Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-09-21
The Reply Of Judge Bradley to the
Charges Against Him.

We have Just received the following
prompt and manly letter from Mr.. Justice
Bradley, which so fully and compactly
explains itself that IL needs no further
comment: .t... ...t...t
To the Bditor Of the Advertisers 40 .lN
perceive that the New York Sun has
reiterated its charge that after preparing
a written opinion in favor of the Tilden
electors in the Florida case, submitted to
the Electoral Commission, changed my
view during the night preceding the vote
in consequence of pressure brought to
bear upon me by Republican politicians
and Pacific Railroad men, whose car
riages, it is said, surrounded my house
during the evening. This, l believe, is
the important point of the charge
Whether wrote one opinion OF twenty
in my private examination of the subject
is of little consequence and of no con-
cern to anybody, if the opinion which
| finally gave was the fair result OF my de-
liberations, without influence from out
side parties. The above slandero was
published some time since, but never
saw it until recently and deemed it too
absurd to need refutation. But, as it is
categorically repeated, perhaps ought
to notice It, The same story about car
riages of leading Republicans and others
congregating at 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
a falsehood. Not single visitor called
at my house that evening; and during
the whole sitting of the commission l
had no private discussion whatever Of
the subjects at issue with any person in
terested on the Republican side, and but
very few words with any person. IN
deed, l sedulously sought to avoid all
discussion outside the commission itself.
The allegation that read an opinion to
Judges Clifford and Field is entirely un-
true. / read no opinion to either of
them and have no recollection of ex-
pressing any. If did, it could only
have been suggestively or in hypotheti-
cal manner, and not intended as COM
initial of my final judgment or action.
The question was one of great impor-
tance, and, to me, of much difficulty and
embarrassment. / earnestly endeavored
to come to a right decision free from all
political or other extraneous considera'
tions. In my private examination OF the
principal question (about going be
hind the returns) wrote and rewrote
the arguments and considerations or
both sides as they occurred to me, some
times being inclined to one view of the
subject, and sometimes to the other
But finally / threw aside these lucubra
tions, and, as you have rightly stated
wrote out the short opinion which l reaC
!, in the Florida case during the sitting o.
the commission. This opinion expresses
the honest conclusion at which had ar
rived, and which, after a full considera
ton of the whole subject, seemed to m,
the only satisfactory solution of the ques
tion. And l may add that the more
have reflected on it since, the more salts
fed have become that it was right. A
all events, it was the results of my owl
reflections and consideration, withou
any suggestions from any quarter excep
the arguments adduced by counsel in tn
public discussion, and by the members o
the commission in private consultations
As for the insinuation contained in
recent article published in prominen
: periodical by noted politician Jere
Black, implying that the case was de
!; cided in consequence of a political con
spiracy, can only say land from the pc
: culiar position / occupied on the CON
e mission am able positively to say tina
it is utterly devoid of truth, at least s
!; far as the action of the commission itsel
was concerned. In that article the write
4 couples my name with the names of thos
!. whom he supposes obnoxious to publ
l odium. The decencies of public expires
+ sion, if nothing more, might well hav
! deferred so able writer from maxim
u personal imputations which he did nc
: know to be well founded. Yours r.
spectfully, JOSEPH T. BRADLEY,
-NeDark IN. J) AdUertiseT.