Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-01-22
From the (Bath, Me Peoples Organ.
Hon. Nathan Clifford


We regard Mr.. Clifford as purely a
/ politician; as a man who has done more,
perhaps, then any man in Maine to foist
upon the party corps of Office hold
ers whom the people did not ask for to-
whom indeed they were decidedly op-
posed, and all this from selfish consid-
erations-w;th the vain hope of organic
ing so strong force in the State that
his election to the t. S. Senate. as the
successor Of Mr.. Fessenden, would be rem
dcred certain. There are not lacking
those scattered all over the State who
sand as high in the party in all respects
as any men in Maine and whose democra-'
cy has been subjected to every possible
test, who charge Mr. Clifford with trea ch.
cry, deception and double dealing with
the Maine delegation, while he presided
over the Board of Trade at Willurd's,
in Washington. in March last. We
know that he IS thus charged by men
who will not lie, and who can scarcely
be mistaken. Mr.. Clifford, very soon
upon his return to Maine had sagacity
enough to perceive that he had made a
mistake, and that instead of strengthen
ing his position and influence with the
people Of Maine, he had barred evcrv
avenue to prcferment by them, and that
the corps OF Office holders which he had
aided 80 organize. instead of having pow
er to elevate him, was only like a mil
stone To sink him in the depths of the
peoples proscriptia4. He found that,
should the State be redeemed by the
democracy, his chances for the Senator
ship would be quite as small as though
the republicans held their majority by
twenty thousand strong. Then it was,,
and not till then, that his name began to
be proposed for the vacant Judgeship.
AMI about the same time the Organ be-
ly stated, to oppose Mr.. c., or any other
man; not simply for negative but for pos
tive purposes unequivocally ex- =.
pressed our opinion of the policy Ct ele.
waiting Nj. Clifford to the Judgeship,
while held in such estimation by the peo
pie OF Maine, and while the grave charg-
es of unfairncss and double-dcaling re-
NAMED unexplained and unrefuted.-
We did rot believe and we do not now
believe, that such an appointment lis tit
to be made and we frankly said So
That. Mr.. Clifford is devoid of talents we
do not believe; on the contary, we think
he has more talents than he has had
credit for, while his industry is proven
bal. 1t is not to be presumed that the
opinions of the press will! be looked to
as authority for any mans qualifications
for an office such as that for which Mr..
c. is nominated. Such opinions may or
may not be evidence of mans general
popularity but popularity alone is a poor
qualification for Judicial Office. The
Suffolk Bar, we are told, is almost unan-
imous against the nomination on the
ground OF legal incapaci;y-a qualifica-
ton in relation to which we know noth--
ing at all. and vet we know quite as
much as nine-tenths Of those papers which
are so eNultingly quoted to prove his
matehlcss ability. On such question
we insist upon it neither our opinion nor
theirs sohould outweigh feather
Should Mr.. G. be confirmed, as he doubt.
less will be, we have no reason to doubt
so far as personal knowledge extends. ).
that he will improve his opportunities
and so assiduously devote himself to the
duties Of his new position, as to COM
mand tic general respect o: his fellow
citizens. Mr.. Buchanan has full conf
dencc in him, and if he attains to the
Bench, while our opinions of the policy
Of his being placed there remains un-
changed, We certainly shall so far respect
the crmine as to wish him well and to-
hope for him future that shall make
full and ample atoncment for all proceed
ing errors, whether of the head or of the ,
heart. Judge Clifford will never end
us taunting him with the foibcs, mis-
takes, mismanagement and small partizan
trickery of plain Mr.. Clifford of tho
Board of Trade