Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-06-05
Nathaniel P. Banks.

MIR. Banks was born on the 18th OF JAN
uary, 1916, in the town Of Waltham, neal
Boston, which is still his residence. The
poverty of his family deprived him of any
but the most ordinary advantages Of educa-
ton, and these were necessarily narrowly
! limited, or utterly withheld, from his twelfth
wear, when he betook himself to a factory
! in his native town, therein To earn liveli-
hood. At later period of his youth, he
worked as a blacksmith. He was nearly
thirty years old, when, throwing aside his
blacksmith's apron, he commenced in Bos-
ton tbe study of the law, in the Office of Hon.
Robert Rantoul, jr., then United States Dis
| trict Aitorn.y for Massachusetts, and he was
more than thrty-iwo years old when, in
Is4S, he was admitted.to practice, and OPEN
ed an office for himself in Boston, still re-
siding with his family at Watham. Mr..
Rantoul was probably the ablest man in the
Democratic ranks in New England, and Mr..
Banks views upon many subjects are iden-
tical with those of his legal teacher anfpe
sonal friend. :
Mr.. Banks had been an earnest and active
partizan al early as 1910, when he. SUPP orted
Van Buren and the Sub-Treasury. He stoo
up for Polk in IA, and for Cass in '4S, when
he was for the first time chosen to the Leg
islature OF Massachusetts from Waltham.
though his political opponents were deci-
ded majority in the town. 1t is said that
but twenty Democrats were that year elect
ed to the Massachusetts House, which con-
sists of some three to four hundred members.
In 1850. the famous "Coalition" between
the Free Soilers and the Democrats, wrest-
ed Massachusetts, from the control of the
Wing party, sent Charles Sumner to fill the
seat of Daniel Webster in the United States
Senate, and elected Mr.. Banks Speaker of
the Massachusetts House. In 1853, Mr..
Banks was elected Speaker of the Constitu-
tional Convention, of which the abest men
of the Safe were members.
Mr.. Banks first took his seat as Member
OF Congress in December, 1858, having sup
ported General Pierce for President in the
preceding canvass He acted with his party
through that session, except on the slavery
question-taking ground against the repeal
of the Missouri Compromise, against the
doctrine of .'squater ereign'y,' and con-
tending that it was the right and duty of
Congress to act as the guardian OF the infant
Territories, and establish therein such insti-
tutions as were most in conformity with Re-
publican principles, and best adapted to pro-
mote their intellectual, moral, and material
growth.
In 1854, Mr.. Banks was reelected to the
House, having this time the support of both
the "American'' and Democratic parties in
his District, anu receiving majority of some
seven thousand votes In December last
that Congress assembled, AMI, aftsr two
months struggle, was elected Speaker by a
plurality of three vUtes. Mr.. Banks is gen.
orally acknowledged to be an admirable pre-
siding oficer-haying much experience, ,and
great natural GOODNESS, promptitude and dig
nifty.
He is now forty years old, rather below
the medium size, with firm, erect carriage,
and all earnest ply siognomy that seems as
though it had been pinched and hriveled by
facing keen New England NJ .rch wind -
His dark hair is thickIy sprinkle,i with gray.
Indicative of the anxieties of an active tren-
chant life. He is understood 10 be still IN
very moderate circumstances. He was mar
ried some years since, and his wife is now
with him in Washington, though their chill
dren in part remain at school in Il cir New
England home. Contrary to the general
rule that "a prophet is not without honor,
save in his country" Mr. Banks has always
been most popular in his native town, and
there the long struggle for The Speakershp
was watched with the liveliest anxiety On
his behalf. When the things of his sue
cess at length arrived, the bells were rung,
cannon fired, procession formed, and all
the clergymen assembled with their f1ocks
to rejoice over the success of their towns
man.
Mr.. Banks has been spoken of in connec-
ton with the Republican nomination for .he
Presidency, but it is stated that he declines
Allowing his name to be used before the
Conyention.-Saturday Erening Post.