Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-09-12
From the Martinsburg Gazette.
JOHN RANDOLPH AND HENRY CIAY.-AN
INTERESTING INCIDENT

CHARLES JAMES FAULKNER, ESQ, i'm his
speech at Gerardstown on the Sd ult.. while
commenting in eloquent and indignant terms
upon the movements of the Disunionists u,
the South, related an incident i'm the life OF
John Randolph, SO crcd,able to the magma
nimty of that celebrated man, and so Jus, and
honorable to the fame Of Henry Clay. that we
have deemed it worthy of being preserved
and placed before the public. 1t is well known
shat the personal relations between those two
remarkable men were not of the kindest char
acter, but unfortunately the reverse. Ii is
equally well known, that as politicians they
were invariably arrayed against each other
the opposition OF Mr.. Randolph at times as
Stunning the most virulent character, as i'm
lSl2-13-previous 10 and during the war
and whilst MIR. Clay Secretary Of State
And yet, in the last public address ever made
by Mr.. Randolph to the People-in a speech
in the County OF Buckingham-dur the
tendency Of that fearful struggle between the
State of South Carolina and the Federal Gov
eminent, when one rasi. and indiscree. act Of
violence might have involved this Country in
the horrors of civil war, and led TO the dis
memberment of the Confederacy-and when
every patriotic eye watched the progress of
events with the deepest solicilude-the OPP
portunitv occurred which that gentleman
availed himself of to d. justice to the charac-
ter OF his great and distinguished opponent In
the course of his speeciDhe is reported TO
have said
"Gentemen, | am filed with the most
gloomy apprehensions for the fate of the I'm
ION. cannot express TO you how deeply |
am penetrated with sense of the danger
which at this momen, threatens its existence.
If Madison filled The Executive Chair, he
might be bulied into some compromise. II
Monroe was i'll power, he might be coaxed
into some adjustment of this dniculty-But
Jackson is obstinate, head-strong, and fond of
fight, fear matters must come TO an open
rupture. If so, this Union is gone" Then
pausing Tor near minute, raising his finger in
that emphatic manner so peculiar 10 his ac-
ton as speaker, and seeming as it were to
breathe more freely, he conlnued-s There
rs one man, and one man only, ach0 can sape
THIS Union That man is HENRY CLAY.
k7,o'c he has The pOuer--I beHeue he aciH
De found 10 haze The patriotism and Grmncss
cqmal TO the occaSion''
Shortly after this, Mr.. Randolph proceeded
on through Washington TO Philadelphia
where in the course Of few months he died.
lie arrived iii the former city after the Com
promise Bill had passed. Deeply impressed
=
Clay had just rendered the Country, he had
himself conveyed 10 the Senate Chamber, then
too plainly exhibiting in his face and appear
ance the ravages of that fatal disease to which
I he was so soon to fall victim, where these
two brilliant rival orators and prodigally gift
ed lavortes of Nature met for the last time
AS Mr. Clay approached to salute him Mr.
Randolph said
"Mr. Clay, you perceive am dying-Ye s
sir, am dying, but, thank God, have strength
enough yet left 10 return you my poor ac-
acknowledgements COR having saved the Union
| This incident we understood Mr. Faulkner
10 say he derived, during recent visit TO the
city of Richmond, from Thomas Miller, O.
Powhatan-one who FOR many years ENJOYED
the intimacy and friendship of Mr.. Randol pin
and upon whose accuracy the utmost reliance
could be placed.
/ The relation of this Interesting incident in
the life of Mr.. Randolph by Mr.. Faulkner
produced marked effect upon his audience
and seemed to inspire the speaker himself
with an increased love for The Union. and lis
great defender, GlENRY CLAY.