Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-02-09
T1rE ELECTION OF BANKS.

election Of NATHANIEL p. BANKS, of Massa-
chusetts, as Speaket of the House Of Repre-,
sentatives. We know scarcely anything relas
tive to this mans political antecedents, as we.
know but little comparatively speaking of the
past careers of other men Of his region of fifth
or sixth rate capacities. True, we are aware
that he is one of those New England Know
Nothings who makes his enmity to Catholicism
and Catholics generally as the basis Of his pc
Iitical creed. Thus he is a 5igot, if nothing
worse. He is also a member of the Freesoil
or Abolition party. In the unfolding of both
these principles, then-battIiug against a reli-
gious sect il his official capacity, as well as his
influence used in the same position to over
throw an institution granted in good faith by
the trainers Of the Constitution, he is acting
in direct antagoniSm 10 The letter of that in
strument, and in violation of his most sacred
oath. Being placed in this position, he is a.
widely separated in principle from that or the
Southern American Party, as the South il
from Northern AboIitionism,
lnasmuch. then, as the elevation of BANKS
to The Speakership of the House, has displayed
a larger majority than ever before existed in
that body who are opposed to the rights of the
South as guaranteed by the Constitution, we
do not know that we could more appropriately
commemorate such an event than by shrouding
the column in which The announcement is made
and we do so, feeling the immense influence
for evil which such an act must have upon the
future peace of the country, if not the future
stability Of the Union.
The blame of this affair has already been
endeavored 70 be thrown upon the members
of the American party who hail from the South
ern or Slave States. 1t is unnecessary to add
that this charge comes from Democratic men,
bers of the House from the same section, from
Democratic journals Of this State that we have
already seen, and will be belrhed forth by pc
~liticians generally Of that stripe, and reechoed
by. all local damagogues of the same ilk who
think they have found a new willow Cor a
mares ness upon which to "hang THAR harp Ut
a thousand strings" Reader, were we, upon
sage reflection, to publish to the world the
great pleasure we felt, and the great g%ratifca-
ton generally which the country should feel,
because of our success in a contest with you
where some great moral or social principlea|as
presumed to be at stake, and were to proclaim
you moreover one who, to gain your ends, Yop
would trample upon all the governing rules by
which vice is prevented and virtue predomi-
nate-in fine, make yen out u knave, a brawlei
and a propaganda of heinous tenets generally
-and a few days after, were TO expect or sOli>
cit your voice in an unexpected rencontre, i'll
which q principle was involved which, if estab
Iished by our opponent securing more prose
lytes THAI O%urself, would threaten the future
prosperity and peace Of our family, you would
not only justly consider US as being unpre-
cedentedly impertiaent, and our advances re-
PEELED with scorn if you had a spark of manly
spirit in your composition, but it would also
|eVidence our insincerity and falsiiy as Of The
|dastardness of the act, in the representations
We previously made Of you, and would there
fore merit the contempt of all honest and up,
right men. a@9 v
Now, similar to an action thus pictured, was
THE conduct of the Democratic members Of the
House previoHs TO the election for Speaker
They met together in secret caucus and public
" congratulated the country upon the victory
over the Know Nothings or American
party South, while they branded all such. as
factionists and disorganizers, and as every way
unworthy Of confidence or consideration. But
10 and behold! no sooner haa the ballotings
for Speaker commenced, when the Democrats
that they had no hopes in that respect
unless aided BY outsiders-when a piteous cry
was walled out by them, and reechoed by their
journals throughout the Union, that it was
the duty of Southern Know NothiDgs,
who had been so grossly abused, to link their
ballots vita their detractors in the endeavorAto
. Speaker and organize the House!-
and finding that these ''factionists'' paid no at
teniion to so nice an arrangement, their patri.
otism (Which somehow they had suddenly i'm
bibed , was appealed to. in Washington and
Of Washington, TO cast aside their peculiar
preferences or animosities, and join their tra-
ducers the Democrats in eleeting a Speaker
and save the country. But they didn't do it,
BANKS is elected-and the Democrats may
thank themselves for it!
But the evil is done. Abolitionism and Dis
unionisn have reached o climax of triumph
never hitherto attained-th the hearts of their vo-
taries ire terminated with fresh hopes-and i
new and vigorous crusade may be expected
from the enemies Of Southern Constitutional
With so sad a picture for the fature--the