Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1843-10-14
From ~ New rort Mirror
Recoalections " yohn Randolph,
OF ROANOKE.

"a 81 4
During Tho 6rst ysArs Of Mr.. Joffer-
sens presidency, party spirit ran very
high in Washinglon; the overthrow Of
lie 4etlsralists and tho elevation Of the
democrats 10 otscs, created i'll feelings
md heart EARNINGS among the more &C
E1E$e politicians, and persona! quarrcis be-
cStSe frequent Such state OF things is
|always to b dsplored; but il seems Il
BE- one. Of the Inevitable results of Stree
insti,utioass u certain periodical times.
Old England, vith all her love Of order
and law, still gives proof that a, vioien,
Nv contested elections, where the inter
es.s OF the pbople have become thorough
lly aroused, n,gM will endeavor 70 over
come right, by sppealing to blows; or,
the minoritywi somntimes court a bat
lie, with the cdds against them, sooner
than. submi, quietly to the "decrees Of
fate.
Mr. Randolph was prominent politi
clan a. tho period alluded to, aud, as his
powers Of satire were then unequalled,
he doubtless dealt his blows with an un.
spariug hand upon his political adverse
ries. He told me that during one ses
sion, when great bitterness Of party
spifst pervaded all classes, in aud Out of
Cotgress, he used to receive anonymt v :
letters every day; some threatening him
with ASSASSINATION. ard others again
warning him Of certain plots that were
.rin euabr ~, ~ niAst.him. 10 ali these
nc turned d deaf ear, andswouid make a
Jest Of them whenever he happened 10
dine or sup on the day he received them.
He was resident at that period Of
Georgetown, and the walk from the in
habiied part Of Washington to his lodg.
ings was long and dreary one
"Ona night" said he, .'alsr merry
supper with some friends, | started 10
take my loosely walk home, and had not
proceeded far before observed that
was followed. However, at first sup-
posed that some other gentleman might
be goiag the same way to bis lodgings,
and proceeded; ba, finding tina, the per
son, xhoever he was, kept exactly at
the same distance, thought | would test
the question by coming 10 a stand still
did $3.50 did he. walked on at a
more rapid pece---sc did he | then
walked slowly--Ae followed my example
Well. thinks IN DO on my guard, and
have blow for blow, any way should NJ
prove highwayman, Unfortunately, [
had neither pistol nor dirk, and i,
might be- tina, ne had both, bur had now
no alternalise--on walked alta quick
pace, hoping to meet some one, bu, no,
creature appeared to be- abroad but our,
selves! AT length began to think il
strange that my .pursuer did not attack
me, il such was his intention; when i,
jus, rs had reached the top oE The deep
descent 10 the river and old bridge, |
heard his steps quicken, and II instantly
flashed across my mind that the rascal
was waiting unit, should gain the e1pe
OF the bank, and that then he would "a
deavor ,opash me into tho rapla stream
beneath. My resolution was taken in a
moment, | Slackened my pace until he
had almost touched me, JUS, as We had
commenced the descent, aud drawing NY.
SELF up on enc side OF the read, called
s.ak u 40 ff,gs rue isitoN hptesrf s'W N.
be thonders,ruek, he gaxea an me for
second, uttered an oath In an under tone,
dashed across the bridge, and | saw no
more Of him! told the story mex, dsy,
and my friends were OF opinion that |
bad a marrow escape, aud although had
saspecsrda certuin person, W, never
could gain sufficient prcci TO accuse any
one openly: but j, was lesson 10 mo.
sir, aud did not take that wax sga'- a.
lone OF unarmed, during the remainder
oil the sessionw
This mag have been an imaginary rot
aealns, his life, bur supposing /, to have
been real one. we certainly mast give
HIM credi, for grea, presence OF nina.
he, himself, firmly believed that the man
intended TO mu rider him
Our captain was famous for "carryinc
sail" and as Randolph had never been
a, sea before, he sometimes thought Ii, /
tie less canvass would be more prudent.
ln one occasion he assembled to the deck i
with some difficulty, as the ship was roll.
ing from side to side. and having hailed
the captain exclaimed,
~~f.s&A1s - - " w utiuGfStWao 0lt Il
parts Of navigation thoroughly but one"
s"Wha, is hat, Mr., RANDOLPH" asked
the captain.
Taking in sail. sir!' rejoined Ran
dolph.
The captain laughed at his fears, and
told him that he would not lose bolt
rope during the passagn-and neither
did he. Helook great pride in exhibit
ING his intimate knowledge OF The most
important light houses---princpal head
lands-lsti,ude aud longitude OF differ.
en places, which, once having learned,
he had never torgotten. Even the cap.
tain, navigator as be was. could not com.
rele with him from mrmory. Be, after
bet was made belween them about light
houses, head lands, &C., but Randolph
was always the winner. One instance /
will give. Two Or three days belorexwe
made the land, We were sitting on deck
watching The captain, who was taking an
observation. After he had finished the
usual calculation, Randolph said to him,
"Pray, captain, wha, do you make our
latitude 10 bein
The captain told him.
sand what is oar longitudes"
The captain gave il 40 him.