Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-05-13
THURSDAY MORNING. MAY I3, 1871.

was intensely selfish, and bis easier sue
cess as politician and orator, impressed
him with an exaggerated opinion of his
own Importance, at an age when such
opinions are not easily eradicated. In
the case of Randolph this oyerweanIng
self-estima:ion grew monstrous. Big
man, me, John" and the bigness or little.
ness of others services were valued and
proclaimed Just in proportion as they ele.
waited or oppressed the interests and per-
sonal dignity Of the orator Of Roanoke.
And often when bis interest had nothing
10 do with the question presented TO him,
his caprice would sway his Judgment,
for his personal resentmenis led him far
away from every consideration save that
of how he could best wound his adverse.
ry.
! His blow wanted neither vigor nor
venom; bis weapons were poisoned with
such consummate skill, and he SO well knew
/ the vulnerable poin, OF every character,
that often when the wound by an observ-
er who knew nothing Of his opponent was
deemed slight, it was ranking in the
heart. Randolph was well acquainted
with the private history Of the eminent
men Of his time, the peccadilloes, irailties,
ndiscre,ions, weakness, vanites and vices
of them all. He used his tongue as
jockey would his whip; he hi the sore
place till the blood came, and there was
no crack or flourish, or noise, or buster
ing in doing it. Il was done with ce,
lerity and dexterity, which showed the
praciised hand, and its unexpectedness as
well as its severity, often dumbounded
the victim so completely, that he had DOT
one word TO say, but writhed in silence.
I remember hearing two anecdotes of
Randolph, which strikingly type bis char
acter. One exhibits his cynical ruGeness
and disregard for the feelings Of others
in fact wish to wound their feelings
and the other his wit. ] do not vouch for
their accuracy, butt give them as have
frequently heard them, as perhaps has the
4 reader.
Once, when Randolph was in the city
Of B., he was in the daily habit of
frequenting the bookstore Of one of tbs
largest booksellers in the place. He
made some purchases from him, and was
very curious in looking over his books,
&c. In the course of Randolph's visits
he became very familiar with Mr.. -,
and they held long chats together; the
orator Of Roanoke showing off with great
courtesy. Mr.. ----- was quite pomp-
GUS man, rather vain of his acquaintance
with the lions who used TO stop in his shop.
Subsequently, being IN Washington VIM
a friend, he espied Randolph advancing
towards him, and told his friend that he
would introduce him to the "great man. :"
His friend, however, knowing the way.
wardness Of Randolph, declined. "Well,"
said Mr.. -, ~ am sorry you will
not be in,roduced-Pll 60 up and give
him shake of the hand at any rate"
Up he walked, with outstretched hand, to
salute the cynic. The arstocratic Re.
publican, (by the bye, how often your
thoroughgolng Republican is a full blood
ed sris,ocrat in his private relations, i'm
mediately threw his hands behind him, as
if he could not "dul his palm" in that
way, and gazed searchingly into the face
Of the astonished bookseller. 'Oh, OH"
said be, as if recollecting himself, "you
are Mr.. b, from Baltimore 2"
"Yes, sir" was the reply. "a booksel
ler?" " Yes, sir" again. "Ah. bought
some books from you 2" "Yes, sir, you
did," "Did | forget to pay you for
them % "No, sir, you did not" Good
morning, sir" said the orator, lifting his
cap with offended dignity, and passing on.
This anecdote does not show either Ram
dolph's goodness Of head or heart, but it
shows his character.
The other anecGote is as follows The
| Honorable Peter -, who was watch.
maker, and who had represented -
county for many years in Congress, once
made motion TO amend resolution OF.
Gered by Randolph, on the subject OF mil
itary claims. MIR. Randolph rose up af.
ter the amendment had been offered, and
drawing his watch from his fob, asked the
Honorable Peter what o'clock il was.--
He told him. Sir" replied the orator,
"you can mend my watch, but not my
motions. You understand tictics, sir, but
not tactics !"
That, too, was fine retort, when after
he had been speaking, several members
rose in succession and attacked him. "Sir,
said he to the Speaker, 81 am in the con-
ditlon Of old Lear:
"The little dogs and ALL
Tray, Blanch, and Sweetheart.
See-they bark at me-"
All accounts agree in prasing the o. =
torical powers Of Randolph. His manner
was generally slow and impressive, his
voice squeaking, but clear and distinct,
and, as far as it could be heard, what he
said was clearly understood. His ges-
ture was chiefly with his long and skeIe-
;on-like finger. The impressiveness with
\ which ne used it has been remarked by
all who have heard him. When he was
sarcastic, amidst thousand It would say,
stronger than language, to the individual
whom he meant, "Thou art the man.
In his choice OF language he was very
fastldlous, making sometimes a considera-
bic pause to select a word. I'M reading
was extensive, and in every department
of knowledge-romances, tales, poems,
plays, voyages, travels, history, biogra-
ply, philosophical arrested his atten-