Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-07-01
John Randolph.

Mr.. Randolph, in Congress, was an able de-
bator, but had little influence Us legislator.
He captivated and held in delight all who hap.
pened to come in hearing /; but no one ever
seemed to think much Of the cogency OF his
reasoning. He was never at loss for subject
or words, but the matter was scattered over
great field. On one occasion, when he under
took to show to the old Republican or Jeffcr-
son party, who had accused him of having de.
serted their standard, tina. they had abandoned
their principles, he spoke four days successive
Iy. His appearance on the occasion, was the
oldest that can be conceived.
The first thing that he did on obtaining the
| floor, after the Speaker had responded TO his
claim to it by saying rhe gentleman from
Virginia, the customary salution to all
speakers,--was, very deliberately and very cool
ly provokingly so, to strip off his overcoat, to
! lay aside his hat and whip, and then transfer
the bandana, which had previously adorned his
| throat, to his head. Even after he had thus
tied up his head, and made other arrangements
for a seven or eight hours speech, he would
stand perfectly motionless, looking at the Speak
er as it he was waiting TO have something more
said to him before he began. In this way he
was wont to take in many Chairman OF the
| Whole, and who have had their knuckes well
raped by him for interfering with his honor
! on such occasion, much to the amusement OF a
crowded auditory. On a similar occasion and
! on a stormy day, he had an umbrella, instead OF
the everlasting whip, in one hand, and in the
other an orange. On obtaining the floor, while
expectation was on tiptoe to hear the cxordl-
um, which was generally spicy and amusing,
he cody began to suck his orange, without re-
! gard to the feelings Of the members. Who
ever the Chairman of the Committe Of the
Whole was, seeing the House impatient, he
reiterated "the gentleman from Virginia" "
All the reply or satisfaction he got was the
sententious ~ knO0 IL, sir - and then he went
on to suck his orange, while the whole house
laughed at the rebukc. AS soon as it suited
his convenience to begin, the whole attitude
and manner were imitably fine. Ills hair was
combed back and separated in front, something
| like the fashion with which women part theirs
on their forehead the bandana was around his
neck, and the surtout on. In his left hand he
held the umbrella, in the other the orange
Throwing forward his head, a little turned on
one side, three fingers of one hand grasping the
orange, the other pointing to the Chair, he com.
menced :-"I remember, sir, about fourteen
years since-yes sir, about fourteen years since
that the gentleman from South Carolina
(Mr. Hagar)-ws were both then members Of
this House-sct popularity trap-yes sir, O
popularity trap, which he baited with broom SUI.
ar and molasses "a tarfrproject).- it caught
nothing, sir mot that ever heard Of" lie
then passed of in an attack upon New England
Mr.. Clay, and the other prominent member.
generally, in his usual style of inventive, a
( times amusing, scorching, and occasionall,
instructing his listeners.-B q. s. Dem,