The Arkansas banner., 1850-03-19
Rs,eIlc,tious of Jehn Randolph oi Roanoke
sr BILLY BIRD.

BT BILLY BIRD. ! So much hss been written of this eccentric and remarkable msB, that anything nov must appear | "a twice told taie;" however, my acquaintance with au old gentleman. iong since gone. who ;rea- sarsd up eyeey saying of hs early friend gave Ene au opportunity of hearing of many of his ''oG- diiies.'
 Randolph is dress and appearance ai the ago ol thirty five yesfs appeared liae lsd of egbtesn. tl was not much what said. bat ihe speaker < uiaBneF aad appearances, that gave il such wits- eriRg fOsce-ge neraiiy, if not always ia debate. pointing his skiRny finger with iuaerous aud feei- ing effect. Randolph had itIle opposition for his seat iH Congress fre The Charlotte dssFlet aud felt in tse confidence of his constituents, when, to his snFprsc be foaad no humble com Iet;tor for his congressional honOrs in tiIe PcfscA Of John w. EPp1s, backed by the infaeacs of Mf. Jefferson. his father ia-aw, It was dssing . de- bate with this gentleman before arEe aadience Of hts constituents ia the county of Charlotte, Va , that RauAuiph in his own peculiar manner and shrill voice, asked, and several times repeated the question-"W Why do you wish 10 turn out, fst low -citizens'" Hs mach ihdulyed in tls SocratIc mode of debate.
 1 For some moments all was siill-nons daring to reply, when about again to ask the question, old farmer, near meish5or of BandoipI's and re- markable for coarse, gdttural voice, loudly re- piied--
 "I'iI tell you why VIC wish 10 tara you out, Mir. Randolph
 "Hhy, sir1'' says Raodolph "BecAnse," the old man rejoined, ''i've always hestn it was best change rams and overseers every seven years."
 The ludicreus reply, we expected, caused bursts of laugher in which none Ioined more hear tily iian did Randolph. and such was the eject that be scarcely recovered from il 10 proceed. IL so pleased him by it's pure originality, that the old maa found on tie next day barrel of the best apple brandy at his door, present from Mr. K, and invitation dine with him. which he rarely tended to any
 A, this time also. he with great force and effect, such he alone could wied, compared Mr. Eppes, 10 a tin. whistle, which sounded only such blasls MT. Jefferson choosed to blow. ksndoph ever seemed 10 have aa aversion, whea speaking to De hecrd by ladies.
 IL was during the session of the Virginia Con- veution ol which he a member, that large crowd had assembled, among it maOy ladies, pa tirndy waiting io near htn a subject ia wbich he was kHowa 10 be interested. It was Besr , o'clock P. A. befors lis long laak form was seen qackly ts pop up from iis seat. The hum Of voices instantly hashed, all listening for the
 first words of his speech. Looking around for some time, he said:
 ''i do net feel, MT. President, that this conven lion is suitable place for ladies' snd mus, plainly
 
 will make them move" II was enough. the galleries were cleared of the ladies in double quick time, when h. proceeded. 4 gentleman tmy old aud lamentej sch0ol- mas rer) told that hss had been, standiag some five hours ia the hall. waiting 10 haar Randolph. and had become almost tired cut, but when he com Heneed his fatigue seemed suddenly 10 iesve him. aud rich was 1he repast, 'sach ieas, of reason and flow of soal,' that ne would willingly have resaaiasai Eve hoaFs after its ceHeiusfon. His sarcastic reply 10 John Hamdsn .Pleasants, a'e editor Of the Richmond Whig is very geae- rally known, but the circumstances attending it may not be uninteresliug.
 Daring a speech ia Congress, be had been 30 bit- ter ana violsnt ia his attack upon the editor oi the Richmond Nhig, as to induce Mir. Peasants to proceed to Washington to give him cowhiding Mir Ple&ssnts had barely gotten on PsnDsy ivania Avenue waen he bsheld Randolph appro ching and wishing to provoke hiin, he placed himself directly iii his path, and insutingiy remarked: 'i never give way for scoundrei." Quick thought, and with great suayity and nonchaance of manaer, Randolph passed around hiP, replying:
 "i always do. sir"
 So good was the retort that it dsarrned Pieasanis who ever enJoyod good loke-and he stood laughing while Randolph qaiety pursued his way as if nothing had happened. Peasants tod this l0ke as the best he enjoyed. RaaGeiph claimed to be the | neal descendant of PoeaI,anias. ths Indian Princess and hs relations sui claim 10 be Indian origin II was during a debate in Congress that RsEGoiph asked solne mem- Der who had been shoemaker, what Ie had done with his leather aprou 10 which the gentie man quickly and Pi,hiy replied '.that he had sold il 10 make moceasins for his tRsadoiphl Indian kin,' continuing that had NIT. R. been shoemaker be would have remained one.''
 Randolph admitted the point of this reoiuder, and sai:
 This gentlemans tongue is liae kitchen case knife, wheited oa bfick cuts rough aud deep" Ghis the celebrated Hardia, of Kentucky. l believe, oi whom Davy CrocketI's Almanac often speaks.