The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-09-13

We have Just received the following
prompt and manly letter from Justice
Bradley, which so fully and cOmpaCtly
explains itself, that it needs no further
comment. 1t comes from his summer
retreat at Stowe, vt His statement con-
Arms what he took occasion to say on
authority of almost equal responsibility
ofhis own:
From the Newark N, j., Advertiser.
r..,,. STOWE, VI, Sept. 2, 1877.
EDITOR OF THE ADyERTIsER-I perceive
that the New York Sun has reiterated it's
charge, that after preparing written
opinion in favor Of the Tilden electors in
the Florida case, submitted to the Elec-
toral Commission, changed my views
during the night preceding the vote, in
consequence of pressure brought to bear
upon me by Republican politicians and
Pacific Railroad men, whose carriages, it
is said, surrounded my house during the
night. This, l believe, is the important
point of the charge. Whether | wrote
one opinion or twenty in my private ex-
animation of the subject, is of little con-
sequence and of no concern to anybody,
if the opinion which l finally gave was the
fair result of my deliberations, without
influence from outside parties The
above slander was published some time
since, but never saw it until recently,
and deemed it too absurd to need refuta-
ton. But as it is categoriCally repeated
perhaps ought 10 notice it. The same
story about carriages of leading Republi-
cans and others Congregating about my
house was circulated in Washington at
one time, and came to the ears of my
family, only to raise smile of contempt. |
The whole thing is falsehood Not a |
single visitor called at my house that ev-
ening; and during the whole sitting of
the Commission | had no private discus
sion whatever of the subjects at issue
with any person interested on the Repub-
lican side, and with but very words with
any person. Indeed, | sedulously sought
to avoid all discussion outside the Com
mission itself. The allegation that / read
an opinion to Judges Clifford and Field
is entirely untrue. | read no opinion to
either of them, and have no recollection
of expressing any. If did, it could only
have been suggestively or in hypothet-
ical manner, and not intended as final
judgment or action. The question was
one of great importance, and to me, of
much difficulty and embarrassment. l
earnestly endeavored to come to right
decision, free from all political or other
extraneous considerations. In my pri-
vate examination of the principal ques.
ton (about going behind the returns) l
wrote and rewrote the arguments and
considerations on both sides as they oc-
Cured to me, sometimes being inclined !
to one view and sometimes to another
of the subject. But finally threw aside I
these luCubrations, and, as you have cor
rectly stated, wrote out the short opinion t
which / read in the Florida case during G
the sitting of the Commission. This opin- r
ion expresses the honest conclusion to a
which had arrived, and which, after a 0
full consideration of the whole subject a
seemed to me the only satisfactory solu- 9
ton of the question. And may add, the /
more ] have reflected on it since, the l
more satisfied have / become that 1t was +
right At all events, it was the result of a
my own reflections and consideration. t!
without any suggestions from any quar- Il
er except the arguments adduced by
counsel in the public discussion, and by
he members of the Commission in pri- O,
rate consultations, N
AS for the insnuations contained in a Sc
ecent article published in prominent Of
by noted politician, imply
ng that the case was decided in conse- m
Iuence of a political conspiracy l can R
nly say land from the peculiar position m
occupied on the Commission l am able W
positively to say that it is utterly devoid c.
f truth, at least 80 far as the action of at
be Commission itself was concerned. In ar
hat article the writer couples my name ed
nth the names of those he supposes OBJ. Is
oxious to public odium. The decencies N
+ public expression, if nothing more, cl,
night well have deferred SO able wri- nc
er from making personal impuiations an
'hich he did not know to be well found on
d. Yours respectfully, on
JOSEPH P, BRADLEY. H