Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-03

tits believed the following article, from the
Cape Fear Recorder, will be perused with inter-
est by every lover of fine writing.
TO JOHN RANDOLPH, ESQ.
SIR--The inhertor of name already conse-
Grated to genius and patriotism; name, ihscrio'
ed BY YOUR ancestors, on the first page OF our
history, and the heir Of a fortune so ample as 10
place YOU far-above those obstacles, which men
of genius, have so often toencounter; and which
contribute 10 vex and 70 retard them, In their
progress to fame:-few men have set out, IN
public life, under happier auspices; or with
more catering prospects, than yourself Inc
period at which your career commenced, ana
the circumstances attending your debut, were
alike favorable to your success. The agitation
and hustle, attending the first. operations OF an
infant government; and the incipient efforts OF
newly formed political party under that gov
ernmcnt---were peculiarly calculated to elicit tai
ent; and fitted for the display of ability. You
launched your boa; upon a full sea, at that crit
ical iuncture, whfG he tide in the affairs oil
men were al the a5od Placed, at your very
outset, at the h,zf u an important party in the
state, your nan BE- ame its watch word; the
loop upon wnica agng its hopes, while the as
soclations connec cd with it, Combined with the
early indications yol had given OF superior IN
,ellect, made /, TO many, The harbinger OF better
things; of a hope. that after II had Tor time
ruled the des,nes Of party, 1t would become
a star Of hope to the country, and from lo'tlcr
sphere, shed wider and happier influence
Such, sir, was the unobstructed avenue opened
for YOUR advancement Such, were the hopes
and the expectations entertained by your coun-.
trvmen How have you avaikd yourself OF
these peculiar and great advantages! In what
manner, has sage performed the promise oil
YOUTH"
Your earlier efforts, in the Assembly OF the
representatives of the people, did not disap-
point public expectation They rather confirm
eG the hopes of your friends, and added leaf
to he wreath which had been already and III
considerably bound around your brow. The
peculiar character of your mnd-a quick, pun
gent and original vita lively fancy and
mass Condemnation, on great variety OF top
les, qualified YOU to shine upon subjects OF the
nature, which at that time occupied the pubic
mind; and fitted you TO embark with great Ell
feet in the heated debates 10 which they gave
rise. The spirit of invective, in which you
have at all times been prone to indulge, chimed
happily in with the harsh tone of party feeling,
al time when the severity Of censure was es-
teemed, rather than its justice. In word; sir
your speeches were admired, and although
much of their effect was attributed 10 the pecu-
liar style of your delivery, you nevertheless &C
ouired the re putation Of ready debater and OF
an eloquent dccaimer. 1t yet remained toryo
10 achieve the character OF an able and practl-
cal statesman. He who is master of eloquence
is master Of the key which unlocks the bosoms
of men, ana prooures for its possessor access to
the favor and confidence Of the people. He who
speaks well, will, We are apt to believe, also act
we'll So thought the Athenians, when They
confided TO the conduct Of their favorite orator,
the war against Philip; supposing, that he who
had triumphed in the assemblies OF the people,
would doubtless prove victorious in the field
Thus far, sir, you had done nothing, to weaken
this presumption, in your favor. The hayward
ness of temper, and the eccentriclty OF spirit,
which we dlscoveredin your illusions were, IN
deed; by some thought to be incompatible with
that GOODNESS ofjudgment, and soundness OF dis
cretion, necessary TO constitute SAFE states
man. But by most the effervesCencc OF party
zeal and of heated spirit, was mistaken Tor the
sacred glow Of patriotism, and the Promethean
warmth of eloquence. twas not, sir, until
subsequent period, when some secret cause, act
ing on mind too easily unhinged, betrayed
YOU into fluctuations Of opinion and obliqulties
of course, that the public began TO distrust the
favorable estimate it had formed of your char
acter. 1t was then discovered that you were
deficient in that strength Of mind, that tirmness
of principle, and that steadiness OF purpose,
without which, you could neither become safe
depository of power yourself, nor trusty coun-
sellor to advise its exercise, III the hands OF
others.
The rapidity with which you have since as
sumed your various metamorphoses; the sud-
denness of your mutations Of opinion; and the
uuickness of your transitions, from dogma to
dogma, and from party TO party, have scarcely
left room in the public mind for the exercise OF
charity. They appear TO be inexplcable, with
out an imputation Oh your heart, or what per-
haps YOU would as little like, an imputatIon on
YOUR understanding Without some such So
luton, your character must forever remain
riddle. or your conduct an enigma. Still how
ever, sir, the possession of superior talents was
not denied YOU, although these talents were pc
cular; were, sta generis; and could not be class
ed-ther splendour was received as some aPol-
ogy for their inutility, and your country, though
convinced that she could not conhde to your
keeping, her interests; nor to your guidance, her
steps, was still willing to see you IN her Hall OF
Legislation; and to listen to your voice, though
sometimes sounding strangely as well as sweet