Gale Encyclopedia of American Law Volume 2 P49 fully illuminates today's leading cases, major statutes, legal terms and concepts, notable persons involved with the law, important documents and more. Legal issues are fully discussed in easy-to-understand language, including such high-profile topics as the Americans with Disabilities Act, capital punishment, domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, physician-assisted suicide and thousands more. | 468 CLIFFORD NATHAN Nathan Clifford. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS time he made an unsuccessful bid for the . Senate. He won a seat in the . House of Representatives in 1838. As a Jacksonian Democrat that is a Democrat in the mold of Andrew jackson who served as president of the united states from 1829-1837 Clifford was suspicious of power concentrated in urban centers of finance and politics. He was also a strong supporter of martin van buren a fellow Democrat who succeeded Jackson as president. in Congress Clifford opposed high tariffs the creation of a federal banking system and attempts to abolish slavery. The latter position earned him the label of doughface a northern Democrat with southern sympathies. Clifford lost his seat in the House in 1843 after serving two terms. In October 1846 President james polk appointed Clifford to become his attorney general. Clifford accepted the post but when the supreme Court session was to begin he panicked about his qualifications for the job and suggested to Polk that he resign. Polk persuaded him to stay on. while he served as attorney general Clifford s most notable case before the Supreme Court was Luther v. Borden 48 . 7 How. 1 12 L. Ed. 581 1849 which involved Dorr s Rebellion the attempt by a group of Rhode Island citizens to form a new more democratic state government to replace the established one. The rebellion had been put down through martial law imposed by the existing state government. Representing the rebels in court Clifford had as his opposition daniel webster a leading politician and constitutional lawyer. Clifford argued that a state could not impose martial law and that the people of Rhode island had a right to change their constitution. The Court ruled that the case was outside of its jurisdiction. Clifford also became involved in the Polk administration s policies regarding the Mexican war which occurred between 1846 and 1848. He helped mediate differences between Polk and SECRETARY OF STATE JAMES .
