Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-06-04
NATHANIEL p. BANKS.


Mr.. Banks, the present Speaker Of the House
of Representatives, was born on the 18th OF
January, 1916, in the towB of Waltham, near
Boston, which is still his residence. The pow
erty of his family deprived him of any but the
most ordinary advantages of education, ana
these were necessarily narrowly limited, or ut
terly withheld, from his twelfth year, when
he betook himself to factory in his native
town therein to earn a livelihood. At q later
period of his youth, he worked as black
smith. He was nearly thirty years old, when,
throwing aside his blacksmith's apron, he
commenced in Boston the study of the law,
in the Office of Hon. RobertIR Rantoul, Jr-, then
U. S. District Attorney for Massachusetts,,
and he was more than thirty two years old
when, in 1913, he was admitted to practice,
and opened an office for himself in Boston,
still residing with his family at Waltham.
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 and per-
sonal friend.
Mr.. Banks had been an earnest and active
partisan as early as 1910, when he supported
Van Buren and the Sub Treasury. He stood
up for Polk in Al, and for Cass in AS, when
he was for the first time chosen to the Legis-
lature of Massachusetts from Waltham, though
his political opponents were a decided major
ity in that town. 1t is said that but twenty
Democrats were that year elected to the Mas
sachusetts House, which consists of somc;three
TO four hundred members.
the Free Sellers and the Democrats wrested
Massachusetts, from the control of the Wing
party, sent Charles Sumner to fill the seat of
Daniel Webster in the U. S. Senate, and cleo
ted Mr.. Banks Speaker of the Massachusetts,
House. In 1858, Mr.. Banks was elected
Speaker of the Constitutional Convention, of
which the ablest men of the State were MEM
bers.
Mr.. Banks first took his seat as a Member
ofCongress in December 1853, having suppor-
ted General Pierce for President in the pre-
ceeding 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 doc
trine Of s.Squatter Sovereignty - and contend
ing that it was the right and duty of Congress
to actas the guardian of the infant Territories,
and establish therein such institutions as were
most in conformity with Republican princi-
pies, and best adapted to promote their intel
lectual, moral, and material growth.
In 1854, Mr.. Banks was reelected ito the
House, having the support of both the s:Amer-
lean" and Democratic parties in his District,
and receiving majority of some seven thou
sand votes. In December last that Congress
assembled, and, after a two moths struggle,
was elected Speaker by a plurality of three
votes. Mr.. Banks is generally acknowledged
to be an admirable presiding (officer-having
much experience, and great natural coolne SIS,
promptitude and dignity.
He is now forty years old, rather below the
medium size, with a firm, erect carriage, and
an earnest physiOgnomy that seems though
it had been pinched and shriveled by facing
4 keen New England March wind. His dark
hair is thickly sprinkled with gray, indicative
of the anXieties of an active trenchant life.
He is understood to be still in very moderate
circumstances. He was married some years
since, and his wife is now with him in Wash
ington, though their children in part remain
at school in their New England home. Con-
trary to The general rule that ga prophet is
not without honor, save in his own country
Mr.. Banks has always been most popular in
his native town, and there the long struggle
for the Speakership was watched with the
Hveliest anxiety on his behalf. When the I'll
dings Of his success at length arrived, the
bells were rung, cannon fired, procession
formed, and all the clergymen assembled with
their focks to rejoice over the success of their