Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-08-30
From the N. Y Post.
Politics n Profession in the United
Stntes.

States.
Nathaniel P. Banks has signified his in-
tention not to accept II denomination to
the office of Governor of Massachusetts
His chief reason for Withdrawing from a
position which was rarely, if ever, SO sat-
isfactOrily filed before, and to which lie
would he recalled almost bY nccIamAtion,
Is, we believe, the primary duty of making
more satisfactory provision for his family
than political career, with his notions OF
official propriety, will admit of With
these views he has accepted the position of
Resident Director of the Illinois Central
Railroad, and henceforth, ut least for IL
period of years, his home will be in the
State of Illinois. OF course this involves
his entire withdrawal from political life,
for the post to which he is invited is one
which could neither -ha-nr... S.....i-
cepted upon any other condition.
The step which Mr.. Banks has taken is
suggestive of profitable meditations to the
Toung men of his generation. Here is
gentleman, in the very prime of his man
hood, who has won more popular distinc
tiOns, and, at the same time, has. more of
them now within the legitimate range of
his aspirations, than any American OF his
age, living or dead. Though but forty
three years old, and the graduate ofaNew
England factory. Mr.. Bankss life has been,
politically speaking, an uninterrupted Sc
rics of triumphs, without one single re-
verse. lie was repeatedly chosen to the
! Massachusetts Legislature, and twice its
| Speaker; he WAS u delegate to the conven-
ton for revising the State Constitution,
and was also called with great unAnimity
to preside over its deliberations. Three
times in succession he was chosen to the
House of Representatives,, and once its
| a.,
achieved, under his lead, its first memorl-
bic victory in the federal arena; he has
since been twice elected to the Office of
Governor, which he now holds; there is no
position, however exalted, under the next
Administration, if RcpublicNn-und there
| is little doubt, we believe, that it will he
TO which he would not be esteemed nm
acquisition; aud yesterday there was pro-
hnbly no man in the country, except Mr..
Lincoln, who would not gladly exchange
with him their chances for the highest Of
fee in the gift of the American people.
After such IL career of uninterrupted and
honorable success. with everything behind
to ilatter and encourage him, and all that
is most dazzling and seductive in front to
tempt his ambitions just as he seems to
have reached the foot of the bow of prom
Use towards which he has been so rapidly
travelling, and where the treasure which
politicians most covet is supposed to be
buried, he deliberately drops his mNttock,
turus his back upon it all, and prefers to
any distinction which political life can
afford, an honorable alliance with the
great industrial interests of his country.
Such phenomenou-no fecblcr term
would properly characterize it-in the
horizon of American politics is full of
instruction to those who know how to
turn it to proper account. 1t is the most
exalted testimony we have ever been able
to quote in confirmation of the doctrines
we have frequently proposed in these col
umnS, that popular governments, that is,
governments resting upon Il broad suffrage
basis and q free press, cannot permanently
retain in their service the best men of the
country. AS the stream will not rise
higher than it's fountain, so a representa-
tive government, inthc proper acceptation
of that term, will only attract to its SER
vice the average talent and morality of the
people represented Wcllave been feeling
for years the silent operation of this law
upon every department of our government,
state and national Every one who has
nude the effort knows how hard n thing
it is to get our more worthy and capable
citizens to accept political trusts OF any
description. To find Americas great men
we must seek the shades of professional
life, or the great centres of material in
dustrry. We take little risk in saying
thuI there are more of the higher qualities
of manhood employed in directing the
productive industry of this country than
in all the executive departments of the
! federal government combined.
OF course we must not be understood to
intimate that first-class men are never tC
be tound in political life among rs, for the
very statesman who has awakened these
reflections would be q living and conclu,
sive testimony against us. It,cahnot De
disguised thatlmany of the cleverest mer