The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-02-07
JOHN RANDOLPH, OF ROANOKE.


JOHN RANDOLPH, OF ROANOKE.
The annexed extract from the biographical sketch
Of Mr.. Randolph, by Lemuel Sawyer, Is PROBABLY,
in the main fair portrait of the orator OF Koa-
nOke: n sa@s
description of Mr.. Randoph's character Thshas
been, in a Partial manner, developed, as We have
proceeded by degrees to unfold his political and pr
vate life that the reader may already form loe
rable estimate of his pretensions in the two fold rea
ton in which he has been presented Take him all
in all, he was man whose like we may never see
again He was sui generis and, such, it is next
to impossible for the biographer to classify fix his
proper rank in the scale of human destiny. 1t is diff
hcut to find parallel (the usual recourse Of Plu-
tarch and his successors) to draw comparison be-
tween him and any known parsonage in ancient or
modern times, as more familiar and nvariable
standard from which to infer their respective merits,
and thus form correct and impartial decision
From what is known and admitted by juxtapostion
contrast, we might be enabled by induction to learn
what was before unknown. He was elevated so high
above his contemporaries by the greatness and orgna
lity of his genius like winged Mercury new lighted
on heaven-kssing HILL as we'll as from his strong
arisocratic prejudces, his pride aud selfish qualities
that we are not permitted to approach near enough
to catch The delicate Ineaments OF his physiognomy.
Gas an orator, he was more splendid than solid
politician, he wanted the profound views Of a
great statesman, and larger stock Of patience, gen
tleness, and pliaby, to lead and guide party sue.
cessfully in its struggle for power, while he was too
intolerant and indocile to be led by one or to go
through the drilIings and discipline required as reg
ular in the ranks. lie was incapable Of the confne
ment the application, and the drudgery Of Office
His genus use one Of his favorite figures (Which
is not original, but borrowed from Swft,) might be
compared to fnc-edged knife used for the common
purpose of severng paper that apt to slip or turn
aside from the right line, and endanger the hand Of
the operator while man of lore moderate Abilities
but of business habits who might be ikened an ivory
folder, will 60 through the task smoothly and steadily
though of duller edge Or more homely material
He wanted consistency Of political conduct well
uniform and acknowledged code of principles, and
no party could durHS .the short period of his fortu
tous Junction, calcH,, Upon any two successive
votes, when the emergency arose that required them
He possessed of fine taste for literature-a ge
neral reader, ripe Scholar" particularly in the
department of Bellies Lettres-by which acquire
ments he well supplied with apt illustrations to
embelsh and enrich his oratory. He levied his
tributions from the wide dominons Of ancient and
modern literature with the undsputed authority Of
a cunqueror, which he stored away in his capacious
memory, as an nexhat.stibe magazine, to distribute
with judicous discrimination upon every subject that
in debate Although, in the course Of his long
polit cal career of more than thirty years. he spoke
volumes and some OF mis- speeches towards the close
of it were rather verbose and irrelevant yet he ne
YER failed during some pa OF them to arouse and as
by SMILES, "scne thoughts that breathed and words
that burned some beautiful and striking metaphor,
and most m Sllihuous and harmonious periods. Even
now in residing those speeches, Gal though much is
lost in their delvery,) while we may have tn pene-
tratc through heap of cha f any thing Of his may
be so abused in terms) in reaching the kernel or
grain are abundantly rewarded in the richness, il
not in the abundance of the product He listen
ed e., with undvid d attention-and although the
mind. might not be chained and carrie. captive
in the triumphant march Of gigantic intellect,
by .he depths of research and the force of
ing, yet was it fascinated, won, and unresistng-
ly carried along, as by SPELL by the ease the grace,
fe huency, and the pleasing emphatic delivery Of the
SPEAKER. His salIes of wit, his biting sarcasm, bis
}appy retoIts, and home thrusts-his satirc turn
fhls play full humor-rendered him agreeable
and popular speaker than Others who were more Sc.
and elaborate. Ii ridicue be the test Of truth
he had most effectua way Of drawing her into the
light of all the orators of his day. He possessed the
rare art OF trying the measures and the opinions of
the prominent men to whom it was his destiny to be
regularly opposed, by that touchs one, and by il TO
hold them up to the dersi n OF the people.
With this powerful lever be could shake, if not move
from its foundations, any Administration. That il
contributed in small degree subvert that Of the
second Adams, no man doubts who witnessed his C.
peated and dexterous attacks, and observed the effects
OF his peculiar mode Of warfare The public were
but gra6ed spectators OF these exhibitions of this
successful combatant upon the political arena while
the Senate chamber was become a national amphi-
theatre from which to enjoy them, from that weak
ness, not to call il depravty of human nature, that
derives an innate pleasure at the sight of suffering
misfortune in Others while itself remains secure from
harm or danger He delighted in opposition-it was
his element, bis pabu.n of political existence. He
could not SWIM with the current but preferred 10 buffet
aid to breast IT manfuy and unyeldingy. "The cle-
ments were so mixed in him, thatit is difficult for
eny one TO hold him up TO the world and say "lhis
was man. and challenge lis confirmation. He
was not much respected as politician, nor beloved
as a man. His friends feared him TOO much 10 love
him for, although these two passions may be blend
ed in the same breast regards an infinite being il
is most difficult task to unite them as an offering on
the altar Of private friendship.
The tenure of bis frirndship's assurance was too
frail to render it sincere or ardent The many sud-
den transitions his part from avowed friendship to
its oppost tie, upon trivial and unsatisfactory grounds,
rendered the enlistment Of new recruits in his ranks
too discouraging to keep them supplied and thus he
was left in the sad predicament Of diving almost
frendless. He appeared to be too far removed be-
yond the common sphere Of human attraction (while
he reyolved in most eccentric one) TO receive the
genial warmth of friendship, and too frigid and
pulsive 10 communicate it in turn. Yet, in listening
10 his conversation or In pesDg his letters, you find
he employs all the terms and expressions consecrated
to the service of that holy passion To his young
latiyes, SINE OF whom he bad educated, he breathed
at times the warmest professions of affection; and,
for short periods, during the innocence and unsus-
pecting gu leessness of their boy hood they received
more substantial proofs of It. He left them nothing
out Of his immense fortune, but preferred dispose
of it caprclously to others, or to the supererogao
ny foundation of a college. We may be asked,
were there no virtues, rcdeeming qualities
in the character of Mr.. Randolph, as coun-
terbaance to this long array Of antagonist
ones II were hardly credible that there were not
We forced to admit of a negative kind -
His charity which, from his means and his leading
life of single blessedness, he could have well and
abundantly dispensed, went beyond the proverb, by
not only beginning at home, but ending there. His
appetite for money as In all similar cases, increased
with the food il fed on, till it grew Unsuitable. How
els can account for his acceptance OF the Russian
mission with the mental and physical dsanali