Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-05-09

last twenty years, has been generally out Of hu-
mour with every body and every thing IN the
world. We have seen him in the House OF he
representatives. writing and fretting at every act
and measure of the Government, II we except
the one for the relief Of Mrs. Perry But it APP
pears to have been reserved for him, under the
auspices Of the crafty JOHN c. CALHOUN, 10
change the character of the u S. Senate total
ly, and convert il into one of the most disor-
derby parliamentary bodies in the world. In
one Of his rhapsodies in the Senate, II is under
stood that he insulted Mr.. CLAY, which result
ed in the late Duel between those gentlemen.-
Indeed, when we bear in mind the envy and
malice he has so long entertained towards Mr..
CLAY, and the frequent ebulitions in debate.
which have lately SO much degraded the Anne
rican Congress, every man must admit that
JOHN RANDOLPH set the first example, and that
he is at present unfit to represent an enlightened
and yirtuous people 1t is admitted by all ju-
dicious men that his mind is in rapid state Of
deterioration. When we read his "chat" in the
Senate Gas he very appropriately calls it, al
though we can discover genius and wit IN
some Of his observations, the most distinct idea
to be CLEANED from that chat, is an intolerable
chuckling at his own political consistency. He
seems to have forgotten that, in one OF his
freaks, after being defeated by 'JNo. w. EppEs,
in an election for Congress some years ago,
when he expected his political race was run, he
.exclaimed-"I entered political life Democrat
and Deist, but quit it, "a Convert to Jesus
Christ in religion, ard 10 EDMUNp BURKE in
politics" Mr.. RANDOLPH, no doubt, at the age
oftwenty-6ve, was the most prominent young
man in America. He is now ifty-two or three
years of age, and bshold the disparity. At the
former period Of his life, he was the idol Of his
party. He was in The plain road 10 all the
highest offices OF this government, and no doubt
would have reached the Presidency with tole-
rable prudence. But now, when he rises to
speak IN Congress, although we behold full!
galleries, particularly since his elevation TO the
Senate, what do we anticipate? The manner Of
Mr. RANDOLPH unques.ionably is very good,
and so far he may be called an orator; but am
informed since he has been speaker in the
Senate, that people attend the Lobby to hear
his nonsense, merely on account OF that man
ner. When Demosthenes was asked three
times, what constituted the orator, he answer.
ed every interrogatory in the same Words The
manner But even this standard OF oratory
will not avail Mr.. RANDOLPH When he
speaks in the Senate, he must arrange his
ideas, and first convince his hearers like other
men, before he can carry them with him. And
after conviction, / would advise him to per-
suade men into measures, instead OF attempting
to coerce them. II the Virginia Legislature,
in its folly and wrath, when they elected him
to the U. S. Senate to answer the ends OF the
self-stycd great men Of the State, could have
| foreseen his weak and malicious course in that
| body, am persuaded that not even their pre-.
determination to oppose Mr.. ADAMs's admins
iraiion could have induced them 10 supper,
him. Indeed, Mr.. RANDOLPH with all his high
pretensions to independence and dignity, must
have known when the Legislature promoted
him, that their object was, merely to oppose
and embarrass the administration and net to
honor him. He certainly has failed to effect,
| in his vagaries, what might have been accom-
piished by reason and justice. If the Virginia
politicians, and the opposition generally, have
| no better man to thrust forward TO execute
their measures, they had better abandon their
scheme at once; for even a corrupt administra-
ton would have but little to fear from such an
opposilionst as Mr. RANDOLPH. No man can
doubt, that there is regularly organized oppo-
sition party in Washington, whose object it is
| TO put down the administration, at all events
If any person should be so sceplical as to doubt
the fact, let him read the billingsgate abuse
cast upon the President and his Secretary in
the House Of Representatives ard the Senate,
and bear in mind that the presiding officers OF
neither have pretended 10 call the speakers to
order. There can be no doubt but the opposi-
ton Of Messrs Randolph, Calhoun, McDuffie,
sc. will recoil upon their own heads. There
is too much light among the American people
at present to be sulled by such party with
such head But few men in the United States
have the hardhood to aim at an usurpation Of
the liberty Of the American people; but it is
shrewdly suspected, by many discerning men,
acquainted with the true character of JOHN e..
CALHOUN, that he would sickle at nothing to
eiiecluate his designs. To ruin J. Q. ADAMS
and H. CLAY, and exalt himself, or CALHOUN, or
any other pereons to their stations, is no doubt
the object Of Messrs. RANDOLPH & Co.
A SUBSCRIBER.