Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-05-03


the following sketch of Mr. Randoiphs ia'e
speech:
pR1xce EDWARD, April %, 1880.
CONFERENCE.-The. Randolph favored us oniast
Monday, the day of our election, with one OF his
honn;e:t efforts. He addressed very numer-
GUS concourse of people for the space OF three
Quarters of an hour. The attention Of his nu-
merous audience was completely riveted by the
;ndescribabe fascination Of his eloquence. You
know that differ from him almost toto cGfo''
in notifies, but feel impelled by sense OF JUS
tice paramount to political prejudices. to pay the
tribute of my unmixed admiration to this trans
cendant speech.
The outlines were somewhat as follows: He
advocated the amended Constitution, not as IN
trinsically better than the old, but more eXPe-
dent under existing circumstances. He consld-
cred it as better calculated to aliay the ferment
in the public mind, and to put to rest for the tu-
ture, the much vexed question of Convention
He viewed it as the best constitution, which could
be obtained under the disadvantages with which
we had to contend. He said he saw the com.
monweath reposing on bed of gunpowder. and
the match about to be applied, as one OF the cen
tines, he thought it his duty to extinguish It, lie
thought, the amended constitution would answer
the purpose, and therefore, he voted for IT. That
the Objectionable parts of the Constitution were
forced on us by the transmontane vote, whiGh
would now be almost unanimous against II. re
stated that the war which would have ensued
from the failure to form Constitution, would
have been employed in the warfare, yet the fury
and evaporation of the hercest passions would
have supplied the place OF arms, as the men OF the
long robe tell us. He said the taxing power was
,l,h OF tyrap
present day. That all the despotisms of this age
were sustained by this power He considered
the power as most to be dreaded when the
BODY LAYING the tax had no community OF interest
with the taxes. He said that congregated bo-
dies had no consciences, mutitudes no remorse,
corporations no souls, and there was no ''locus
penitentiae" among them. He said that true re-
publicanism was in a golden mean that as true
religion was equdistant from lukewarmness on
the one hand. and fanaticism on the other SO true
republicanism was eduicistant from iron despot
ism on the one side, and braZen democracy on
the other.
.Ibimus tutissimus in medic" He contended
that mutual concession and compromise were IN
dispensable to the formation of all governments:
that every man cannot have his own way, else
there will be no government. Under this con-
sideration, with much conjunction and reluc-
lance. he had voted for the amended constitution
at the Charlotte election. He urged variety of
arguments in favor of the amended Constitution,
with his characteristic felicity and aptitude of IL
lustraton.
He stated that this was perhaps the closing
scene of his political life, that he had grown grey
in the service of his constituents; and that he
viewed it as an honor to him in an immeasurable
degree, that, in the whole course of his political
life. the peo,o yef Prince Edward, had not once
withdrawn their confidence from him, and that
the reflection, which he would carry with him,
that his course in the late Convention, met their
appreciation, would be the sweetest balm. which
could be administered to wounded spirit.
This outline is nothing like justice to this mas.
terly speech The most profound and death-like
silence prevailed in the whole assembly, and the
audience seemed to treasure up every word as 1t
fell from the mouth Of the speaker. His action
was admirably suited to the word. His delivery
was remarkably distinct and clear.
.98sesa-
The Norfolk Herald has the following quite
pithy paragraph
BANK OF THE UNITED STATEs.-The U. S.
Telegraph states that Mr.. McDufie's report will
not s.put an end to the crusade against this
Bank
"The Bank has money. it remarks, and ithas
purchased presses. 1t is gradually extending its
power, oy planting its agents in the shape of
Bank Presidents, Cashiers and Directors, in the
several States. and it must be put down, if at all
by the sovereign people. Believing that the act
which renews the charter, will put an end to civ
il liberty, we shall not hesitate to do our duty
The opposition to the bank will not cease"
We are sorry to learn from the Telegraph that
presses may be "purclmsed:" we had thought
that this was a heresy of the U. S. Senate; bat
coming from the orthodox source of the Tele-
graph it mast be so-and being so, we are con-
strained to admit that the Senate may have done
the proper thing in ousting our respected friend
and quondam brother Isaac the Second.
But tits still more distressing to hear from the
Telegraph that the Bank, if its charter is renew
ed, will put an end to our civil liberties. As an
evidence that the g sovereign people," have full
faith in this prediction, we find the stock of the
Bank mounting up-up-up-til il has reached
1881. The Telegraph may write the Bank up
by its ''opposition," but can't write it down,
unless the people choose to believe the Telegraph