Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-02-14
THURSDAY MORNING. PEB. 7. 1896
The Political Career of n. P. Banks.

THURSDAY MORNING, PEB- 7, 1886
The Political Career OF n. P. Banks.
Tho first we over heard Of Mr.. BANKS was
in 1851, when no occupied the position OF
Speaker of the Massachusetts, Hosse of Rep
reseatatives, elected by cosiition bstwesn
the Aboiitionists Of the HEHRy WiLsoa
school, and that faction with which the De-
mocracy Of Massachusetts, has for many years
been cursed-the faction now gone, without
hope of return, over to AbolAionism.
We would not. however. speak too severely
OF shis misguided class Of niea. without sx-
planning the apology. which they made at the
time, for the coalition with the Atohtionisss.
Massachusetts, had been for q long time an
der the dynasty Of the Wings, who had ruled
the State with & rod Of iron, resisting sli pro-
gress, and requiring implicit and unquesron-
cd submission TO the DEGREES Of the leading
men of the party Many of their measures
of State policy were Objectionable to the
people, and there was strong indueement
among the Democrats and the Abolitionists
TO unite merely for the overthrow OF the
Wings, and for carrying some measures of
reform in local and State policy. The coali-
!, ticn succeeded in 1851, and BANKS, one of its
leaders, became Speaker Of the House.
Being elected Speaker by such influences,
he did his BEST and succeeded therein, in
electing CHARLES SUMNER TO the Senate of
the United States.
In 1852, Mr.. BANKS, claiming to be DEM
ocrat, received :hc nomination for Congress
in his district. Ills nomination however was
not satisfactory to tho substantial, old ino
Democrats, who had refused to become
party to tho coalition with Aboritienists.-
Those old liners saw only evil in tho coak-
ton. However desirable might seem tho
State reforms proposed, and however gratify-
ing might be the defeat Of tho Wings, they
feared tho effect of atemposizing policy with
error and fanatieisn. They therefore with
held their support to Mr.. BANKS for Congress,
and as it required majority of all the votes
cast inthe district TO oloct al that time the ro-
salt OF the canvass was reported, rs it often is
under n majority rule, no choice. Before the
next trial, Mr. BANKS visited in person tho
old line Democrats in every part of his dis
trict, aud made snch explanations and ASST
RANGES as induced them to supfort him, and.
he was elected. 1Io now prcfessed to be an
old line Democrat, chivalric friend of tho
oil isf1F
porter Of the Democratic Baltimore platform.
When the Nebraska bill was before Con-
gress, Mr.. BANKS voted to postpone the pre-
yiOus orders and take up RICHARDSON'S bill.
Without such postponement, the Nebraska
bill could not have passed By this vote
Mr.. BANKS proved himself unfaithful 10 his
anti-Nebraska friends. TO re-establish his |
Abolition orthodoxy. he then went so far In |
opposition to the bill as to prepare himself, |
as no himself said at the time. ian isve-
ssaceobIs step, from the Democratic friends |
with whom he had acted. He then Joined !
the Know Nothings, and delivered in Con-
gress the first speech ever made in that Hal
in Defence of them. and in advocacy OF their
principles.
In 1854 call was made for Democratic |
Convention in Mr.. BANKSs district. When
the Convention assembled. it was discovered
that a majority Of the delegates, though pro-
Tossing to be Democrats, were Abolitionists
and Know Nothings. The Democrats Ina
mediately withdrew, and left Mr.. BANKS with
his Abolition and Know Nothing supporters
in possession of the hall. Mr.. BANKS was of
course nominated. The Democrats called
another Convention, and nominated Hon.
BowEN BUcKMAN.
Mr.. BANKS was not at first openly adopted
as the official candidate of the Know Moth
ings. The name of Mr.. LUrHER WmrINa
was used for time. Measures However were
soon taken for fusion of tne Abolitionists,
Know Nothings, and Wings, and Mr.. BANKS
was elected, as was TO be- expected, by lssge
majority over the Democratic candidate.
Wencxt hex Of Mr.. BANKS on pilgrim
age to NJ a;no, where no nsado thai eelsixnted
speech, In which he proposed TO "ict the
ChioIl Slide" we next heH Ot MN III OOn-
gre,s, expressing his doubts which is supe-
~r,or the black race or the white, and which
will ultimately absorb the other. Last we
hear Of him zs Speaker of the House of Rep
resentatives, elected by one vote, after two
months Of confusion worse confounded-"
Mr.. BANKS may have some talent, and some
tact. But he has no stability. He will nos
do 10 tie to. Adherence to principle, and
fidelity to friends form no part of his creed or
practice.
What effect the election Of such man az
Speaker, may have on the interests OF the
country at large, remains 10 be seen. We
presume, however, It viii have no effect, one
way or the other, either for good or for evil.
lie and his party are powerless in the govern
ment, and must so remain, even should they
be able to unite until they meet the people
at the ballot box. after which. they will bs
heard of no moro.
OTJudge LRAvfFr has, aitsr pancat in
vestigatiOn, discharged tho 1hshmcn wh'
were charged by tho British Consul, 1sosce
camp, with setting on foot military move
ment looking 10 the invasion OF Ireland. Th
.f A., Ist ma 81,