Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-04-22

cihc charges against me, and OF taking the
necessary steps for the prompt Yindication of
my character.
arrived at Harrisburg On Monday the 8th
instant and on the following day called on the
Hon. Chairman for information as to the spe-
cifc charges in writing" against me, and was
informed that no such charges had as yet been
preferred. On the following day, (WedneS-
day. | learned that the memoralists, two of
whom were here desired to present some mat
ters before this Committee, on the following
Friday accordingly awaited the arrival of
that day, hoping then to be informed of '' Spe.
cifc charges" wherein it was claimed that the
ends of Justice had failed or been defeated
through my weakness or want of integrity
In this was disappointed and to this hour
| ! am ignorant save as outdoor rumOr reaches
my ears, of any charge impeaching my official
integrity.
On the Friday mentioned, the 18th instant
there was handed to the Committee two print
ed papers, one in the form of letter, address
ed to the Chairman, (the letter itself being
withheld) and purporting to be signed by nine
! members of the Bar of Bradford County, and
! by three other gentlemen not members of said
Bar to wit c. l.. Ward, VIM. Scott and
j. B. Reeve, neither Of whom have appeared
for years, as practicing Attorneys in Court,
and who are actively engaged in other pursuits
! in which printed paper no specific charge is
made against me aud in which it is said that
| it was not the intention Of the memorialists
q" to put charges definitely in writing against
me, but simply to get such legislative action as
would relieve them from a grievance under
! which they labor, and would tend to protect
/ ~, ,11,-, Of @Ia l,Ilia WV k-. No
They 90 on further to state matters connected
with what they are pleased to call the crea-
| tion of the 18th Judicial District, which, if
true, was antecedent to my going on the
| Bench, and could not therefore have aught
to do with the manner in which | have dis
charged my official duties but which are not
! true as therein set forth. 1t is charged that
| sold my birth-rght for a seat upon the
! Beuch-that | surrendered my freedom, and
| the right of an American citizen to think, and
| speak, and act upon great questions OF public
concern, intimately connected with the wei
| fare of our common country. | did no such
thing and God giving me strength to main
! tain my purpose will do no such thing.
This is truly a novel impeachment of high
officer of State | am to be tried before a
Committee of the Legislature for alleged Of
fenSeS and when my accuserS are asked to
" spscifu IN uritiug" before the Committee,
they deal in the broadest generalities TINS
evadng the order of the Committee, and shrink
inc from an open and fair investigation and
turning from the door Of the Committee room,
fill the avenues and streets Of the Capital, and
part of the public press, with aspersonS upon
nv character, and uuf0uuded imputations upon
the integrity of my conduct Against this in
Justice | here enter my protest. l stand be-
fore this honorable Committee ready to an
swcr for the conduct Of my official life. | ask
that | may meet my GccuserS, and the charges
they have to prefer against me. If there be
none, then may not confidently look to this
committee to shield me from accusations out
side of the Committee room, and be allowed
to depart, with my integrity unlmpeached
and my character unsullied.
Ny commission expires on the lst of De
cember next nor is it proposed to shorten
my term of Office but anticipating and fear
ing my reelection by the people, IL is aSkee
that the Legislature abolish the District, and
thus deprive the people Of the right to elec
any one as their Judge. The Legislature L
mportuncd by a few men, to lcgSlate one
Judge into the County Of Bradford, and an
other into the County of Susquehanna, on tht
I high ground, that if the people OF those coun
ties are permitted to make an election under
the Constitution, they will be certain to cleo
an improper and unfit man-one who " pre-
vents the ends Of justice and defeS the judi
cial character" This, in substance, Is The
whole ground presented by the memoriallsts
for the legislation they invoke snch Is th'
covert attack made upon my character as
man, and nv integrity as a Judge. 1t is no
pretended that the abolition of the District i
, desired upon any other grounds than the fea
Of nv election. Certain it is, that it WoulC
, not be asked for, if it were probable that el
thcr OF the memorialists would be chosen, b,
the people, Judge for that District. Let then
: make good any charge against me of partlall
, ty and political bias in the discharge OF ID.
: official duties-of a course of conduct eIthe
on or off the Bench, disgraceful to the Judi
cial character, and the people OF Bradford ah(
: Susquehanna counties will reject me with scorn
: They will suffer no unworthy Magistrate, ~
one who defles the Judicial ermine, to SIT a
the arbter upon their rights of life, liberty
and property. That people know how to re
buke an unjust Judge as they know how u
vindicate the character of the Magistrate wh'
is ruthlessly assailed by personal hatred aht
? unsuccessful rivalship. Has my bad conduc
t as Judge-my injustice, tyranny, and par
+ tiality, 50 fortified me in the confidence of al
intelligent and vIrtuous people, that | can on
f ly be reached by tramplng down their rights
f that my election can only be prevented by de
= priving them of the right to elect
: 1t is further charged in the printed pape
c addressed to the Chairman Of this Committee
: that l have the management and dictation o
: all local and county affairs that | hav
S sought to maintain myself as the leader of m,
e party, by political chicanery derogatory to th
: Judicial character
s respectfully submit to this Committee, tha
G to recognize such q charge. as the basis Q