Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-24
TWO PICTURES-MR. BANKS OF MAS
sACHUSETTS ON THE 18th DAY OF
JANUARY, AND MIR. BANKS ON THE
18th DAY OF JANUARY.

18th DAY OF JANUARY.
On the first date above referred to, the Hon.
Mr. Banks, of Massachusetts, who is a promi-
nent candidate for the Speakership Of the
House of Representatives, thus expressed him
self:
al hare to sag, IN this matter, that accept
the doctrine Of TIE Declaration Of Lndepend-
ence, that all men are created equal. In re.
gard to tie superiority Of races, I am impressed
pih the CONNECTION that ii IS to be determined
only By capacity for endurance. So far as l
hare studied tie subject, 1t seems TO me to be
the universal lac, that the toeaker IS al,oays alb
sor6ed and disappears IN tie stronger race
Whether The black race Of this continent, or
any other part Of the porld IS equal TO the
arhite race, can only be determined by the ab-
sorption and disappearance Of one or the other !;
and propose 10 iedH until the respective races
can be properly subjected 10 this philosophical
test before gre dccisire ansaoer."
To this extract from Mr.. Banks's speech
we lately devoted column of commentary,
because we were shocked at the opinions he
expressed, and shocked that a man Of his Gull
tivation and ability should feel it necessary to
keep in abeyance his decision as TO the COM
parative superiority Of the white and black
races.
A few days after the delivery Of the speech,
from which the above is an extract, the subject
treated by Mr.. Banks was again brought on
the taps by Mr.. Letcher, when the following
debate occurred:
"Mr. Giddings. will then give the gentle.
man an answer whenever ! can get the floor.
"Mr. Letcher. Then / understand the gen.
tleman to say that Mr.. Banks cannot be elect
ed; and knowing that he cannot receive ma
iorty, yet, for the purpose Of carrying out the
very design which my friend from Georgia
(Mr. Cobb) imputes to the other side-that it
must be Banks and an election, or dtsorgdni-
cation without his election-he stands by it,
and insists in forcing him upon this body.
Now, sir, what is the reason of il? Is it be-
cause the gentleman from Ohio endorses the
sentiment announced here the other day, Of
the social aud political equality Of the black
and the white races2 Isit because he desires
to see the problem worked out by practical
amalgamaton?
"Mr Banks, (interruptng) DO under.
stand the gentleman from Virginia as saying
that hare made any such assertion
"Mr. Letcher ! said that the gentleman
said that the problem of superiority was to be
worked out BY seeing which of the two races
should absorb the other.
Mr.. Banks. / hare made no such decldrd-
tioa-no such declaration as he has imputed 10
me. lCres Of Read what he saidr'l j have
expressed no opinion upon either Of the ques-
tons which the gentleman has alluded to- /
have not declared what will be the result
declared that j should wait before / gave
a decisive answer upon that question. ] say
that, according to my understanding of the
doctrine of the superiority OF races, as then
announced, the sentiments the gentleman has
announced as having been declared by me are
not TO be drawn by any just Interpretation Of
the language ] used. / utterly disclaimed
them, when imputed to me by the gentleman
from North Carolina, the other day / knou
perfectly 'ced, and ereyy man knotos pertectl,
cell, that there is an inequality an The capacity
and condition of The races TO ,chich the gentle
man has referred. / hare nerer asserted Hei,
equality.
With regard 10 The sentiment imputed TO me
by the gentlemen from North Carolina, TNr.
Clingmdn and as no,o declared by The oe,,tle.
man from Virginia Mr.. Letcter,1 / hare 10
san / neper entertained or eUen CONTEMPLATED.
anysuch result, or proposed nysuch idea as that;
and. so far as Itcos enabled 10 GATHER HIS
IDEA FROM THE LANGUAGE USED BY
HIM, AMALGAMATI0N is AS INEFFA-
bly, REPUGNANT TO MY MIND AS 1T
CAN BE TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
VIRGINIA OR NORTH CAROLINA, OR
ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE HOUSE.
"Mr. Letcher. Let me read the language
employed by the gentleman in the discussion
referred 70 and let me preface it with this
single remark: here are his remarks deliberate
ly corrected by himself prepared for publica.
ton, and stamped with all the solemnity which
can be given to them by the most careful and
deliberate reflection. The gentleman said:
az have to say, in this matter, that accept