Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1833-05-20
LT.RANDOl.lDll.
1T. RANDOPlrS LETTER
To III. Madison, enclosing hM cemmiSsic
Alexandria, Cd. C.) April 2lih, 1893

Dear Sir mako no apology for The liberty
take of addressing letter to you. Benga Virgi
nian by nature, habit aud character yourself, you
will readily, am sure appreciate the feelings OF
ona of her sons in surrondcrng to you the commits
sion II was SO much my honor and pride 10 receive
from you WINS, Of course, first appointed as a
mdshipman, and served with diligence and faith.
tuncss, until received from you tho commission
of a lloutonsney in the Navy Of the United States,
the duties Of which have in like manner dlschar-
ged with all the srdor and integrity of one who has
always loved his country, government and people
II has altogether occupied period of twenty three
years; twelve or fourteen OF which, have been con
sumed in the most active service, | hate never
disgrnced the flag Or character of my country in u
ny shape, way, or degree whatever bn. have II.
nlformly sustained tho dignity and honor Of both,
amid many arluous and very psrilous engage
mcns. IL WAS my good fortune to be in tina battle
with Commodore Decatur IN the ship United States,
oga'ns, the British ship Macedonian 81 which
was captured Twas with him in fight of Now
London, and rescued n valuable vessel and cargo
from under The guns of the cnemys squadron,
which was believed 10 bo ono OF tho most hszar
dous enterprises. wos with him in tho United
States frgar President in an engagement with
thu British squadron, consisting Of the Majestic ~
lhr Endy mon II frigAto, Ysnodos frign,s ~, tho
Pomona 81, md s,oop % war the engagement
commencing at day light in the morning, ond las.
ting until II o'clock =. NJ wus with him IN the
frao,e duorrictc against tho Alxerine frgu.e Me
dorm in ,ho Mediterranean, which was cap,rfed
and which led 10 ,ho treaty bc,wesn Algiers and
the United States and on ths next day, captured
an AIgsrinc sloop Of wsr Of " guns And liiihy
whsn taken prisoner Ia the trigac Pfesdanb b9 lbs
British squadron before mentioned, and earse4 to
Bermuda, in consequences VI reflections made aPon
the U. Sutes y,ratnent aud Com. pece'urN
was selected by my brother officers TO ohssl'se Me
editor OF the Kings Wess, which l fully accom-
plisi.ed on the Kings sqnare, al the nn2nrd OF
being sent to England Or imprisoned in the Island
] have crused III every sea and almost every
latitude ofthc globe, and have always SUSTAINED
the reputation Of an officer devoted to his eounty's
service.
II happens now, after all these trying circum
stances, wherein my character has been faithfully
sustained Ivy the voices Of my supcriors and com
raies, that am ut der the necessity ofrcstorng TO
you the commission that it WINS your prcrogatve
to give and my honor TO receive from you, ~ Pre-
.dcnt Of the United States return II toyou sir,
because deem you 50 perfectly worthy Of the res
pce', which il is my view 10 pay you by tho sur
render OF il you bestowed II upon me, and hsvs
most eonscien,iously and faithfully fulfilled Ne Oh
legations i, imposed upon me.
Driven from my further service TO my country
by the most wrotchel injustice and by n spirit oi
persecution and tyranny unparalleled in the nm
nails of,he country it Is my province TO assure
yon though dismissed myself from the Navy II
would be 10 mo at least n comfortable reflection, IT
| could imagine TINT there 10 any thing like even
the possibility ofjustcc IN be calculated upon under
the existing miserable administration. to those It
has been SO long my pride and blessing to have
been associated with, in the Navy Of the u b.
owe it. however, 10 truth and justice TO sny, that
ihr lux which holds them together is just as teoble
and brittle in their hands, mine has been - hjc-
ty, a,dnous service and valor, are not, nowadays
such attributes rs to weigh feather in the scale
with power and interest.
Icon,ijcr the administration of Andrew Jnck-
son, as subvcrspe of constitutional liberty, and
guided by feeling md passion md although my
c~ada,lon and ruin have been long ago plotted by
his malicious insiulous and dishonest official sub
a,crns, it has been his pride 10 connve NJ all and
to make me the victim of their base aud heorllcss
injustice have the honor to be,
With profound respect,
Your most obcdcnt servant
RODT. b. RANDOLPH,
LATE efne Z. S. Nary.
To his Excocncy JAsiEs M,pIsoN,
Er. Pres, chi Of The United Slaftf,