Democratic party
and it's policy, and the year that he was ad-
mitted to the bar he was chosen member
of the State Legislature by the democracy
of his native town. He was one OF about
twenty Democrats in the House, among
whom the present Attorney General OF the
United States figured quite prominently.
In 1851 Mr.. Banks was again elected both
to the Senate and the House. He chose to
accept seat in the latter, and was chosen
Speaker of that body by coalition OF the
freesoilers of both the old political parties.
AS presiding officer, he bore the distinction
of being better Speaker than Robert Win
throp, who preced him, and who was uni
versally esteemed as the best Speaker they
had ever had till then.
In 1852 he was reelected Speaker of the
House; in 1853 he was member and presi-
dent of the convention which was elected to
revise the constitution of the State, and was
at the same time member elect Of the Thir-
ty-third Congress. In the latter body he
made himself the object of assaults from the
administration party and its agents by his
opposition to the Nebraska Kansas bill, and
every effort was made to prevent his reflect
ion, but without success. He was re-nOm-
mated by the regular Democratic Conven-
ton of his district, and elected to the pres
ent Congress, of which he has just been chO-
gen Speaker, by about 1000 majority; the
largest majority we believe, ever cast for any
candidate in this district
Mr.. Banks was born in 1916; he is now
therefore just forty years of age. His moth
er is descendant of the Prentiss family, OF
New Hampshire, from whom he derives his
middle name. He has wife and two chill
dren. He is man of dignified presence and
department., deliberate, but precise and flu
ent in his speech, and remarkable for perfect
GOODNESS and self-contrel, as was abundantly
nroven during the long contest from which
he has come out with reward far more flat
tering than mere success, the universal con-
viction of all parties that he was. worthy Of
the dignity and equal to the duties of the ex-
alted position to which he has been raised.