The Portland daily press., 1876-10-09
From the Toledo Blade.l
Southern War Claims.
MIR. Blaine Answers Mr.. Bradbury of
ion in the Famous Neal Dow Case, In
Claims.
TOLEDO, o., Oct. 8, 1876

AOLEOO, OsJ OCb y, 1otO
To the Editor of the Toledo Blade:
l observe in the Cincinnati Enquirer of yes
terday a letter from Blon Bradbury Esq an
attorney at law of Portland, Me. in regard TO
the decision made by Judge Clifford, of the
United States Supreme Court, in the now fa-
nous Neal Dow case. Mr. Bradbury is coun-
sci for the plaintiff in that suit, is fully COM
mitted to all its dangerous doctrines, and is
well known in Maine as one of its most rancor-
Gus and uncompromising of partisan Demo-
Gratis. He is fair and iull type of the men
whom the loyal Republican sentiment of the
North will have to fight to the bitter end on all
questions of this kind. Only two or three
points of Mr.. Bradbury's letter require my at
tention, and | am compelled to write 'on the
wing, aud of course very hastily
Mr.. Bradbury intmates that have had in
my possession, ever since my Boston speech of
Sept 18th, a letter from John Clarke, of New
Hampshire, who sat with Judge Clifford, aud
dissented from his opinion. The inference Mr..
Bradbury desires the public to draw is, that
have concealed or withheld Judge ClaIke's let
ter all that time. The truth is Judge Clarkes
letter was not written till Sept. 22d, mailed the
23d, and has been following me from point to
point, and finally reached me at Cincinnati
three days since. The letter Is as follows, aud
l give it Uerbdttnl ct Aterdtim:
MANCHESTER, N. H., Sept %, 1876.
NV attention has been called to passage of your
speech at Boston, in which you refer to suit against
self at Portland.
Your statement of the case is substantially COR
rect. and orcibty illustrates the danger to be aPpre
hended from these Southern claims, and yet it may
do injustice to Judge Clifford by leaving an impress
sion that be is in favor of paying such claims. 1
hardly think this is So and no such inference can be
drawn from his conduct decision in this case. He
heard the case in the first instance sitting alone.
Neither Judge Shepley nor Judge Fox could sit with
him. de had the case long time under advsement,
it presenting question of great national Importance
and OF tine pleading he did not wish to decide it
aone and 1t could in only way be carried to the
Supreme Court, to w.t. certificate of difference be-
tween two Judges, because the amount being about
Sl7OO it could not go up on writ of error. To ena-
BILE the parties therefore, if they wish to take the
case TO the Supreme Court, he sent for me to come
and sit with him, and sign the certificate of differ
ence, as did.
one g.eat difficulty in the case is, General Dow let
Judgment 90 by default in a court recognized by
Judge Shepley while Military Governor Of New Or
leane, and that judgment is now sued here. The
judgment is conclusive If the Court had lurlsdetion
and the Court was recognized by the Military
Governor, and its process was duly served on Gen
eral Dow.
Judge Clifford IS anxious it should be decided right.
Yours truly,
DANIEL CLARK.
1t will be observed that Judge Clarke iraLkly
says that my Statement of the case acdS sub
Stanttdlly correct" aud further that it 'torcibiy
illustrates the danger 10 be dppTehended from
these Southren ecdr claims y" These remarks of
Judge Clarke sufficiently answer Mr. Brad
bury's ill-tempered, ill-mannered, untTuthful
assertions respecting the maiut point at issue.
am not responsible Tor the report Of my
speech at Warren, as quoted by Mr. bradbury.
never saw the reporters notes, and never read
the extract quoted by Mr. Bradbury until
saw it in his letter. But was assuIedly re-
ported incorrectly. | certainly never dreamed
of calling Judge Clifford "a hungry Demo-
crat." 1 am too familiar with the Judge we'll
fed and portly Dimensions to apply to him any