The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-16

all ms sky. Dreary, uesoih'e' un'n,
is no word in our language, or any other' 'na'
can express the misery of my life l drag ON
ike a tired captiye at the end of slave chain
in an African castle | go because ] must.
No punishment except remorse, can exceed the
misery feel"
Such was the language Of the man who was
enhancing admiring Senates, and enchanting
the attention of the world, by his defence Of the
State Rights theory of government. Honored,
caressed, successful brilliant yet most misera-
BILE The yulture was prcying upon his vitals.
But what had become of his religion! Our
| bographer does not inform us; nor does he
| give any reason for withholding the information
we so much desire
From 1921 to 1888, while in the Senate, in
the House of Representatives, supporting the
Administration, leading the opposition, in fierce
debate, and on the field of blood, although the
best shot in Virginia" refusing to shoot Henry
Clay, his old enemy, because he had "a wife
and children, to shed tears over his grave, IN
the Virginia Convention, revising the Constitu-
ton, in Russia, and in constant eplstolary cor
respondence with his friends, nothing more
appears respecting his religious opinions or
experience. Strange phenomenon! What a
blank in the history Of great man! Nothing
more appears, except the single sentence, Z" l
have looked to the Lord Jesus Christ and hope
have obtained pardon"
In 1921, he wrote the long-contested WILL
giving his slaves their freedom. To this will
there was added codicH in 1926, another in
1928, another in 1881, while in London, be-
queathing three thousand pounds, to enable his
executor to carry into execution his will respect
ing his slavcs; and in his dying hour he gath
cred witnesses around him, and, in the most
solemn manner, confirmed the directions made
in his will concerning his slaves; and yet
during all this time, in public speeches and
private correspondence, he was the advocate of
African slavery, or, rather, the opponent of
emancipation. He was ready to hazard every
thing in defence of the rights of the South.
He would admit no compromise on the Missouri
question. 81 now appeal to this nation, whether
this pretended sympathy for the rights of a few
negroes is to supersede the rights of the free
white population, of ten times their whole num-
Der" Look at the relation of master and
slave, THAT opprobriunl, in the opinion of some
gentlemen, to all civilized society and all free
government3 there are few stations in life
where friendships 40 strong and 50 lasting are
, formed, as in that yerv relation Eccentric
man. An~idiosyncracy all his life How true
his own oft-releate6 eadamaSion. Sss ll,55iio1 (!
she only knew me" Many, says his biogra-
pher who protested to know him, could not
comprehend the "hair-trigger' sensibility of the
man.
Mr.. Garland claims that Randolph by the
defence of the doctrine of State rights, saved
the Union; his mastery defence having pre-
pared the extremes to acQuiesce in the COM
promise. His mastery efforts arrested that
centripetal tendency which was destroying the
hal of tha Stot -. Ia al
the midst of battle, but not until the victory
had been won the States and the Union in
perfect harmony, moving
Like star that maketh not haste,
That taketh not rest
Each one fulfilling
His given hest"
We care not to attempt an estimate of the
merits and dement's of Randolph's political
character. 1t is his mental and moral history
which attracts our attention. His history is an
interesting one--scarcely less so than that of
lgnatius Loyola, and scarcely less mysterious
We have studied it profoundly, but in vain.
We do not cannon comprehend him If his
mother ever did, it was before his character
was matured (0-peruerted-fo she died while
he was in his fifteenth year. "Cut off in the
bloom Of youth and beauty he ever retained a
most vivid and imprisoned remembrance of
her person, her charms and her virtues He
always kept her portrait hanging before him
in his chamber
Webster, Clay CalhOun--their character has
n unity, transparent simplicity; that of RAN
dolph as contradictory as the changing winds
lie said of himself III hare been sick all ma
life" He often looked back to tho days Of
youth, rendered dear by the recollectiOns of
"love and friendship, love- blighted love!
b,r ad 4
exclaimed,
days of my cherished youth,
When, all unfet Times footsteps fell
And all unheeded flew
Dreams of the morn of life, farewell! long a
last farewell"
That he was great, admits no question. From
youth to old age, he was Virginia. favorte and
honored son. From the Administration of the
elder Adams to that of jackson, he was an en-
inent and successful politician, for all the
illustrious statesmen of the nation during his
long career, were his warm friends or bitter
enemies " for detraction will follow merit, as
shadow follows the sum- 1t was one of his
maxims given as advice to young friend,
Make yourself useful to your friends and
Troublesome to your enemies"
For long period he was the leading advo-
cate and defender of the State rights doctrine
the doctrine of Patrick Henry, George Morrow
and Jeferson-a germ which, planted in Vir-
ginia, blossomed in Massachusetts during the
embargo, and at later period produced its
matured fruits in South Carolina, during the
Administration of General Jackson: a mighty
tree, whose roots, stretching across the CONT
nent spreads its branches from the Bay to the
PALMETTO State, and scatters its fruits over all
the land
A statesman, an orator, n debater, "a writer.
a friend and an enemy he proved himselfequal
TO every duty and every emergency for he was
cordial and earnest in all that he did
tie was brilliant erratic genius, a wander
ing comet inilamed iniammabe, inflamine
everything he touched. The fiery star was
in the ascendant Mt his birth, and pursued him
through life, both as destroying element and
subtle, Promethean flame, consuming the soul
1t is remarkable coincidence that his birth
place the cherished home of his childhood and
the house in which he spent the first fifteen
years OF his manhood-Cawsons Matoax. and
Bi1arre-were all in succession, consumed bv
fire.
1t is not strange that such fiery spirit
should be cordial hGter But it is pleasant to
learn that he could forgive an enemy. His duel
with Clay has been adverted TO- He deter
mined to receive his enemy's fire but not To re-
turn 1T In vain were the remonstrances Of his
friends. He carried out his purpose, and Clay's
wrath was overcome. III trust in God my dear
sir, you are untouched after what has occur
red would moi have harmed you for thou
sand worlds"
Nor was he unwilling to acknowledge the
merits of his great rival. In the last public adj
dress he ever made, during the crisis of the
Union, when hours were weeks, when all men
were awaiting the conflict between the General
Government and the State of South Carolina