The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-10-13
The Democratic Review for October.

Among these "New Territory versus No Territory =
"New Poetry in New England; I" "The English Revo-
luton OF 1858 ;; The Abuses OF Law Courts !" "British
Arrogance" Railroads." "The Border Settlement the
Ioys Daughter" Various Specimens of Poetry, &c. &c
The Financial and Commercial Review Gossip and Chit
chat, Sc, &C. 1t is embeished with capital likeness
OF Nathan Clifford, esq, the Attorney General OF the
United States accompanied by biographical sketch OF
this able and aniable We are happy to lay this ex
eeent sketch before the readers of the 'Union."
Nathan clifford.
Among the nations OF the Old World political biography
however attractive may be pleasant recreation, IS
yet for the great of the people, almost wholly with
utility Tor there there is free suffrage demand
instruction, rulers govern by divine right and the
dacious sentiment of Louis XIV, the king himself con-
stitues the State In America, the contrary, this
department of writing is less important than it is
agreeable, because il diuses among society know ledge
OF persons and events, without which it is difficult for
any member OF the community TO discharge successfully
his public duties Under an arbitrary government, more
over where the of the State bestowed chiefly
favored class, and where distinction is the accident OF
birth, rather than the reward OF merit the roll of public
men must be made up in great degree from the cata
ogue of ancient families and the which IT embraces
likely to be neither extensive in number obscure
in history But is the glory of our institutions, found
ed they upon the sovereignty of the people, that
the benefits which they confer are limited IN their disr
button by class OF society and by condition OF life,
and that they extend to every individual within their
influence equal opportunity to deserve and to obtain
the most lofty stations in the gift OF the republic
Wherever Nature with her impartial hand has scattered
upon soil the seeds OF intellect and worth, she is fol-
lowed by the nurture of intelligence and the kindng
spirit of political freedom and the fruits of genius and
virtue thus developed not only amid the walks of au
and among the abodes of luxury but by the beaten
way side of labor and among the humble cottages
of want In this way is, that in America, the highest
renown energies often from the deepest secusion, and
that the destiny of her institutions is committed, in so
many instances to that race OF self made men, which,
comparatively unknown IN other countries only with
us, the natural growth OF republican system.
OF this peculiar action of government in its impair
tal development OF the national mlnd every additional
example, which from time to time presents itself becomes
not only portion of our public history but fresh tib-
ute to the value of freedom and renewed encourage
ment to unalded merit We regard, to be sure in any
rational estimate of public man, not much what he
once was as what he is, and award to him our
appreciation according TO the value or I'M
worthness of his actual e yet every instance of dis
tnguished success reflects certain interest upon IFS
vous career; and when we applaud the result we gain
which led to it.
Among those who have achieved an honorable dstnc-
ton in life by the unasssed power OF their efforts,
is the present Attorney General of the United States Mr..
Clifford belongs to respectable family which emigrated
from Eagan%a at an early settled in The south
Clifford, removed subsequently to the town OF Rumney
in that State, where the father of the subject of this
sketch resided until his death, in the year 1919 His
Nathan Clifford was born on the 18th of August 1909
and received the rudments of his education al public
school, which he attended only few months OF the
age of fourteen, having poited enough by this limited
instruction TO understand its Deficiencies he succeeded
with the reluctant consent OF his parents, in becoming
| pupil of Haverh Academy, where he remained until
1920 and then left to profit by the superior advantages OF
the Literary Institution at New Hampton At the latter
place he enabled to prosecute his studies but little
than year, and at the expiration of that time he
entered his student at law in the office OF Hon.
Josiah Quincy who still occupies prominent position in
New Hampshire, both as lawyer and politician. Du-
ring this period of four years. from the age of fourteen to
that of eighteen he had literally o,ked has ray teach
ing school at intervals and receiving little and from
his family, through of honorable culture and at,
tainment, which fitted him in no unworthy manner for
the successful study of his chosen profession.
At that time, admission TO the bar in New Hampshire
(Which is accomplished in much summary
way) could only be obtained after aborous preparation
of five years; and this term, although occasionally inter
keeping, Mr.. Clifford had faithfully completed in 1897
In June of that year, the supreme court OF his native
State admitted him to practice, and he at once removed to
the western portion of Maine, and established himself al
Newed, in the county OF York, where he has since
resided. He carried with him there not only substan
tal fund of legal knowledge, but habits of industry and
reflection, which could not fail constantly to increase it
and he consequently made his way to the confidence
of the people, and found himself in possession of a u
cratve and increasing business He carried with HIM
also, his home, political opinions which had beer
early formed in the school OF democracy, which had be-
come deepened and strengthened in his mind by subse
quent experience and thought but which he found d.
rectly opposed to those of the community among whom
he to reside OF about three hundred voters a
that time in Newcd, there scarcely twenty demo
CratS; ana il marks strongly
gained there and the estimation in which his characte
was held by his fellow townsmen, that in the fall
1880 he elected by majority of l0l to represen
them the State legislature To this position he wa
three times successfully elected and 1885, having
ceved the unanimous vote OF his party friends IN caucus
he chosen Speaker of the House, and presided
its deliberations with ability and fairness which gain
ed him the approval of even his political opponents, ant
made his elevation to the same Office in the following
year no less recognition of his desert than com
pance with general usage.
Fl Having already become leading member OF the bar II
the county where he resided he to have an op
porunty of extending his practice and his acquantanc
throughout the State. In 1884 he appointed ATTORNEY
general of Mane and continued in the successful dis
charge of the duties of that Office until the close of hi
official term, in the spring OF 1898 The supreme cour
had them besides its usual docket of appealed cases
original jurisdiction of all crimes against the State ant
Mr. Cfords Iabors in his capacity were, therefore
onerous and important He performed them, however
with the same fidelity and care which have marked hi
their conclusion, with enlarged reputation and ncreas
ed success But his retirement was soon to terminate b.
his removal to a broader sphere of public duty.
One of the severest political contests ever known II
Maine, was that of September, 1888. BY an unusua
concurrence of circumstances wing government ha
been elected the previous year, and the democracy wer
now ardentIy in the field to recover the State The.
had selected the fearless and estimabe Fairfield as thei
gubernatora candidate and they sought to strengthen
their ticket every section by the names OF their bes
and strongest men Under these circumstances, MT
Clifford was nominated and elected representative t
Congress from the district in which he lived. lie tool
his at the opening of the stormy session OF 1S394O
when the organization of the House depended on the de
cson of the New Jersey case Through all the phase
of that exciting question, the six republican votes
Maine were uniformly given the side of popua
rights and this course was justified by Mr. Clifford II