The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-06
JUSTICE BRADLEr's CONFESSION
How AIunde Joe Changed from side to side
How he Wrote and Kewrote Contra
dIctory OpinIons-BIe virtually Admits the
Charge Of The sun-A Farrngo About
the Electoral Commission Fraud.

the Electoral Commission Fraud.
Prom me N,tark Airerifsr. e.JL5
We have just received the following
prompt and manly letter from Mr.. Justice
Bradley. which so fully and compactly explains
itself that 1t needs no further comment It
comes from his summer retreat at Stowe. Vt.
His statement confirms whit We took occasion
TO say on authority of almost equal responsible
ty to his own:
EDITOR OF THE ADvEHTIsER-Sb: perceive
that The NEW YoRK SUN has reiterated its
charge that aitorprenaring q wrltt,n opinion in
submitted to the Electoral Commission /
changed my views during the might preeed-
s lnE nrouh f tn be9 S7e p@n me by Ke
publican politicians and Pacific Railroad
men. whose carriages ! ~ said, SURROUNDED
IL the important point % the charge. Whether
lwrote one opinion or ~ nty IN my private ex-
and Of no concern to anybody, II the opinion
which finally gave was the fair result OF my
deliberations, without influence from outside
parties. The above Islander was published
some time since but never saw IL until reccnt-
". and deemed II too absurd to need refuta-
ton. But az il il extraordinarily repeated. per-
hHps / ought to notice ii. Tho same story
about carriages Of leading Republicans and
others. congregntng ut my house was circu-
lated In Washington at one time. and canle 20
contempt The whole thing is a fasehood.
Not single visitor called ~ my mousse tilHt eVcn-
ing: aud during the whole sitting OF the Cone
mission had no private discussion Whatever Of
the subjects ut issue with any person Interested
on the Republican side. and but very few words
with any person. Indeed. lsedulously sought to
avoid all dis 'ussiOn Outstd the Commission
itself The allegation that read an opinion TO
Judges Clifford and Field IL entirely untrue. |
rend no opinion to either Of them, and have no
recollection Of expressing my Ii | did. it
could only have been suggestiNcly or In hypo-
thctical manner. and not intended Ms a com
initial OF my nnal judgment or action.
mn9 question was one IN Gn rls mPo d,haS
rassment earnestly endcnvored u come TO n
right decision free from all political or other
eNtraneous considerations. In my private eX-
animation Of the principal question (ahout 20
ing behind the returnsl ! wrote and rewrote
the arguments and considerations on both sides
ns they occurred 10 me. sometimes being in
cnod 10 one view II the subject. and sometimes
10 the other But finally threw aside these u-
wrote out the short opinion which | read in
the Florida ease during the sitting of the
SGmmsa Is 2bnbo1 'SpTes srrla ni h @a
which, after tull consideration Of the whole
subject. seemed 70 me the only satisfac
add that the more | have reflected on II
since. the more satisfied have become
results Of my own reflections and Consideration.
without any uggostions from any quarter cX-
cept the arguments adduced by counsel in the
public discussion. and by the members OF the
Commission in private consultations.
As for the insinuation contained in n recent
Hrilrlc pubushrd IN prominent perloulch by
noted politi ian. implying. that the case was
decided in consequence of political con-
spracy. can only say tand from the peculiar
position j occupied on the Commission /
am able positively to say that 1t IS ut
tcrv devoid of truth. at least SO lar as the @c-
ton Of the Commis sion itself WIS concerned. In
that article the writer couples my name with
the names Of those whom he supposes obnox-
ious To public od.um. The decencies Of public
expression. II nothing more. might well have
deferred So able a writer from making personal
imputations which lie did not know 10 DO well
founded. Yours respectfully.
JOSEPH T. BRADLEY