The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-06
Bradlcy's Confession.

Justice 10 BRADLEY has felt the necessity
OF coming before the country with letter
in respect to the part he played in the
Electoral Commission Fraud. 1t is 4 strange
pioce of work for man in his senses.
II he meant 1t to be explanatory and
defensive, he must have left his senses be-
hind him when he began to write it; for
anybody who looks at it. as printed else
where in THE Sun, will see that 1t is in the
nature OF confession Of the charges that
are brought against him.
We charged that in the argument on the
Florida case before the Electoral Commits
sion, Justice BRADLEY wrote out his opin-
ion and decision in favor Of the T1LDEN
electors, and next day gave his vote ON the
other side. In dealing with this charge,
Justice BRADLEY makes no denial Of
it whatever, but turns away from il
with the uttcrance Of this amazing SEN
tcncc: Whether rroic one opinion or hr0i-
~ IN my prirdtc examination Of The subject. is
Of lWlo consequence and Of no concern to any
body, If the opinion Which finally
pdue was the fair result OF my de-
libcrations, without influence from outside
parties" In u subsequent part of his letter
he recurs TO the charge, aud says that, in
examining the question of going behind
tlc returns, he prOto and roirrOic Tie drgu-
meias on both sides, sometimes being Inclined
10 one riop Of tie subject and sometimes TO
He other, but finally threw aside these lucu-
brations," and then Justice BRADLEY wrote
out the opinion which hc read in the Flor
III case. Thus lie wavcrcd from side to
side, arguing on both sides, perhaps twenty
nj Ia,
the question as often rs hc wrote about it,
Justice BRADLEY 5 conscience, reason, judg-
ncnt, and legal opinions were evidently in
strange state of confusion nj the time he
was trying to reach decision of the qucs-
ton before the unconstitutional Electoral
Commission.
Justice BRADLEY takes great pains to deny
one charge that has not been brought
against him. He says: u had no private
discussion whatever who charged him with
such discussion p Of the subjects at issue
with any person Interested on the Eopub-
lican side, and but very few words with any
person" He further says that he "sedu-
lOusly sought to avoid all discussion out
side the Commission itself" Justice BRAD
LEY had another way of dealing with the
business than discussing il with Republic
cans
Justice BRADLEY denies that he read an
opinion, any opinion, any one Of his numer-
Gus contradictory opinions, to Justices
CLIFFORD and FIELD. But his language
leads us to suppose that he communicated
an opinion TO them, for he says II
read no opinion TO either Of them, and hare
no recollection Of expressing any. II did, Il
couH only hare been suggestreiy, or IN hy-
Pothcticdt manner, and not intended as COM
initial Of my final Judgment or action"
Thus 10 BRADLEY makes confession.
Enough we cannot tell how often he changed
bis mind respecting the nature Of the con-
fcssion he ought to make. Thus he admits
the truth and accuracy Of the fundamental
features Of the charge brought home u him
IL The Sun.
This matter must ho thoroughly inv ST.
Getod, ii the impeachment of Justice DO
BRADLEY is the only way of reaching. the
bottom facts of il.