The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-02-29

THE NEW SPEAKER.


The following article from the Worcester.
(Ma.s,) Spy will be read with considerable
interest BY men OF all parties -
.The people OF Massachusetts may be
presumed to be pretty well acquainted with
the general outlines in the career oil MIR.
Banks. but his history presents such strik-
ing illustration OF the triumph oil native
genius, combined with years OF application
and the stimulus OF laudabie ambition.
over every obstacle which poverty could
throw in the way, that familiarity with
some OF the details OF his previous lite can
not bur be interesting. Raised from The
condition OF a poor boy, without any means
OF educatio bur such as he himself wrested
from the untoward circumstances around
him. 10 really The second post oil influence
and power IN the Republic, his case presents
a remarkable instance OF the beneheent
workings OF our free Institutions, and affords
an example well worthy of imitation BY 9th
ers OF our American youth.
NATHANIEL PRENGiss BANKS was torn in
| Waltham, on the 10th Of February, lslt,
| and he is consequently iorty years Of age
| He is descendant, on one side, from The
| Prent!ss family OF New Hampshire All
! the school education which he ever received
| was previous to his twelfth year, in the dis
| trict school of his native town, where he
! Was considered an apt and quick scholar
/ II then went To work in s cotton factory
/ Subsequently he assisted his father, who
! was house carpenter. He next learned
| the machinist's trade, and worked at IL III
| Waltham and Boston. During this time his
/ evenings and leisure hours were devoted TO
a study OF history, politics and general lite
nature.
/ Mr.. BAsAs commenced his political lie
/ in 1910, rs supporter oil Martin Van buren,
| and the ab.lreasury scheme. In 1913, he
commenced the study Of the law, in the OIL
| fee OF the Hon. Robert Kantoul, Jr., then
United States District Attorney, in Boston.
| In lS4s he was admitted 10 the bar, anu
| commenced pra ctice in Boston.
| Mr. Banks public career was commenced
/ i'm lS4S, when be was elected member OF
| the Legislature from WaItham. There we're
| only about twenty Democrats in the House
| that session. II was the year that the party
| ran down under Gushing and Cass. II Is
needless to say that Mr. Banks took an ac-
| tive part in the proceedings OF the House
He was also member OF the House tor the
every year from l54S 10 1852; during the
two last years oi which lie served as Speak
er. being elected by the coalition beta cen
the Free Soilvrs aud Democrats. In 1850
he was elected TO both The Senate aud
House, but chose TO accept the seat IN The
latter.
Mr.. Banks was one OF the most pfomin-
ent leaders of the coalition NOV ement be-
fore the people, and made avery large num-
Der OF popular addresses. He was esteemed
one of the most active liberal Democrats in
the State His style Of oratory was efiec-
tive, and he seemed to be general tavorte,
on whom the different political factions
were inclined to look kindly. In 1853 he
vas member of the Convention called to
revise the Constitution OF Massachusetts,
and was chosen to preside over its delibera-
tons, Tor which service, as in similar posi-
ton in The l. glsiature, he received the high
est encom,nns Of praise from all quarters,
for his ability and impattiality as presiding
officer. That Convention numbered among
| ts four hundred members, the most distia-
| guished men oi all The political parties in
/ the State AT this time Mr. Banks was also
/ a member of Congress, having been elected
! a. "a Democrat the previous fall
La 1854 Mr.. thinks received the nomna-
ton for Congress, OF the regular Democra-
tic party Of his District and Of the Know
Nothings and Repu blicans, and WAS re-elec-
ted BY about seven thousand majority, the
| largest majority ever given tor any candi-
date in any Congressional District in the
County. This fact was sufficient consola-
ton to him, to make up for the boiling OF
the administration nationals under the
lead Of the Boston Post, and other recipients
OF executive patronage, whose opposition 10
Banks was based on the fact of his steadfast
and unsw CRYING opposition TO the Nebraska
act.
Mr. Banks has @ile and two children.
He is fond OF retirement, although he has
led somewhat boisterous political life. A Ii
his studies even that of law, have been
pursued chiefly in private. He possesses
great fondness for literature, and By his own
unaided efforts is said 10 have acquired
good knowledge OF the principal languages
OF Europe He Is strictly temperate in HE
habits, never having. it is sald drank even
drop OF intox leating liquor in his life
The history OF the poor WaithLm boy is
thus traced from the machine shop to one
vi the highest positions oil eminence IN the
Republic He has thus literally hammered
out his own fortune. He is fitting rep
resentatiye OF the great cause OF Freedom,
the success OF which, in his election 10 the
Speakership, casts thrill Of joy throughout
the Free States We trust that should
still more brilliant future be yet in store for
him, il may also rebound, as in the present
instance, to the honor and glory OF the