Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-05-13


adversary taking all this into considera-
ton, | could easily imagine how, when
almost boy, he won SO much fame, and
preserved il SO long and with SO vast an
Influence, notwithstanding the eccentfici.
Ivy and Inconsistency Of his life, public
and private.
BY the bye, the sudden, unexpected,
and aphoristical way in which Randolph
often expressed his sentiments had much
to do with his oratorical success. He
would, like Dean Swift, make remark,
seemingly a compliment, and explain il
Into a sarcasm, or he would utter an APP
parent sarcasm and turn ii into compile
ment. Many speakers, when they have
said thing, hurry on TO full explana-
ton, fearful that the nearer may not IN.
derstand them but when Randolph ex.
pressed one Of these startling thoughts, he
left the hearer for some time puzzling in
doubt as to what no meant, and, when IT
pleased hun, in the coolast manner in
the world, he explained his meaning,
not little delighted if be discovered
that his audience were wondering the
while upon whom the blow would descend,
or what principle the remark would be
brought TO illustrate. 4 little anecdote,
which heard u member Of Congress
from Kentucky, tell Of him, shows this
characteristic. The Congressman, on his
drst visit 20 Washington, Che had just
been elected was Of course DESTROYS of
seeing the lions. Randolph, though not
a member of either house, was there, and
had himself daily borne into the Senate
or House by his faithful Juba, to listen to
the debates. Every body noted or unnot-
ed, were calling ON the eccentric orator,
and the member from Kentucky determine
ed to do likewise, aud crafty his curiosi-
sy. A friend, General -, promised 10
present him, saying though, You must
be prepared for an odd reception, for if
fRsndolph is in bad humor, he will do
and say any thing; il he is 10 . good hu.
NOR, you will see most finished gentle-
man. They called. Mr.. Randolph
was stretched out on sofa. He seem.
ed" said the member, "a skeleton, en-
bowed with those flashing eyes which
ghost stories give to the re. animated body
when sent upon some earthly mission"
The Congressman was presented by
| his friend, the General as Member Of
Congress from kentucky. "Ah, from
Kentucky, SIR exclaimed Randolph, in
his shriH voice, as he rose to receive him,
from Kentucky, sir; well, sir, consid-
er your State the Botany Bay of Virgin
Ia." The Kentuckian thought that the
next remark would be quotation from
Barrington's Botany Bay eplogue, APP
piled by Randolph to the Virginia settlers
of Kentucky,
"True patriots we, for be it understood,
We left our county for our coontry's goods"
but Randolph, after pause, continued !;
81 do not make this remark, sir, in appli-
cation TO the morals or mode Of settlement
of Kentucky. No, sir, mean 10 say
that it is my opinion, sir, that the time APP
proaches when Botany Bay will in all
respects surpass England, and fear it
will soon be so with regard to your Stale
and mne."
cite this little anecdote not for any
peculiar pith that it possesses, but in Illus,
tration of his character, and in proof OF
the remarks above made.
Ii Mr.. Randolph had lived in ancient
times, Plutarch, with all his powers in
tracing the analogies Of character, would
have looked in vain for his parallel. -
And modern bographer, with all an
cient and all modern times before him,
will find the effort frutless that seeks his
fellow. AT first, the reader might think
OF Diogenes as furnishing some resem-
blance to him, and that all that Randolph
wanted was tub but not SO if another
Alexander had asked him what he wo1ld
have that imperial power could bestow--
the answer never would have been a re.
quest to stand out of his sunlight. No
Randolph, if he could have got no higher
emolument and honor, would immediate.
~ have requested to be sent on foreign
, mission that over, if Alexander had no.
thing more to give, and was so situated as
not 10 BE- feared, who does not believe
that the ex-minis.er would turn tail or
him.
The fact is, that Randolph was exces
, sively ambitious, cormorant alike fol
, praise and plumbers and though his patri
otsm could point out the disinterestec
, course to others, his love of money would
I not let him keep the track himsef--a
least in his latter years, when Mammon
the old mans God, beset him, ant he
turned an idolator to that which he haC
so often expressed his detestation, that his
countrymen believed him. His mission
, to Russia broke the charm that the pre-
vailing opinion Of his disinterestednes1
, cast about him, and his influence in hi;
: native State was falling fast beneath the
appointment and outfit and salary tina
] had Disseminated it when he died anC
now old Virginia will forget and forgive
! these inconsistencies Of one OF her great
{ est sons to do reverence to his memory.
! Randolph's republicanism was never
t heartfelt he was at heart an arlstocrat
lie should have been born in England, q
r noble--there he would stubbornly have
resisted the encroachments of all below
) him upon his own prerogatives, station
dignity, and quality and he would have
: done his best to have brought the preroga
, lives, station, dignity, and quality of al