Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-08-12
From the NeD York Tribune.
More about John Randolph.

with Senator White of Delaware, q believe,
but am not certain, as his sccond) the House
had ordered the previous question, which cut
of all farther debate. Rondolph returned Just
ms the main question was about TO be put and
got up TO speak, but being stopped by the Spca
kers informing him what had taken place, he
flew into furious passion, and declared that
the House had disgraced ITSELF The epithet
I'D liar" was heard from several quarters.
and Dr. Shaw ofN Nermcnt, said the rascal ought
to be expelled. The House was in an uproar
for some minutes, but the roll was called, the
bill passed and the House adjourned. A "note
of dreadful preparation" was heard for days to-
gether from the side of John Randolph lie
dispatched an express to Baltimore for cele-
brated pair Of hair triggers, and engaged the
services of a surgeon from the same place,
and under the drilling of first rate shot, prac-
ticed two hours daily about the woods on the
turnpike to the Northeast of the Capitol. 1t
was dangerous 10 travel the road, as frequent
cracks, followed by the whizzi NC of balls, were
heard by travellers on the road, to their no lit
tie apprehension. But all this mighty prepa-
ton and ostentatious parade was to end in
smoke.-General Wilkison was Eppes's second,
and in few days, from being perfectly ignorant
of the use of pistol, he became a first rate
Observation-Disclosures called on me at the time,
and knowing my friendship for Eppes, informed
me of the rapid progress of his pupil in the art
of the duelo' But he was decided in the opin-
ion it would never come off. 'lf they fight
said he, 'Eppcs will kill him but take my word
for it, Randolph will back out All this bus-
tering and fuss is merely intended to bully Ep-
pes, and then through the disnterestcd inter-
ference ofa friend, to get the quarrel accommo-
dated on the best terms he can And so in
deed it happened. On the eve of adjournment,
on the Cd of March, ISL, friend of Randolph,
prompted to it, as it was thought, by Randolph
privately, called on Richard NJ. Johnson, Ep-
/ pcs's second, who was good natured fellow,
as was his principal Eppes himself, and offer
ed, on the withdrawal ofthe challenge, to make
a satisfactory explanation on the part of Ran
doph. The offer was accepted, the matter a
micably settled, and the honor of the parties
preserved whole with their hides. But you
would be astonished to learn all the minute and
details of the science of duelism. The care
they take in selecting and putting in order the
"irons." The bullet must fit the bore to a nj.
Getty. The flint Uhere were no percussion caps
invented then) examined picked and warran-
ted sure. The powder, the first London duel
ing, had to undergo the process of warming
and drying, in a clean white crockery plate, o.
yer 'chaiing.dish or furnace of charcoal, from
thence transferred to sheet of white paper
and minutely examined by microscope, grain
by grain, and every mote, or particle ofextrane
Gus matter, removed, before it was rammeC
down the pistols throat, to propel with the ce
lerity of lightning, the deadly ball. 1t being
sors of the art since, to draw the antagonist
fire.
Randolph's beheviour to young members
whose maiden speeches were indicative o
friendship to the Executive, was extremely il
liberal. He was sure to bear down upon then
with supercilious and personal invective an'
bitter sarcasm. In fact, he put me in mind u
breaking-in colts. lie would spring upon thel
backs, with whip and spur, and the more the
plunged and reared and stove ahead, the NOR
he gave them the lash and spur, until, having
given them a thorough sweat, and taken o.
their fiery edge, he would dismount, and leav
them gentle and wel.broken political hacks
Sometimes, however he would meet with hi
MATCH in some tull-blooded foal, that proved re
:, stiff, or to use one of his words, "lmpractico
ble." Among them was Geo. McDufhe OF
Carolina. believe Mr.. McDutfie made his d {
but in the Session of 1919. Randolph, wh
: watched his motions, having heard some sent
:, ments from the young orator, rather unpalat'
:. Bile, undertook as usual, to give hm sma
: check. Med. replied in the usual vein OF h
-, bitter irony, and although he did not commit
breach OF the rules of order by alluding TO ii
;, gentleman from Virginia by name, yet he su
,, posed case, directly the reverse ofa gentlema
"A of high sense of honor and generosity OF fee
N ing, who, instead of quietly encouraging al
b. sustaining the first rude attempts OF his tello
!, servants on the floor, did all he could to bro'
IL beat, expose aud put them down. He paint
~ such conduct in the blackest colors of ihdigna
to eloquence. The House, by sympathy, cordl'
ed ly responded to every syllable he uttered. Ra
IN doph left his seat during its delivery, and sto
bv NcD in q menancing attitude, and dema