New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-06

csrsou,I matter IL wss NO kindness in Mr.. Buchanan
10 give him the appointment and why he should
have done so is marvel. II, as MIR. Buchansns
representative in Maine, Mr. Clifford had certain
claims of political nature, il was not difhcuit 10
discharge them in some other way. We canno'
account for this freak Of the President.
Mr.. Polk appointed Clifford Attorney General
because they we're crcnes in Congress, messed to-
gethrr. and had some political operations IN com
mon-the chief Of which Was plan to make Dir.
Polk candidate for Vice President in that canvass
in which. ky very unexpected turn Of affairs, he
cot the first instead Of tie second place on the
ticket. Mr.. Polk having Jared 80 much better than
he expected, was generous toward his old irends'
and put up Clifford accordingly. But at that eie-
va,ion Mr.. Clifford himself was greatly alarmed,
and entered upon its duties with fear and trembling.
He swea.ed dresdfuy under the load, and Always
stood in fear of his life from men like Webster, and
R.yer5y Jobnsop, and Crittenden, and Badger, and
only asked to be SLOWED to escape from the place
without having his bones broken. He knew he
YVES no match for the FIRST grade Of lawyers prac'
ticinr before the Supreme Court, and freely ac'
knowedged it at the time and subsequently. lie
used TO express his satisfaction and his gratitude
that he was never put through q screw BY any Of
the strong lawyers, but that they always treated
him during his brief official life with great consid-
GRAFTON and forbesrance, until he obtained leave OF
absence, which he did after few months, and at
the earliest possible moment he resigned, for
the more satisfactory and lucrative service
of Minister to Mexico. We must do Mr..
Clifford the justice to ssy that he is quite
a. spprehenaye in view Of his appoiptp.e nt
o. Judge a. he was Of that Of Attorney.
General. He knows he is not f.. for the place,
AID acknowledge it. And tbs fact may DO con.
strued into some sort Of amerit.
But what sort ofs spectacle is it, in the eye Of the
country, to see man taken for the high post
Of Judge of the Supreme Court, whose qualifca-
tions for the place are not only wanting but fully
known and frankly acknowledged to be wanting
We speak Of him simply in regard to his intellectual
force and his ability as lawyer. AZ to thoss
higher qualities of a Judge so Necessary to give
dignity End weight to high Judicial tribunal did
they come in to supply the deficiency we could
But no lofty independence, no strong cOnscien-
tOus purposes, no elevated sentiments of justice
and natural right, will be claimed for Mr.. Clifford
by his friends. His position, in these respects,
is on a very common level. With the mental
capacity low, and the moral qualities uninvigor-
stins what are We to look for in the Judicial career
Of any mani
We hope the Senate will decline to confirm this
appointment. But if it should net, We trust that
Mr. Clifford himself will decline holding the place,
out of regard to himself, il not for tho Bench.
Nothing can be more trying to any mans sensibili-
ties than to find himself in position for which hs
feels himself w6tted, or possessing inadequate
powers for the discharge of it's duties; moro o.
pecisly when the eyes of the public are
upon him. and every rascal scribbler is ready
to make him the butt of ridicule. 1t is
absurd to pretend that Judge fancy favors
this appointment, as is intimsted. The old Judge
is too much of courtier toward the powers that
be to criticse their public acts in disagreeable
manner, and doubtless he has, in reply to those
who would tease him upon the subject, declared
that the appointment would do very well. But the
members of the Bench always look upon the ap.
poiDtment Of new associates with very great III
terest. They do not wish to seq the character of
their tribunal lowered by an infiltrstion of feeble
intellect. They had much rather find it improved
by an infusion of fresh vigor. Agood appointment
lie, therefore, welcomed as tending to highten the
position of the Court and increase the weight of
its DEGREES, while an appointment of an inferior
caste is felt to lower both. 1t is of no use to pre-
tend, therefore, that Mr.. Clihord's elevation is
satisfactory to Judge fancy.
To be sure he and the Administration may prefer
il az choice Of evils. They may not, for example,
wish to appoint Mr.. Gushing, because he might,
after getting his appointment, take the bits in
his mouth and conclude to make honest decisions.
But is it not better for the Administration to take
the risk Of that than to deterorate the character Of
the Court by descending TO the level of Mr.. Clifford
for subects to fill vacancies
Gen. HenningseD, who, according to current re-
IL L.