Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-10-23


member of a Congress in which were such
men as these, was a rare honor and a great
privilege. With the modesty becoming n
new member, Mr.. Bradley forbore to- make
himself conspicuous in the debates, but he
exhibited powers and resources which Sc
cured for him the high respect of the no
blest of his associates. and retained it as
long as they lived. His most important votes
were those in favor ofa vigorous prosecution
of the war.
In 1917 he was appointed agent of the
United States under the treaty of Ghent, for
adjusting the North Eastern boundary, and
employed in that service five years He
regarded this as the great public service of
his life. He accompanied the commissioners
in their explorations Of the disputed terrific
rv, examined every mile of the way, and
maintained the American claim in a series Of
elaborate arguments, which were published
ut full length. and added greatly to his repu-
tatlon as "A lawyer and an advocate. The
line thus laid down was rejected by Great
Britain, and was long disputed with an acri-
mony and a persistency which almost in
volved the two countries in war but he
finally had the satisfaction of seeing it per
manently established by the Ashburton treaty.
In 1919 he was member OF the Legislature
of Vermont In 1898 he was again elected
L
ter, though he was not a frequent speaker.
lie was elected as an :. Adams man. and en-
ioved the confidence of the President. and of
the leading statesmen of his party. During
his next term in Congress he had rupture
with the President, owing to what he con-
sidered a breach Of faith on the part of Mr..
Adams, and he then transferred his allegiance
to jackson, the rising chief of the rising
Democratic party This occasioned his re-
tircment from public life, for the current Of
popular sentiment in Vermont, at that time,
set 80 decisively and powerfully against
jackson and his policy as to sweep away
that opposed it, and neither the
popularity of Mr. Bradley nor the greater
popularity of Gov. Van Ness, who went over
t. the jackson party about the same time
could save either of these from absolute re
lection 10y the people. Whatever honor
there was in being nominated for member of
Congress, governor, and United States sena-
tor, WAS freely and perseverlngly bestowed
on Mr. Bradley by his new associates, but
the nomination was all they could give him.
For twenty-five years, and more, after his
retirement from public life, he devoted him
self most assiduously 10 the practice Of his
profession. His standing at the head of the
bar in his own county was unquestioned.
His opinion was law until the highest tri-
bunal had decided otherwise. His being re-
tained in every important case was a matter
Of course. That he did not extend his prac-
tice into neighboring counties and through
out the State, as many younger lawyers did,
was owing mainly To his deafness, which
made him dependent upon an amanuensis for
Il knowledge of the testimony. But his adj
vice was sought, far and near, and those who
depended upon it usually found their profit in
SO doing.
When the conflict between slavery and
freedom began t. wax hotter, he abandoned
the Democratic party, and identified himself
with the = free democracy" He was the
candidate Of that party for Presidential elee-
tor in 1852, and received its full vote, which
was insufficient, however, to elect him. The
same wear he was induced to accept an cleo
ton to the Legislature from his native town,
which though politically opposed 10 him, as
it had been for many years, paid this sponta-
neous tribute to his eminent ability and
sterling patriotism. The political veteran
went up among the boys, and he and they
alike were gratlfied that he was there. lie
was. without doubt. much the ablest man in
the Legislature of 1852. but he did not at
tempt to take leading part. On two oc-
casiOns only. he spoke at considerable length.
One of these was the debate on a bill appro-
prating money for a monument to William
French. the first martyr in the revolutionary
struggle Here he had opportunity to use
his rich stores of historical learning. well
as to employ his persuasive eloquence. No
answer was made 10 his speech, and indeed,
there was none to be made, but the bill failed
t. pass lie spoke again, and on a more
important subject. the death of Daniel W eb
ster. which occurred while the Legislature
was in session. 1t was feared by some that
he would not DO justice to the great states
man because of their political antagonism, but
they who so feared knew little Of the large
ness and generosity of hs heart. He paid
warm and glowing tribute to the eminent
merits Of " ebster a tribute all the more cf-
fectivc for the tremulous voice which told
that he felt the loss of personal friend
well as of public servant.
When the Wing and Free-Soil parties CO.
alesced in the Republican party, he connect
Ell himself with the new organizations and
in lsj6 was chosen Presidential elector,
and appointed to carry the vote to Washing
ton. This was perhaps the most agreeable
public duty he ever called to perform.
Nearly half a century, indeed, had elapsed
since he first went to the National Capital,
and not one Of his associates at that early
day survived to greet him, but he speedily
became acquainted with the new generation of
statesmen, and citizens. and was at Wash
lnLtpn- as ne WAS every W mere tiSt, tit CtHbiN
of a great circle Of admirers whom he drew
around him by his flowing conversation, his
ready wit and his inexhaustible fund Ofrem
iniscences of former days.
For four score years he led an active and
IA happy life. But the infirmties Of age and
the sOrrows Of bereavement then began to
multiply The loss of his only son, j. Dorr
Bradley, Il man of peculiar and remarkable
powers, was severe blow to him Hardly
less affective was the death of his last survi-
wing daughter, whose tender care of her par
ents was the chief happiness of their declin-
ing days The climax Of his sorrows came
in the death of his wife, with whom he had
spent more than sixty years Of happiness
He accompanied her remains from Brattle-
boro. where he had been residing, to West
minister. and having now no ties to bind him
to life, he waited patiently amid the scenes
and associations of his early life and hers,
till his own summons came to 90 over to
those who had gone before.
These are the leading facts in the biogra-
phy Of the man what shall we say of the
man himself? \ great man he was all
things considered. it is not too much TO say
the greatest man Vermont has yet produced.
Williams NAV have equalled him law
yer, C0llamer as reasOner, Phelps as an
orator. and Marsh may be his peer in multi
farious learning, but neither of them, nor
anv other Vcrmontcr living or dead, who has
come to my knowledge, has been at once law
yer. lorician, orator, and scholar, to emil
nent degree. His personal presence was
that of remarkable man. He was of a
portlv frame, inclined to corpulence; his
read was massive and nobly-formed and his
temperament was bilious-nervous, combining
intense activity with great strength and en-
durance. His countenance, instead OF
being sicklied DER with the pale cast of
tbou9ht was fiorid, and suggestive of good
cheer at the table He had an extraordinary
amonnt of nhysicaI as well as of mental vi