Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-05-06

ny ~ith bis Randolph ~ould have lined wiise
up 20 be a thorn in the aide OF K ng whom he d
no, like. asd TO overthrow his mini, ter; had he besl
himself a minisier, his loyalty would then hav'
pronounced wilkes an Impoverished demagngu,
"hke', We know, when he cot Office, said he couts
p Owe TO his majesty that h, himself had never becr
'wilkeite. Randolph was int rsely s,lfsh; ard hi
ea1y success asa politician and orator impressed
an Q, atan acc whens o. opinions are easily mad
and not easily eedcated. In The case OF Ran
do phi this overweening selfestimation grew mon
s'rous Big man me, john" and the tigntss OF
lttlen:ss OF others services were valued and pro-
clai ned just in proportion as they elevated or de
pressed the interests and personal dignity Of the or.
ator OF Roanoke. And often when his interest had
nothing to do with the question presented to him,
ms caprice would sway his judgment. for his per-
sonal resentments' led him faraway from every con
s'aeraiion save that ofhow he could best wound his
adversary.
HIS blow wanted neither vigor nor venom his
weapons were poisoned with such consummaie
skill, and he so well knew the Vulnerable point OF
every character, that often when the wound by an
observer who knew nothing OF his opponent, was
deemed slight, II was ranking in the heart. RAN
doiph was well acquainted with The priv te history
OF the eminent men OF his time, the peccadilloes,
frailties. indiscreuons, weaknesses, vanities, and vi
oes OF them all. He used his tongue as a Jockey
would his whip; he hit the sore place I'LL the blood
came, and there was no crack or flourish, or noise,
or olusler IN dong II. IL was done with a ceierity
and dexterity which showed the prac,ised hand,
and ITS unexpectcdness as we'll as its severity, often
dunb.iounded the victim so completely, that he had
not one word TO say, but writhed in silence.
l remember hearing two anecdotes OF Randolph,
which strkinglv type his character. One exhibits
ms cynical rudeness and disregard for the feelings
OF oihers-in fact wish to wound their feelings
and the other his wit | do not vouch for their &C.
curacy, but ! give them as | have frequently heard
them, as perhaps has the reader.
Once, when Randolph was I'm the CITY 9TH
he was IN the daily habit OF frcquenting the book
store oil one OF the largest booksellers in the place.
lie made some purchases from him, and was very
surious IN looking over his books, SC. In The
course oil Randolph's visits, he became very FAM.
liar with Mr@,t the bookseller, and they held
long chats together; the orator OF Roanoke showing
OF with great courtesy. Mr. - quite a
man, and rather vain of his Acquaintance
with the lions who used 10 stop in his shop. Sub
sequentiy, being in Washington with a friend, he
espied Randolph advancing towards him, and told
his friend he would introduce him TO the great
HIS friend, however, knowing the way
of RiQdol9h. declined. "Well," said Mr.
am sorry you will not be introduced
I'll 90 up and give him n shake OF the hand ut any
ate" Up he walked, with outs;retched hand, TO
'aluie the cynic. The Aristocratc Republican, (by
he bye, how often 20 n thorough-soing Republican
"a full-blooded Arstocrat in his private relations)
threw his hands behind him, as il he
'ould not "dull his palm" in that way, and sazed
NNS ~ NS ACbISaN /
y. "Oh, oh 3" said he, as il recollecting himself,
you are MIR B., from Baltimore 2" AYES,
mr." was the reply. "a bookseller 2" ayes,
~" again. All! | bought some books from YOUR
fes, SIR, you did" "Did | forget to pay you for
hem ~ "No, sir, you old not" "God morning,
said the orator, lifting his cap with offended
iisnity, and passing on. This anecdo,e does not
how either Randol2h's goodness of head or heart,
out It shows his character.
The oihGr anecdote is as follows: The Honorable
Peter - who was a MATCHMAKER, and who had
represented B. county for many years in Con-
yress, once made a motion TO amend a resolution Of
iered by MIR Randolph, on the subject Of military
MIR Randolph rose up after the amend
nent had been offered, and drawing his watch from
ais fob, asked the Honorable Peter what O'Clock il
vas. lie told him.. "Sir," replied the orator, "you
AN mend my watch, but not my motions. You
%tieiies, sir, but not tac;icsl"
That, too, was a hne retort, when, after he had
'een speaking, several members rose in succession
md attacked him. "Sii," said he, II am in the con-
It ion Of old Iear-