Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-01-16
STAUNTON, VA, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16 1849A
AN INTERESTING SCRAP OF HISTORY.

Every newspaper reader remembers The folly o
Lieut.. Randolph, who pulled the nose ofGen. Jack
son while he was President of the United States
This gentleman is relative of the late John Ran
dolph, of Roanoke.
The cause of his anmosity against Gen. Jackson
was the fact that The old General refused to TAKE
his part when he was accused Of being defaulte
to the United States On the other hand, being
deeply ncensed at some part of Lieut.. Randolph
conduct, Gen. Jackson ordered him to be court mar
tailed, on charges of defalcation. He was founo
not guilty, we believe; bnt, as the result was no
satisfactory to the hero Of The Hermitage, he revers
ed the decision, and struck out the name of Lieut.
Randolph from the lis. of the navy. Indignant al
The treatment he received, Lieut.. Randolph wrote
vehement letter to the President denying his pow
er to remove him, but at once rendered his commits
sion to Mr. Madison then the late President Of the
United States, from whose hand he received it,
| Lieut. Randolph avowed that his injuries should
not 90 unavenged and, at last, he adopted des-
perate step TO crafty his thirst fur vengeance.
In the year 1882 Gen. Jackson was invited to
preside at the erection of monument TO perperate
the memory Of" Martha, the mother Of Washing.
ton," which had been given by Sas E. Burrows,
Of this city, The ceremonial was 10 take place near
lUe CITY VI FI6uollChouuISt
The old soldier was on his way down the Poto-
mac when the boat stopped at Alexandra. A crowd
of persuns rushedo board to greet him. Among 9th
ers, an individual, stranger to the General. in an
undress naval uniform, approached him, and was
deliberately taking of his gloves, when the Geler-
al, coureously holding out his hand, requested The
stranger not to trouble imself but the latter after
removing his gloves, instead of seizng the rendered
hand quickly snatched and cfuched the nose of The
ohjec, OF his vengeance. A dozen swords Immedi-
ately leaped from their scaboards and several per-
sons sprung al the stranger but the General threw
them all aside, and rushing towards his assailant,
exclaimed: "Stand off, stand off-let me get at
the scoundrel-let nobody interfere" In the melee
however, Randolph was hurried off the boat.
Immediately after Lieut. Randolph had complet-
ed the desecraton he neditated on the President
and he pulled it 50 hard and SO long that it bled
most profusely---he deliberately walked ashore
mingled with the crowd, and no attempt was made
TO arrest him. He had simply committed an assault
and battery fJr the snoat Of President is moi a
whit more sacred than that which ornaments face
of any other citizen.
| The affair created great deal of excitement at
The time the conduct of Randolph was denounced
by all parties and instead of bettering his condi-
tun, he only rendered it enfold more desperate and
hopeless. From the year 1882 up to 1887, during
The whole of which period Gen. Jackson was in
possession ofthe Presidency, he often visited Wash
ington, and no attempt was made TO arrest him.
His place Of family residence was near Fredericks-
burg, Virginia, where, with the exception Of occa-
siUnal visits 10 the capital, he lived in comparative
solitude on little farm, his only companion being
heroic wife, when every body else seemed to have
deserted him united her fortunes with his and soO,h
| ed his misSorunes and notifications by her gentle
influence. The manners Of Lieut.. Randolph, like
those Of all his family, were very eccentric. He
knew nothing Of the world, and held but little con-
verse with it. His chief amusement, was walking
in the secluded woods, with large saf'in his hand
and communing with himself. He has always a
voided society, and but few of his nearest neghbors
have known him even by sight. Sill, he isa mild
and amicable gentleman, though sensitive and quick
10 oresent an injury.