The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-11-27
John Randolph andsHenfy
Clay.

AN INTERESTING INcIDENT Charles
J. Faulkner, Esq, in his speech at Ger
ardstown on the Sd instant, while COM
menting in eloquent terms upon the move
ments of the disunionists at the South re-
lated an incident in the life of John Ran
dolph, so creditable to the magnanimity of
that celebrated man, and so lust and
honorable to the fame of Henry CLAW, that
We have deemed it worthy Of being pre-
served and placed before the public. Il
IS well known that the personal relations
between these two remarkable men were
not of the kindest character, but unfortu-
nately the reverse. 1t is equally well
known, that as politicians they were in
variably arrayed against each other-the
opposition of Mr.. Randolph at times as
Stunning the most virulent character, as in
lSl2-'I3-previous to and during the
war--and whilst Mr. Clay was Secretary
ofState. And not, in the last public adj
dress ever made by Mr. Randolph to the
Peoplc-in a speech in the county of
Buckingham-during the pendenvy Of
that fearful struggle between the state Of
South Carolina and the Federal Govern
ment, when one rash and indiscrect act Of
violence might have involved this C untry
in the horrors of civil war, and led TO the,
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the Confedracy-and
when every patriotic eye watched the pro-
gress of events with the deepest solicit
tude--the opportunity occurred which
that gentlemen ayailed himself Of, to do
justice to the character of his great end
distinguished opponent. - In the course Of
his speech he is reported to have said -
Gentlemen | am filed with the NEST
gloomy aPprehensions for the fate of the
Union. l cannot express to you how
deeply L am penetrated with sense Of
the danger which this moment threatens
its existence. If Madison filled the Exc
cutive chair, he might be buIlied into
some compromise. If Monroe was in
power, he might be coaxed into some ad-
justment ofthis difficulty. But Jackson
is obstinate, headstrong and fond of fight.
L Tear matters must Come to an open
rupture. If so, this Union is gone
Then pausing for near minute, raising
his finger in that emphatic manner so Pc
cullar to his action as a speaker, and
seeming, as IT were to brea the more freely.
he continued There is one man only
who can save this Union. That man is
HENRY CLAY know Ne has the
power-I believe he will be found to have
the patriotism and 6rmness equal to the
OCCASION"
. Shortly after this, Mr. Randolph pro-
ceeded on through Washington TO Phil
adelphia, where i'll the course of few
months he died. He arrived in the for
mer city after the Compromise Bill had
passed.-Deeply impressed with the great
and valuable service which hr Clay had
Just rendered the country, he had himself
conveyed to the Senate Chamber, then
too plainly exhibiting in his face and ap-
pearance, the rasages of that fatal dis
ease to which he was so soon to fall
victim, where those two brilliant orators
and prodigally gifted favorites of nature
met for the last time As Mr. Clay ap-
preached to salute him, Mr. Randolph
said" Mr. Clay, you perceive | am dying.
Yes, sir, | am dying, bu: thank God,
have strength enough yet left to return you
my poor acknowledgement for having
saved the Union.
This incident, we understood Mr.
Faulkner to say he derived, on recent Wis
it to the city of Richmond, from Thorn
as Miller, of Powhattan, gentleman of
high character--One who for many years
enjoyed the Intimacy and friendship of
Mr. Randolph, and upon whose accuracy
the utmost reliance could be placed
The relation Of this interesting incl
dent in Mr. Randolph's life, by Mr. Faulk-
ner, produced marked effect upon his
audience, and seemed to inspire the
speaker himself with an increased love
for the Union and its great defender,
Henry CIay-MartiHsJurg (Va)Gdzette-