The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-10-28


assumed determined stand in opposition to the neutral
position forced upon Kentucky by the conduct Of her au
thories the former confined himself 70 quiet though
efforts TO stay the current which was fast carrying
the State OF the Union On August IT, 1861 an oppor
tunty offered itself TO the Union men to take some action
against the secessionss and Judge Speed as the Union
eader determined 10 take advantage OF IT, The seces-
sonists OF the city had called meeting Of sympathy
with the South and had early mustered their strength
the Court House Their Headers were on the stand,
which was handsomely decorated with white or peace
flags awaiting the filling OF the nall by their friends, ana
somewhat anxious AT the appearance OF numerous well
known Unionsts abolitioniss'' as they were then
called by the rebel sympathizers. Everything was in
readiness TO open the peace meeting, and James Tabue
the principal secession leader had risen 10 call the
the stand and approached the desk prepared for the
chairman. He called the attention of the house by rap
ping on the stand with his Dknocked aside with an
air OF contempt the peace flags on either side OF him,
and was about TO speak, when he interrupted by the
camor OF the rebel leaders, who insisted that the house
theirs and that the meeting TO be addressed by
them Amid the excitement and above the clamor which
ensned was heard the stentoran voice of General L. H.
Rousseau proposing Judge Speed president Of the
meeting He Immediately put the question TO
vote. deafening "Aye' drowned the 'Noes'' of the
rebels and perfectly calm and cool Mr. Speed reached
forward, removed the white flags from the stand and
unfirled two small star spanged banners in their stead
In an instant if by preconcerted arrangement, from
different parts OF the hall large and small United States
aes were unfured and ten minutes afterwards the Sc
cessionss had left the hail. amid the groans of the loyal
citizens Judges Speed and Harand and Messrs Wolfe,
Rousseau and others followed in strong Union
speeches. and the meeting adopted several very strong
resolutions Next to General Rousseaus establishment of
Union recruiting camp opposite Louisville, this affair
was the most effective step taken by the Unionists OF
Kentucky TO keep the State in the Union Shortly after
wards it was followed by Rousscaus occupation OF the
city with his brigade and the conclusion Of the farce OF
Kentucky neutrality. Since this period Judge Speed
has been engaged in aiding the Of the government
as private citizen, and to his influence and example In
Kentucky the administration OF Mr. Lincoln is much in
debted for the support which received in the late cleo
ton. He was appointed Attorney General by MI Lin
coin December g. 1854, and has since been busily en-
gagged with the duties of that Office.
Mr. Speed is about fifty years Of age, and is yet in the
vgor of his powers He is short in stature and though
squarely built, is somewhat thin in appearance. The
reputation as lawyer which he had previously won and
his influence with the military powers at Louisville have
OF late years very much augmented his business.
JOHN II. CLIFFORD, OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Hon John H. Clifford, OF Massachusetts, born in
Providence, r. H. January 10, 1909, and graduated at
Brown University, in his native city He first entered
political life in 1885, after beng admitted TO the
bar, when he elected member Of the Massachusetts,
House Of Representatives. While in this position he
selected of the committee the revision OF
the statutes Of the State, and also the judiciary
committee. In 1926 he selected by Governor Ed
ward Everett aid, and acted in that capacity until
1889, practising law at the time in Boston. In
1889 he elected District Attorney for the Southern
district Of Massachusetts, and continued in that position
sets Senate, and again appointed the judiciary
mittee.
He elected Attorney General Of Massachusetts in
1s49, and continued in that capacity until 1853 1t
while acting in this capacity that Mr. Clifford prosecuted
John W. Webster for the murder Of DR. Parkman In
the conduct Of this remarkable he his reputa
ton OF the abest criminal lawyers OF the age and
his mastery handling Of the evidence that occasion
was kept in view when he was selected as prosecutor
against the great criminal, Davis
In 1853 Mr. Clifford became Governor Of Massachu-
Sets holding the office but one year, and declining
reelection in 1854 The Attorney Generalship again
offered him md accepted and he held the position by
appointment until 1856, when the Office was made
elective by change in the state constitution He
elected 1856 and reelected in 1857 TO the position by
the largest vote given 10 candidate for any
tested Office He mad refused in the accept
any party nomination, regarding the Office quasi iu-
dcia in its nature and therefore, not the legitimate
object of partisan strife.
Mr. Clifford retired from public life ia 1885, and re-
snmed the practice OF his profession N Boston. When
the rebellion broke out he again entered public life, and
elected to the Senate Of Massachusetts He snbse
quently presided this body during the session OF
1850 and evinccd superior qualifications for the duties
Of presiding ocer-a position he had previously
filled To thorough acquaintance with parliamentary
law he united Judgment and discrimination superior to
the dcia of mere rules and orders and by his personal
bearing invested the proceedings of the Massachusetts
Senate with much OF its old time dignity.
His speech The close OF the session of 1862 will
To illustrate his political principles and position The
following are the concluding paragraphs Of mis- speech on
that OCCASION
There are those who are for the Union and consttu
ton upon conditions. Let US be for them without condi
tions-knowing that with their destruction the best
hopes OF humanity must perish. Let go back 10 our
several duties citizens resolved that this shall still be
country-one and indivisibc viii be guilty
Of such base rcachery those who TO after
rs to leave 10 them impaired and mutilated
heritage. We received IL from those whose heroic ard
santed souls witnesses of the fidelity the fahess
with which guard the sacred trust OF consttu
uonal freedom, for the achievement Of which they
deemed effort too great sacrifice suffering too
To that constitutional freedom liberty under
the aw-le revercntly believe this whole land Is de-
voted by "A Divine REORGANIZATION; and that We,
day aud generation, pledged 10 maintain its integrity
through every peril and No any cost Let us not accept
the decree Of tribunal nor the dosas OF any sect or
party which, In the apt illustration OF reverend
friend OF mne recently pablshcd, would sever It's
dead body divide il between and the traitors who
have sought its life. The true mother demands the
living child and by this alone shows that II is her
own. So Of our countrymen; as one people, whether
In Massachusetts on Maryland, whose reciprocal legisla
ton concerning the maryrod dead ~ the second 18th Of
April honorable to BOTH has shown that they st
sister States; whether in Ohio Tennessee, in Rhode
Island Kentucky in Connecticut Carolina North or
South, East West all OF who supporters OF Its
government and loyal to it's lag-with one constitution
and destiny-we claim II ALL every inch OF it,
own Ours, not with its measurcless PRIVILEGES alone
but with all its solemn responsibilities also ours Tor
higher and purr civilization. Ours for the planting OF
and all the unbough grace OF life, OF honest and con
tented industry OF submission to law, and OF reverence
for things Divine Ours, for freedom for humanity and
for God.p
Since his retirement from the Senate until the pre-
sent occasion Mr.. Clifford has not been prominently be
fore the country hut has been aboriousy engaged in
the practice OF law at New Bedford aud Boston
MAJOR GENERAL LOWELL n. ROUSSEAU.
The personal history of Major General Rousseau, OF
Kentucky, OF the counsel retained by the govern
ment is familiar TO almost every American the promi-
nent part played by him in the war having made his
name familiar throughout the cosntry He born in
Lincoln county, Kentucky, in 1915 Of poor parents and
being forced depend on his own exertons, not only
for food but education also may be said TO be entirely
a sclfmade man His youth was spent In supporting
the younger OF his fathers family left orphans
bv tLo oarlv death of his parents by hard labor In