The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-02-05
Case of Lieutenant Randolph.

Every newspaper reader remembers
the folly of Lieutenant Randolph, who
pulled the nose of General Jackson
while he was President of the United
States, thinking to make himself fa-
nous, but who only succeeded in be-
coming infamous. This gentleman is a
relative of the late John Randolph, OF
Roanoke.
The cause of his animosity against
General Jackson, was the fact that the
old General refused to take his part
when he was accused of being default.
er TO the United States. On the other
hand, being deeply incensed at some
part of Lieut. Randolph's conduct, Gen.
Jackson ordered him TO be court>mar.
tailed, on charges Of defalcation. lie
was found not guilty, we believe; but
as the result was not satisfactory 10 the
hero of the hermitage, he reversed the
decision, aud struck the name of Lieut..
Randol ph from the list of the navy. H.
dignant at the treatment he had re-
ceiyed, Lieut.. Randolph wrote vehe>
ment letter to the President, denying his
power TO remove him, but at once ten,
dered his commission TO Mr.. Madison
then the late President of the United
States. from whose hands he received it
Lieut.. Randolph avowed that his iniu-
rles should not go unavenged; and, a,
last, he adopted desperate step to graf.
ify his thirst for vengeance.
In the year 1882, General Jackson
was invited to preside at the erection OF
a monument, to perpetuate the memory
Of Martha, the mother Of Washing
ton, )" which had been given by Silas Z.
Burrows, of New York. The ceremonial
was to take place near the city of Fred.
ericksburg, Virginia.
The old soldier was on his way down
the Potomac, when the boat stopped al
Alexandra. A crowd of persons rush.
ed on board to greet him. Among 9TH
ers, an individual, a stranger to the
General, in an undress naval uniform,
approached him, and was deliberately
taking off his gloves. when the General
courteously holding out his hand, re,
quested the stranger not to trouble him.
self; but the latter, after removing his
gloves, instead Of seizing The rendered
hand, quickly snatched and clutched the
nose of the object OF his vengeance. A
dozen swords leaped from their scah,
oards, and several persons sprung at the
stranger; but the General threw them
all aside, and rushing towards his assail.
ant, exclaimed :-"Stand off, stand of
let me get at the scoundrel-let no.
body interfere. In the melee. how.
ever, Randolph was hurried off the boat
Immediately after Lieutenant Ran.
dolph had completed the desecra,ion he
meditated on the nose of the Presiden,
and he pulled it so hard aud so lone
that it bled most profusely-he delibe.
rately walked ashore, mingled with the
crowd, and no attempt was made to ar,
rest him. He had simply committed ar
assault and battery; for the snout of I
President is not hit more sacred thar
that which ornaments the face Of AM
other citizen.
The affair created very great excite
ment at the time the conduct of Ran,
dolph was denounced by all parties
and, instead Of bettering his condition
he only rendered IT tenfold more des
peraie and hopeless: From the yeal
1888. up TO 1887, during the whole o
which period General Jackson was in
possession Of the Presidency, he otter