Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-09-26

From fhe Richmond Enquirer.
JOHN RANDOLPH.


The surviving relatives Of Mr.. Randolph.
who are the children and grand children Of
his step-father, the late ST. George Tucker
Esq. have much reason to complain. tha, in
the eagerness 10 crafty public curiosity, re-
ssPeeung the former, public journal should
have ushered into the world the auto-biogra-
Phical sketch which recently appeared in the
New York Commercial Advertiser That
letter, Il 10 admitted. was never designed for
the public eye and il is matter Of some sur
prise that without inquiry, without examine
ton, without explanation-it should have
been given to the public, containing, as IL
docs the gravest charges and the most iniuri-
Gus insinuations against men, iilustrious in
their country's annals, aud whose lives of
sPot'ess purity and elevated virtue had Sc
cured them an unsullied reputation. To those
who are well acquainted nth the 4 c Elements
under which the mind Of MIR. Randolph oc-
casicnaliy labored, it might be a matter of
lille surprise, that at particular moments he
might have been influenced by deIusions
which had no foundation in fact but 10 the
public who know little Of him except his
brilliant political career, his attack upon the
character OF one who stood towards hiia in
the interesting relation Of step-father and
guardian, may seem to be entitled 10 some
notice on the part Of the representatives OF
thst excellent and honorable person.
IL - not the object Of the writer of this
short article, To enter into any detailed ex-
PLANTATION Of this matter. lie has neither in
his power the documentar evidence which
IS IN existence TO establish the integrity Of Mr..
fuckers conduct in reference to his wards.
nor has he persona knowledge of facts
which occurred when he WAS Of tender years.
having the same tendency. His only purpose
al this time II, 20 poiut the attention 20 Ger.
tain facts set forth in the letter itsslf, and TO
add one or two Of which he happens TO have
Information.
From MIR. Randolph's letter il appears shat
his mother died in January, 1888. She had
been faithful manager and steward Of the
estate he tells Us, and left clear accounts.
and money (not a small sum- in hand There
IS, then, no complaint Of the mismanagement
or misapplic alton Of his estate IN her time.
We therefore date the affairs with which we
nave concern, from the beginning of l5sS.--
In that year and month q think) ST. GEORGE
Tucker was appointed Judge Of the General
and District Courts, the duties Of which.
calling him occasionally to every corner of
this vide commonwealth, rendered his atte u
ton To the Randolp phi estate. distant from 80
10 300 miles) almost impracticablc for i'm n
year after the death Of his wife, he Quilted
the estate on vi ich he lived a. part Of her dow
er, for residence IN williamsburg, where
be might have an opportunity Of educating his
childFen without the expense Of sending the IA
abroad add the Randolph estates were 10
Prince Edward, Cumberland aud Charlotte.
In ,hc last month Of l7ss, Richard Ram
dolph married. lie was four years older than
John, vas bred TO the bar, and equally dis
iinEGished for has manly and decisive charac-
ter, for las generous and noble, and Affection
ATE temper, Tor has commanding aud cxtraor-
binary talents, and for his extensive and use
f1l requirements. To this young man then
when be came of age and married and settled
on one oi the estates, and within forty miles
Of the Others, Mr.. Tucker IA less han i,r0
years after Ms WUe's death, very judicIously
eomnIiusd ths managsrnsni and di,srhou Of iks
Estates ~ great measure. a. also of some
property Of his own in uat part Of the coun-
Try. ln juno, 1916. occurred the lainentcd
death Of Richard Randolph, hose Affection
ate attachment TO Mr.. Tucker, aud whose
grateful recollections Of his paiernal care
and faithful discharge of his duties, y eyl-
denced 10y numerous letters preserved by hrs
surviving guardian with fathers fondness
for the relics Of child whom he gresuy
loved. let those who knew them both, wit
ness how they were attached.
John Randolph not having been Of age be-
fore the death u Richard more than q few
months, the estate accounts had not been
finally closed. A. soon, however, after he
death a. Mr.. Tucker returned from his fall
circuit, he made short ststemcnt of has ac-
counts. asceStained the balance N BIS hsbds
u be about 400, for which sum be gave
his bonds, (for one bslf q John Randolph,
and Zoe the other 10 Mrs Judith Randolph
the EidDs and executrix u nichard,J and
took from them q reieatc. The must have
bsen n the fsii Of 1873. The bonds we're
iitefw srds pad and taken up, and no hint Of
Dissatisfaction appears ~ the uhole trans &C.
tioa. Indeed, in 1893, Nr. Ra.idoiph beng
90 Richmond, applied TO Mr.. Tucker Zoe .
loan, Which gas made Eithont a moments
hesitation 10 the amount of s25O0. and r.
ceiPt gwen, 90 which Nf r. of Lis o. n 40
cord ADDED . scroll as seal