To Thomas Jefferson from Stephen R. Bradley, 13 September 1802
From Stephen R. Bradley
Westminster Sept. 13th. 1802
Sir
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th. of August, yesterday, and can assure you it was the first intimation, that you1 expected from me a recommendation of proper persons, as Commissioners of bankruptcy in this State—had it before come to my knowledge, I certainly should have embraced the earliest oppertunity of giving you all the assistance in my power. You will permit me to observe that this state has a range of Mountains runing north and south through almost the whole length of the same, that most of the Inhabitants are settled on the east and west side of the State, and but very little commerce or intercourse across the mountains that the Legislature hold their Sessions alternately on each side as do also the courts of the United States. I should deem it most expedient to appoint four on each side that is four in the district in which Judge Smith lives & four in the district in which I live, I mention four that in case of Death, or other causes that might incapacitate one, there might be a sufficient number in the district without having to cross the mountains. Under a conviction of the expediency I will take the Liberty of recommending four living on the eastern Side of the mountains, expecting Judge Smith will recommend proper characters on the western side—And will name Mark Richards and Reuben Atwater of Westminster James Elliot of Brattleborough and Oliver Gallop of Hartland—The first is a Very respectable Merchant the three last mentioned are Lawyers, they are all Men of known probity, abilities, and firmly attached to Republican principles,2 and would no doubt if appointed discharge the duties with faithfulness, required of them.
I cannot but remark before I close this letter that last week the Election took place throughout this State for Members of the Legislature—Nothing can equal the diabolical exertions made by the Feds., the lies, falshoods, and spurious productions, they have published, would disgrace the pen of an Infernal, and all we flatter ourselves to no purpose, from the returns received we are Induced to believe the Legislature at their ensueing Session Next Month will be more republican than they were last Year—
I am Sir With Sentiments of the highest respect, Your Most Obedt Humble Servt
Stephen R Bradley
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); at foot of text: “The President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 23 Sep. and “commrs bankruptcy. Windsor” and so recorded in SJL. Dft (ViU).
JUDGE SMITH WILL RECOMMEND: on 13 Sep., Israel Smith wrote the secretary of state recommending Darius Chipman and Richard Skinner, reputable lawyers at Rutland and Manchester, respectively, and Samuel Prentiss as bankruptcy commissioners for the district on the western side of Vermont (RC in same; endorsed by TJ: “Israel Smith to mr Madison. Commrs. of bankruptcy Rutland”). Smith had recommended Prentiss in an earlier letter to Madison (see TJ to Bradley, 27 Aug.). Smith noted, however, that TJ’s letter of 27 Aug. was the “first intimation” that the president sought his recommendations. For the appointment of Smith’s three and Bradley’s four candidates, see Memorandum to James Madison, printed at 18 Oct. 1802.
ELECTION TOOK PLACE: the choice of a U.S. senator during the October 1802 session of the Vermont Assembly indicated the extent of the Republican victory in the fall election. On 19 Oct., the House elected Israel Smith by a 102 to 75 vote over the Federalist candidate. In the council, 9 out of 13 votes were cast for Smith (Bennington Vermont Gazette, 25 Oct. 1802; Journal of the General Assembly of the State of Vermont, at Their Session, Begun and Holden at Burlington, in the County of Chittenden, the Fourteenth Day of October, A.D. One Thousand Eight Hundred and Two [Bennington, Vt., 1802], 47–8).
1. In Dft, Bradley here wrote “the President of the United States.”
2. Dft lacks remainder of sentence.