Editing Nathaniel P. Banks (section)

===Governor of Massachusetts===
In 1857, Banks ran for [[Governor of Massachusetts]] against the incumbent Gardner. His nomination by the Republicans was contentious, with opposition coming primarily from radical abolitionist interests opposed to his comparatively moderate stand on the issue. After a contentious general election campaign Banks won a comfortable victory.{{Sfn|Hollandsworth|1998|pp=34&ndash;35}}  One key action Banks took in support of the antislavery movement was the dismissal of Judge [[Edward G. Loring]].{{Sfn|Voss-Hubbard|1995|pp=173–174}} Loring had ruled in 1854 that [[Anthony Burns]], a fugitive slave, be returned to slavery under the terms of the [[Fugitive Slave Law of 1850]].{{Sfn|Von Frank|1998|p=1}}  Under the pressure of a public petition campaign spearheaded by [[William Lloyd Garrison]], the legislature passed two Bills of Address, in 1855 and 1856, calling for Loring's removal from his state office, but in both cases Gardner had declined to remove him.  Banks signed a third such bill in 1858.{{Sfn|Voss-Hubbard|1995|pp=173–174}} He was rewarded with significant antislavery support, easily winning reelection in 1858.{{Sfn|Harrington|1948|p=46}}

[[Image:John Albion Andrew by Darius Cobb.jpg|thumb|right|[[John Albion Andrew]] (portrait by Darius Cobb) succeeded Banks as governor.]]
Banks's 1859 reelection was influenced by two significant issues.  One was a state constitutional amendment requiring newly naturalized citizens to wait two years before becoming eligible to vote.  Promoted by the state's Know Nothings, it was passed by referendum in May of that year.  Banks, catering to Know Nothing supporters, supported its passage, although Republicans elsewhere opposed such measures, because they were seeking immigrant votes.{{Sfn|Hollandsworth|1998|pp=37&ndash;38}} The amendment was repealed in 1863.{{Sfn|Baum|1984|p=48}} The other issue was [[John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry]], which more radical Republicans (notably [[John Albion Andrew]]) supported.  Not yet ready for armed conflict, the state voted for the more moderate Banks.{{Sfn|Hollandsworth|1998|pp=37&ndash;38}}  After the election, Banks vetoed a series of bills, over provisions removing a restriction limiting state militia participation to whites.  This incensed the radical abolitionist forces in the legislature, but they were unable to override his vetoes in that year's session, or of similar bills passed in the next.{{Sfn|Harrington|1948|pp=47&ndash;48}}

Banks made a serious bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 1860, but dislike of him by the radicals in the state party harmed him. His failure to secure a majority in the state delegation prompted him to skip the national convention,{{Sfn|Hollandsworth|1998|pp=40&ndash;41}} where he received first-ballot votes as a nominee for [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]].{{Sfn|Harrington|1948|p=48}} His attempt to promote [[Henry L. Dawes]], another moderate Republican, as his successor in the governor's chair also failed: the party nominated the radical Andrew, who went on to win the general election.{{sfn|Pearson|1904|pp=1:119–120,123&ndash;128}} Banks's farewell speech, given with civil war looming, was an appeal for moderation and union.{{Sfn|Harrington|1948|p=52}}

During the summer of 1860, Banks accepted an offer to become a resident director of the [[Illinois Central Railroad]], which had previously employed his mentor Robert Rantoul.{{Sfn|Harrington|1948|p=50}}  Banks moved to [[Chicago]] after leaving office, and was engaged primarily in the promotion and sale of the railroad's extensive lands.{{Sfn|Hollandsworth|1998|p=44}}  He continued to speak out in Illinois against the breakup of the Union.{{Sfn|Harrington|1948|p=52}}