The Portland daily press., 1888-01-07
uNTlRInC INDUSTRY
The Most Prominent Characteristic
of Justice ciifford's Llfe-Labor
That Would Have Killed an Ordinary
Man.

Before the Grafton and Coos Bar Assocla-
tion yesterday the Hon. Josiah Ii. Drum
mond read an appreciative and discriminat-
ing biographical sketch Of the late Justice
clifford. from which the following is an ex-
tract:
became personally acquainted with Judge
Clifford In 1860. He had then been judge Of
the Supreme Court two years. At that time
he had to perform the duties of circuit judge
for the first circuit In the Maine and Mas
saehusetts districts, IL not in the others, the
district judges were old and intrm. The
consequence was that Judge Clifford was
obliged to do substantially all the business
of the Circuit Court in those districts.
Moreover, he found the dockets crowded
with business that had accumulated during
preceding years. But he set himself to work
with indefatigable industry TO dispose Of
the cases. OF this kind Of work, until the
circuit judge system was adopted, he did an
immense amount; indeed, as much, l used
to think, as one man who could devote his
whole time to il ought to undertake to do.
The adoption Of the circuit judge system
largely relieved him, but he devoted the
time so gained to his work in the Supreme
Court. A portion Of his opinions as circuit
Judge have been published by his son. in
four volumes, styled "Clifford's Reports"
His opinions as judge of the Supreme
Court are embraced in forty-two volumes
commencing with the twentieth of Howard
and ending with the twelfth of Otto. Uf
them Chief Justice Waite said, VERY many
of them have received, as they deserved,
marked attention; none more so, perhaps,
than his first" delivered in case which
was argued only few days after he took
his seat upon the bench. 1t is reported in "a
Howard, 343. His last opinion is reported
in u Otto, So. While it is published among
the cases Of October term, 1880, it was ar
gued the preceding term, and undoubtedly
was prepared during the summer vacation
of that year and before he was struck down
with what proved to be fatal disease.
Judge Clifford was not man Of quick per-
ception; on the contrary, the operations Of
his mind were slow. When he came to COM
prehend proposition he held 1t by q most
tenacious grasp He never Jumped to con-
clusions;" !" his mind was so constituted that
he travelled, step by step, from cause to ul-
timate result. Every link in a chain Of rea-
soning was carefully scrutinized before he
adopted the conclusion. He never relied up
on ''genius" or ''inspiration;" his "genius"
was as perfect an acquaintance as possible
with the materials at his command, and his
inspiration" was thorough preparation Of
those materials for use. Faithful and ex-
haustive investigation was the corner stone
upon which he built. His wonderful endur-
anee and inclination for work enabled him to
go over more ground than others Of quicker
mental movement 70 his unwearied in
dustry and tenacious perseverance, chiefly
attribute his success.
can best express my estimate of the man
by relating some incidents which happened
under my own observation, or are derived
from authentic sources.
In the first days Of ny personal acquaint-
ance with him, l was in the habit of being at
my Office at an early hour (as thought In
the morning. The judges office was across
the street. NV attention was soon attracted
to the fact, that while often saw him COM
ing from his office in the morning had not
seen him 90 in previously; and thFt l had
seen him 90 in late in the afternoon. but had
not seen him come out afterwards. l began
to think that he lived in his office and only
went to his house for food. But my curiosity
was so much aroused, that being one day in