Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-02-13
JOHN RANDOLPH, ESQ.
Extract Of q letter from

wv AsHINdToN, Jan. 24.
"You may suppose all the members of the
House at their seats before IL o'clock to-day,
participating in the curiosity of The public to wit
ness the debate, many never having heard a
formal speech from Mr.. RANpaL PHI, and all of
them anxious TO listen to his eloqucnce. and to
see what arguments he could advance on an in
tcresting question. You may suppose the area
behind the speakers chair, the spacious aisles
around the bar os the house, and the extensive
gallery through all its range of seats, mounting
one above another, like an ainphitheatre, filled
with ladies'. with the members of the Senate, with
foreign ministers, with public functionaries of
various descriptions, with the multitude of stran-
gers now at Washington, and with the citizens
OF the metropolis. You may suppose one vacant
chair in the house, after the proceedings of the
morning commenced, and that all eyes are turn
ed oit with fearful solictude, lest the occupant
were taken suddenly i'll, and might not be able
to come out and join in the debate. You may
suppose, at little after twelve o'clock, the door
opens, and all heads are turned, and peep over
the gallery TO who enters. A hustle runs
through the multitude, and whisper rapidly Cir
cuiatcs from one to another, &C Mr.. Randolph has
come" No one could mistake the man who IA I
seen him before, OF ever heard him describ u
You discover tall, straight, slender figure, say
about six feet in height, with remarkably long
limbs, small and sallow features, advancing with
ahasty step, having in it little of the gravity
and stateliness of the Virginia gait. He uni
for'nly wears a neat fur cap, white cloth great
coat, OF rather coatea, with heavy capes, light
small clothes, white stockings, with an addition.
81 pair of socks, coming above his shoes, about
his ankles. He wears his gloves even when he
Is speaking. When his cap Is removed which is
seldom the case, except when he rises 10 address
the chair, you a fine head of black hair. an
parentiy SEtouched by the frost of age, comb
e! smooth before, slightly parted upon his fore
heal, and long behind, being tied near his head
bya string. AT a distance the contour of his
features gives him young appearance, but on
4 nearer view, the marks of an infirin constitu-
lion, and the deep lines of thought, become visi-
BILE.
Accustomed to hear Mr.. Randolph spoken of,
and TO consider him as remarkable for little else
} than his VIVID imagination, his keen satirical
powers, and the polished shafts of his wit, was
disappointed at finding about him so much of the
dignity and gravity of the statesman, such depth
OF reelection, so wide range and forecast OF
thought, and so deep an interest in his subject.
Perhaps his faculties were less playful to-day
than they on most occasions; for in his ex.
ordium he declared his solemn conviction, that
the resolution under discussion, involved more
serious and important question than any which
seat
III the year 1899. Be that as If may, his manner
on'this occasion was unusually dignifed, serious,
and impressive. Even when his wit and satire
made others laugh, you could not see the mus
Giles OF his face relax the slightest degree from
their gravity, and his countenance gave no init
nation, when the poisoned arrow was to be
launched from his bow. He speaks with great
deliberahon making long and emphatic pauses,
which sometimes express even more than his
worls themselves. HIS eloquence is never hur.
Tie1, vehement and imprisoned, evincing an OK.
citenent of the mind or prcdoninance of feel.
ing. In this'respect he differs very widely from
most of the orators which his own state has pro.
dnced. He is never carried away himself, moi
carries away the hcaror, with sudden glow o
thought, ardor of imagination, or burst of pas
sion.
Mr.. RANDOLPH may be regarded as one of the
most finished orators ofthe age. His eloquence
Is not spontaneous and untutored, but has beer
formed by severe study Of the best models, and
trained py the precepts Of the abest masters
Burke, Chatham, and Fox, with the ancient
orators, whom even these great men initiated
have been his prototypes and instructors.
There is volume of Burk's now in the Ii.
brary OF Congress, which contains copious mar.
gnat notes in the handwriting of Mr.. Ran
dolph, cviucing how closely he has studied and
tOflSu MS great eXeHplar. HIS voice. which
Is naturally clear and harmonious, but neither
fall nor majestic, has been disciplined to the
most exact no1uiations and cadences, and its
silver tones pierce like two-cdced sword, be-
ing directcdto its object by glance of his eye,
or significant gesture of his finger. His gcs-
lures are not numerous, but expressive ,forcible,
and graceful. Long and severe study, with
close observation Of men and things, has stored
his mind with alrnostevery species acknowledge,
and his images, figures, AMI illustrations are
chaste, classical and opposite. Perhaps no
person in this country is better acquainted with
the English language. He has made it study,
and knows the force ofeyery word and phrase be
uses. His language is therefore scrupuIously
correct, his arrangements exact, and his periods
full, polished and harmonious.
a Such may be considered general outline Oh
Pr RANDoLPH's eIoquence, which his speech
today exempliGed, together with many Of
those Characteristic traits, peculiarities, OF il
you please eccentricities by which he is dis
hnguished. The manner in which he adrnon-
shed the gentleman from Massachusetts, of the
fearful consequences Of his resolution was so.
Tenn, grand, and terrific. It was but a small
speck IN the verge Of the horizon; but the gen.
tleman was as well aware as hinselE that specl,.
OF this description, clouds of such portent, otter
forboded the most tremendous storms and con