New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-08-09
LETTER FROM NEW YORK,

New YOrk-AIr. GfeeIey's MOyemenfi
for Two Weeks-GFant's JunketiHg-
His EIectiOneeTing in New York Witt
Tom Murphy-Futnre Elections, etc.
Especial Correspondence of the Republican,
NEW YORK, August 5, 1872.
Banks has struck the keynote. Mr.. Gree
ley said yesterday !" Banks has focused
the whole question in single sentence
the unity of the masses Of the people, Of
all parties, sections and races, in support OF
the grand results of the war, is indispen-
sable to the. permanent establishment and
| commGn recognition of those results -
General Banks says he believes that this
unity is now rendered to Us in good faith
in the nomination of Mr.. Greeley" by the
Democracy, and that it is the duty of every
| good Republican to accept it. Mr.. Greeley
| accepts this as the happiest and best defni-
| ton of the situation that has yet been
given. He seemed yesterday to be. very
much elated over Banks conduct, because
it was so manly. 1t was unsolicited. 1t was
a clear case of conscience and patriotism.
Banks is not a man of means. He is as
independent as he is poor. He represented
a district which contains a population OF
the most industrious, wealthy, intelligent,
frugal and moral people to be found in the
old commonwealth. He was unanimously
nominated when last elected; and stood as
impregnable as Gibralter against all oppo-
sition to the time of writing his recent let
ter. He now declines to be any longer
considered a candidate of the Grant Re-
publicans. If he concludes to run for Con-
gress, he says lie shall do so as Liberal
Republican and Democrat When he de-
clined to accept the invitation of the Grant
ties of Lynn to speak in that place, the
committee was startled, and said: ''Why,
General, if you can not come to Lynn and
advocate Grants reelection, come and see
us, and make a speech on national issues,
and say what you please. You are our
Representatives" He thanked them, and
said that in good time they would hear
from him.
There is no doubt that the mass Of the
people of Banks (sixth) district will follow
his standard when he takes the field. After
addressing his letter to the Lynn people he
came to this city. 1 saw him on Thursday
last. He means business, and is in good
health and spirits. AS soon as it was known
that he was in town his rooms were filed
with callers, mostly old Republicans, nearly
all of whom congratulated him upon his
new departure. There were one or two gen
tlemen who were sitting on the political
fence. After brief conversation with the
General they got down on the Liberal side.
The new attitude of General Banks, and
his sudden appearance here, aroused the
business community of this great city to
the fact that General Banks was just the
man needed to explain the actual situation
of affairs, politically and financially To
that end several prominent merchants, i'm
pOrters, bankers and manufacturers-repre-
senting the great commercial interests of
New York-called upon the General, as a
preliminary step, to ascertain if he would
accept an invitation to address a day meet
ing of their fellow-citizens at an. early pc
riod, either in Broad or Wall street. Gen
eral Banks, appreciating the high cOmpli- |
ment, accepted the invitation. 1t has been
the habit of the business men of New York
for many years, whenever crisis in public |
affairs occurred, to invite some far-sighted, |
cautious statesman, of capacity and ex-
perience, to address them upon the state of
the nation. A man is usually selected for
such an occasion who is supposed to be
able to reflect the policy and purpose of the
future, by reason of his relations either to
the party in power or the party about to
assume power. The present call upon Gen
eral Banks, who has just attached himself
to the new movement, is not only compli-
mentary to him as cautious statesman,
but it is a manifestation of confidence in
the success of the great movement which
he represents which can not be misinter-
preted.
1t was habit of the merchants of New
York at the close of every important Con-
gress to invite Daniel Webster, on his way
home, to stop, and give them the benefit Of
his Judgment and advice. After Mr.. Web |
ster's death; in 1852, the subject of the
finances was not discussed again, in that
formal way, under the auspices of the mer-
chants, until 1857. One reason for this was |
that the question was knOtty and compli-
Gated one, and public men generally
dreaded the responsibility. To attempt to
analyze and satisfactorily digest such a
question before such jury, composed of
the wealth and intelligence Of one Of the
most ingenious and prosperous commercial
cities in the world, required the
greatest selfposgession and moral
That year 1857 was one
Of the most unfavOrable for such an effort
that could happen. We were in financial
crisis-a condition of things terrible enough
to confuse the calculationsof the profound |
est thinker. Because of the existence of
such calamity was the necessity of advice
deemed the greater. But where was the
man too meet the crisisl Nathaniel P. |
Banks, of Massachusetts, was hit upon as
the proper man. He had but just escaped |
the smoke of the first great battle and vic
tory for liberty in the legislative halls of
the nation, where, the year previous, he
was triumphantly elected Speaker. At the |
time to which now refer 1857 he was, in
obedience to a summons of the people Of |
bis State, running fer the Office of Gov
ernor, to which he was triuInphanty |
elected.
: Mr.. Banks accepted the invitation Of the |
of New York. When the day |
and the hour came Wall street was packed |
with the solid men of New York, from VIII
liams to Exchange streets. The financial |