The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-05-24
2aoltttral.
From The Virginian.]
JOHN RANDOLPH,

aspect. Wltnout single GOOD feature
except his eye. Still his appearance is
gu extraordinary. sA-s 'irc UudIsest auu |
most ignorant man cannot pass him |
without inquiring, Who is that. Ear |
ly in life he appeared as a witness in a
criminal case, in which two OF his near
relations were implicated, and exhibit
ed strong indications of talents and in
formation: when examined by Patrick
Henry, as counsel for the accused. He
made his debut in the year 1899, be-
fore the American public, in his cele-
brated canvass for Congress in the
Charlotte District, opposed by Powhatan
preceding the April Election for 1899,
he addressed great assembIage of
people in reply to Patrick Henry, wt,,
on that occasion, had presented himself,
to the people Of the county as candi-
date for seat in the Virginia Legisla-
ture. In seeking public life once more,
Col. Henry had been prompted by Gen
erai Washington, who solicited him by
letter, to come forward for the purpose
OF opposing some of the political views
OF the most conspicuous men in Virgin
ia. AT that period it is notorious that
many of our politicians were enamoured
of the principles Of the French revolu-
ton, and probably none more so than
John Randolph. In the address of Hen.
ry TO the people of Charlotte, he began
by telling them that they had all been
deceived in the operations of the Fed
eral Government; that he had faithful
ly warned them ten years before of its
tendency towards consolidation that
the sword and purse, by the fatal ambi-
gully OF the terms used the Constitution.
had been surrendered to The general
government; but that, inasmuch as he
had been defeated 10 the Convention,
and the Constitution had been adop,ed
toy The people, he hal determined 10
become peaceable citizen himself, and
would beseech them TO pause in their
disrespecstul and violent course towards
the general government before they
arrayed themselves as direct enemies 10
their sister States. John Randolph was
directly at issue with Patrick Henry on
this occasion. He came out the idol Of
Democracy. He asserted and vlndicat-
ed the views and principles Of the ris-
ing republican party. He denounced
the elder Adams and all his advisers;
and no doubt was as wild and jacobinicaI
IN his politics as any man Of his day.
he continued the most conspicuous man
of his age, and the champion of Mr..
Jefferson and his administration, till
about the year 1906. About that time,
he was disappointed in some of his ex-
Pectations Of promotion, and, for The
last twenty years, has been generally
out of humour with every body and ev-
cry thing in the world. We have seen
him in the House of Representatives
|ritbing and iretiing at every act and
measure Of The Government, if we ex-
cept the one for the relief of Mrs. Perry.
But it appears TO have been reserved
for him, under the auspices of the Graf
ty John G. Calhoun, TO change the
character Of the U. S. Senate totally,
and convert it into one of the most dis
orderly parliamentary bodies in the
world.-ln one of his rhapsodes in the
Senate, it is understood that he nsuIted
Dir. Clay, which resulted in the late
duel between those gentlemen. In
deed, when we bear in mind the envy
and malice he has 80 long entertained
towards Mr.. Clay, and the frequent
ebuIlitions in debate which have lately
so much degraded the American Con-
gress, every man must admit that John
Randolph set the first example, and that
he is at present unfit to represent an en-
lightened and viItuous people. II is adj
United by all judicious men that his
mind 10 in rapid stote of deterioration.
When we read his 50 chat" in the Sen.
ate, las ne very appropriately calls it)
although we can discover genius ard
wit in some Of his observations. the
most distinct idea to be gathered from
that chat, is an inloIerable chuckIiug AZ
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 wac run, he exclaimed.
(" ! entered political life Democrat and
a Deist, but ! quit it, a convert to Jesus
Christ 10 religion, and to Edmund Burke
in politics."
Mr.. Randolph, no doubt, at the age off
twenty-five, was the most prominent
young man in America. He is now
hlty-two or three years Of age, and be. |
hold the disparity. At the former peri
cd Of his life, be was the idol Of his par