Evening journal., 1907-07-09
GIVE PAINTING OF LATE
JUDGE EDWARD G. BRADFORD

ers wherever he spoke. He condemned
slavery and earnestly opposed dts exten-
\ sion.
He was prominent iamong the organizers
4 of the Republican party in Delaware and
was chairman of the Delawre deiegtion
I'm the National Republican Convention
that nominated Fremont for President at
l2hiladeiphia. June II, 1856. was present
i'm the convention and saw and heard him
cast the vote Of the Delaware delegation
for John c. Fremont He entered earn
estly and actively into the Fremont cam
pairn. addressed large assemblages in
differcnt parts OF the'country and was the
leader Of the little band Of three hundred
Rep,tbiicans who cast their votes in this
state for Fremont. In 1868 he received the
vote of the Republican representatives in
the General Assembly for United states
Senator. He was deiegat from Della
ware to the National Republican conven-
ton at Baltimore in 1864 that renominated
Lincoln.
when. the state courts were held at
New Castle sometimes drove or walked
there with him. He enjoyed the sunshine
, and outdoors with the zest Of a boy. The
I freedom Of the country with its quiet
scenery and .the home life and affairs Of
4 the. country people strongly appealed to
him. He was usually up with the sun and
1 I have often seen him in the early morn
4 ing with erect carriage and hrm step
walking to his office in Wilmington from
his country place in New Castle hundred.
He loved horses and dogs and would at
tribute human qualities TO them. He had
| a keen appreciation Of humor and his own
descriptions of peculiar persons he he'd
] met were very amusing. He was naturally
enthusiastic and joyous.
Nothing could induce Judge Bradford
to accept office unless its acceptance was
Fl in ,consonauce with his own views Of alb
!, solute right: nor would he retain office
df he had the slightest suspicion that by
so doing it was at the expense OF prin-
4 ciple. When President johnson and
his adherents attempted to organ
ize a political party for the pur-
n pose. as he Thought, of multiplying
/, the great results of the War
\ Judge Bradford addressed a public
letter to Alexander w. Randall then
Postmaster General in Johnson's Cabi-
net, and stated: "The Republican
party is good enough for me. I Will
not consent to its overthrow and the
fatal consequences Of such an act It
has carried us successfully through a
war of great ideas and generous
thoughts and triumphantly shielded
the nation from the malignant at
tacks of open and secret traitors. In
my judgment there is no security for
the future except in its principles Of
justice and enlarged views of human
rights and particularly as affecting
the rights Of the individual citizen, de-
creed by the sovereign power Of the
nation, and only to be secured by a
system OF national policy ana legisla-
tion adopted under it's auspices"
fThereupon he declined to continue Il
hold the Office of United States Dis
trict Attorney under President john
son's administration.
THE work OF judge lives in the
published record of his court. Tn
, fortunately this record covers only the
II last four years of Judge Bradford's
NJ life. His excellent qualities as a judge
are well remembered by the older
members of the bar. and we have as
here portrayed a patient and apprecia-
tive listener. an impartial and upright
> judge, animated by an earnest desire
to know the right of the matter and
TO render judgments consonant with
right. truth and justice.
What was said of a late Justice of
J the Supreme Court applies with equal
force and truth to Judge Bradford:
His leadership came to him not
merely by reason of his courage. his
eloquence. his statesmanlilSe views and
general ability, but largely perhaps
chiefly because of his simplicity and
singlemindedness his integrity OF
thought as well as honesty in action
and that unobtrusive and unselfish
devotion to duty which gives entrance
} to the kingdom that cometh without
observation.
ask that this portait may be re-
ceived by these courts and placed per-
3 manently upon these walls. We, who
knew him, may now look upon him
as be appeared in life and revive the
memory of his cordial greeting. genial
smile and inspiring presence. The
= future bench and the members Of the
: bar who did not know him may look
! upon this portrait of a man fttingly
characterized in the resolutions Of the
j bar adopted at the time of his death
dS lohuWSs by MS DldlneleSS nIe
e his simplicity, straightforwardness
! and honesty; by his pure spirit and
fearless courage in the discharge OF
his duty he furnished an example
worthy of all imitation honorable 70
himself and a rich legacy to his de-
! scendants."
Major Smiths Eulogy.
Major s. Redmond Smith followed
with a eulogy of the late Judge Brad
ford in which he spoke Of the public
part taken by Judge Bradford prior tc
and during the Civil War. He dweli
on Judge Bradford's activity in con-
, nection with the Organization of the
Republican party in 1856. whose princi-
pies he advocated on the stump
throughout the State
Mr.. Smith dwelt at length on the
painstaking and careful work of Judge
Bradford en- the bench from December
1871 to January. 1884, and spoke of this
personal qualities and pleasing traits