New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-21
INADVERTENTLY POLITICS.

The recent election of Mr.. Clifford Attorney
General Of Massachusetts, goes TO confirm the
probability which We have already suggested of
complete union in that State, and dissolution in
each other of those hitherto called Wings and
those still claiming to b. called Democrats. IL
goes also to show the intention OF his Exceliency
Governor Gardner if he cannot dispose OF his
Know Nothing supporters to better advantage IN
the way of trading for the Presidency or Vice
Presidency, speedily to sell out the whole lot rs
damaged and perishable articles for whatever the
Hunkers may choose to give him for then-say
the United States Senatorship, in which he as
pires, we understand, if he can't do better be-
fore the election comes round, to succeed and
supersede Mr.. Sumner.
To understand the bearing of Mr.. Cliffords
election as Attorney General of Massachusetts,, 1t
is necessary to go little into that gentlemsn's his
tory. He first became known in the politics of
Massachusetts,, some twenty years since, as
d re, rcsentative in the Legislature from the
Town of New-Bedford. NewBediord has
large and intelligent colored population, so
numerous as not unfrequently to hold the bal
ance of power in that city. 1t was natural
consequence that Mr.. Clifford who belongs BY ma
ture to the sect of trimmers, quite friendly to
the rights Of the colored people. 1t was in fact
through his adroit management of their case-for
his adroitness as lawyer nobody denies-that the
Massachusetts Legislature was induced to repeal
the prohibition, rs old as the colony against the
intermarrisge of whites with negroes, Indians and
mulattoes. At the very pinch OF the case jocose
observation of Mr.. Cliford's-which while itgrati-
fed the antipathies of the opponents of the meas
ure, yet at the same time put them in good-humor
brought down the house, and insured the passage
of the bill LAS some of his fellOw.members, he
said, casting glance to the Abolition side of the
house, seemed so very anxious for the priv
"ilege of having milk and molasses children, be
should certainly vote to give it to them-but then
as to kissing the children, he hoped to be ex-
"cused from that
From that time forward Mr.. Clifford was
rising man, belonging, as generally did his Old
Colony constituents and clients TO the liberal section
of the Massachusetts, Wing party. Not long after
Mr.. Clifford came into political lfe in order to get
rid of an exceedingly unpopular incumbent, the
State being divided into five districts, a district
prosecuting officer was appointed for each. Mr.
Clifford was appointed to this office for the district
Of which New-Bedford formed part-and in his
discharge of the duties of it gave decided evidence
of superior ability and knowledge of his profession
After the lapse of several years. in l549 1850, it
deemed best TO re-establish the Office of Attor
ney-General and the appointment, as the Constitu-
ton then stood, being with Gov. Briggs, who
belonged to the nti-Hunker section Of the Wings
be selected Mr. Clifford at once from sympathy with
what his politics were supposed to be, and because
he was known to possess the necessary professional
qualifications. Under this appointment, Mr.. Cliff
ford held the place when Mr.. Boutwell, was chosen
Governor BY the coalition Of Free-Soiler and
Democrats; and from the difficulty of making any
new appointment satisfactory TO the two wings OF