Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-11-18
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch.
,n'Aae ayo Conventions.

From fhs Richmond Odlty DispGte1
,n'aao two Conventions.
The Convention now sitting in the Capitol ls
composed of able men, yet its proceedings do
mol command the same interest with those OF It's
predecessor OF 1929. Ii was new thing then
the signal of change was not pefpaualiy sound |
ing in our ears. Men cane here TO see what
they never seen before, and what IN all proba-
billy they might never see again. Besides the
body was so auqust-it comprised sach al I'm.
msnse number OF great natnes--the curiosity d.
lone was motive sufficiently powerful to I'LL the
Hall with au eXpecant multitude There many
for the first tine beheld james Madison, the
Nes,or of the Covention-the pride OF three gene
ratons oil Virginans, ! The example ofiha fourth.
There was to be seen James Monroe, the COM
panion and friend of Jefferson and Madison -
There many eyes for the first time dIllted with
pleasure. as it fell upon the tail figure OF John
Marshall the Judge who, in his own person, |
united the private worth OF a Hale, tine public
integrity OF Holt. and the talents OF Mans |
field There, leaning on his crutches, and sn! |
fcring from recent illness, the curious beholder
might observe Giles, the hero Of many parlia
1nentary combat, in none OF which he ever met
his superior, his mind triumphng over the suf
ferings of his body, and leaving him still what
he had been said to be i'll his ramy days, the
most expert debaier that ever spoke the English
language, with the exception OF Charles James
Fox. There Chapman Johnson, the Ajax Tela- |
mon of the West, spread bis broad shield and
opposed his single arm to the united foFces OF
the East. There many for the first time had an
opportunity of seeing the great champion Of the
sea board TaZeweil There Morris, & Upahur, |
Doddridge, and Cooke, and host OF others,
either Of whom would be a giant in these degen-
crate DAYS, thronged around their several stan
dards.
But tho man who commanded most interest Of
all-vho was literally the hero of Of the Con-
vention-to whom every eye was turned, and
whose slightest motion was watched with in
tense anxiety, was John Randolph His repuia
ton was probably more widely spread than that
of any other in the Convention, with the eXCep |
ton of the two ex-Presidents, and the Chief jus
tice-he was known to be an unrival'ed orator
but, as vet, he had been heard by comparative |
Nv few Viroinians. His career had been nation |
al, and he had never been in the State Leels'a-
ture. The anxiety to hear MIN among all class
es of persons strangers as well as citizens, a.
mounted almost to phrenzy. Many persons
greatly to their own Inconvenience, remained in
town days longer than they would otherwise
have been induced to do. It was supposed that
he would answer Chapman Johllson's first great
speech, and crowd thronged to the Capitol
such as we never saw before and never ex- !
pect to see again. Ladies We're absolutely pack
Hall. There was 10 room even to breathe, |
much less turn around. From some unaccolnta-
bla caprice, upon that day, he condescended not |
to speak and the crowd retired, as much disap- |
pointed as though they had been to see a. man
hung, aud had been cheated of the spectacle BY |
the ill-timed eemency Of the Governor. An
other day and still another day passed, and the |
oracle continued dumb Al last-when no body |
was expecting it-Whan the lobby and the gal |
l,,;o !,,oSt Tod WI
winded speaker had Just concluded a teious |
harangue he rose slowly from his seat, aud pro-
nounced the words :: Mr.. S7eakerW New
er have we seen two words produce the same
effect. We had entered the Hall but few
mnutes before, and we had met scarcely man
in our way. We no not believe there were
dozen persons visible in the streets, from the
windows of the Capitol. Where the crowd
came from, or how they got intelligence that
Randolph had the floor, we could never learn.
But it poured in like the waters OF the ocean,
when the dyke gives way. Persons who we're
on the street afterwards informed Us that they
saw persons running from all quarters, aud not
being able to find where they We're running to,
fell in with, and assisted to form the multitude
that streaned 10 tbs Capitol Notwithstanding
the immense crowd, the audience WAS Still
az death, save when il INDUCED itself in shouts
of laughter. The clear eHunciation OF the speak
er enabled every one to hear every word he ut
tered, while his admirable acting charged his
most airy nothngs into golden preceps. Never
before did we so clearly comprehend the force OF
the Demosthenian faction action" The uiac-
countabie briliancy OF Mr.. Randolph's eyes
their petritying effect upon those on whom he
chose to fix them, in anger or disdan-the
melody of his inmitable voice--his tall I'M
earthly looking fieure and the shake OF his bony
finger, have been often described: but no man
w no never heard him aud saw him speak can
form the slightest conception Of hat he was
A person who was deeply prendced against
him, said to us when he sat down that day,
"sgood God what an orator ~ and another de-
.clareI that he believed he was inspired.