The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-16
From the ccntrnl Christian Herald.
IOHN RANDOLPH OF ROANOKE.

The orator. the statesman, the misanthroPist
the philosopher, the duellist and the CHRIsTlAN,
for nj one time. he believed himself TO DE the
subject of the grace OF God and sincerely eiic
dooyornd IN consecrate himself to the service OF
Christ 1t is to be regretted that his blogra-
ubor Mr. Garland. has not thought proper to
racnr 10 this subject again. We should love to
know how long he cherished the Christian
hone or whether indeed. he ever abandoned 1t.
Certain il is, he did not find, even in religion,
rho neace of mind so much coveted At one
time he thought he had found the source ot
happiness and his letters breathe the spirit OF
penitent and of believer: but with the cares
of public life his instability increased his I'M
pulses became more extravagant and dominant
! his misanthropic feelings became more over
| whelming, his ancestral pride and political an
/ mostly betrayed him into duel, and ne died
rs the fool dieth. with the word REMoRsE
| breathing upon his lips, and his whole soul con-
centrated in the great and good act OF his lie
! THE EMANCIPATION OF HIS SLAVES.
Though far from home, having called in wit
nesSes, his eyes flashing with unnatural hight
and his long index finger pointing toward them,
he said: Il confirm all the directions in my
will respecting my slaves, and direct them to be
enforced, particularly in regard to provision
for their support" This was the last act OF his
life AT quarter before twelve O'Clock, ON
the oath of June 1893, aged sixty years, he
breathed his last, in chamber of the City Ho-
! tel No Al Third street Philadelphia"
One word only did he utter respecting flu
ture life. or the hopes of the Christan-sub
| iects which. for many years, filed large space
in his correspondence with intimate friends. A
few hours before his death, he exclaimed, Re
morse remorse" at the top of his voice. He
called for dictionary, that ne might see the
word. None being in the room, his physician,
! DR. Parish, wrote the word on the back of one
of his cards, upon which he fixed his eyes with
great intensity exclaiming, "REMoRsE! you
have no idea what it is; you can form no idea
of it whatever it has contributed to bring me
to my present situation but have looked to
the Lord Jesus Christ, and hope have obtained
] pardon p
Restless unhappy man Three times m fin-
rope, unable to endure excitement miserable in
solitude mental activity essential to his comfort,
but that activity of mind consuming his trail
body Who will deny that man may have
within his own breast the elements of hell
How refreshing to a spirit oppressed with
sense of sin, and struggling to measure the I'M
port of the word remOrSe-how refreshing the
Christ. and hope | have obtained pardon +"
For many years John Randolph was an infdel !;
but he cherished high regard for DR.. Moses
Hoge and Rev Mr. Meade and in later years
often heard them preach To his friends, Mr.
Francis s. Kew and DR. Brockenbrough, he ex-
pressed himself fully on the subject of religion,
and at one time he professed TO have experienced
conversion He saws: "Of the necessity for for
giveness have the strongest conviction; | am
| in the worst conceivable situation MS it respects
my internal peace and future welfare ] have
! humbly sought comfort where alone it is to be
| obtained but without success The solitude of
my own dwelling is appalling to me. To me
| the world is a vast desert and there is no merit
in renOuncing it. since there is no difficulty;
better world is a necessary refuge but cannot
embrace It. My black and dismal thoughts
so weigh me down that cannot escape from
them. If there breathes creature more empty
OF enjoyment than myself sincerely pity him
My opinions daily become more unsettled, and
the awful mystery which shrouds the future
alone renders the present tOerable The dark
ness of my house has thickened into the deep
est gloom In this world all my efforts have
proved abortive; ! have no longer friend"
Such was his language, rs quoted from his
letters during the years 1916 and 1917 In
1913, his mind was in Il worse state, if possible.
Religion was the absorbing subject OF his med
itations He became the victim of the deepest
melancholy His friends endeayored to allevi-
ate the agonies of his mind but in vain. But
light shone upon the darkness-from the gloom
of hell, he mounted to the third heavens.
While ascending the Peaks of Otter, the high
est point of the Blue Ridge Mountains, he
found the Fountain of living waters. Con
| ,t,,ln .,.,l
need not give it you cannot am at last
reconciled to my God, and have assurance of
his pardon, through faith in Christ against
which the very gates Of hell cannot prevail.
Fear hath been driven ont by perfect love
NOR know that you know how feel and with
in month"; for the first time understand your
feelings and character, and that of every real
Christian. Let Meade know the glad tidings.
The consequences that have experienced that
| now feel, in that sunshine of the heart which
the peace of God that passeth all understand
ing alone can bestow. Mine has been no sud-
den change of opinion. ! can refer TO a record,
showing desire of more than nine years
standing; although, for twenty years preceding
| my feet had never crossed the threshold of the
house of prayer. The contamination of my
conversion Is owing to a variety of causes.
Real converts to Christianity agree at the same
| moment to the same facts. | now read with
relish, and understand st. Paul's EpistIes,
which, not long since, could not comprehend
Taking up a few days ago the life of John
Bunyan, find an exact coincidence in our feel
ings and opinions on this head as well as
Others
Such was the language of John Randolph
during the latter part of the year 1873 but
when he returned to public life, the intensity of
his feelings often betrayed him into intemper-
ate language and extravagant conduct and in
deed the external deformities of his character
grew more marked and striking though he
never relaxed his efforts to overcome and cor
rect the unfortunate deficiencies of his nature
In May, 1919, he compared the business and
pleasures Of life to the game of push-pin of the
little negroes at the corners of the streets and
adds Il have made a vile return for the good
ness which has been manifested towards me :;
but still cling to the cross of my Redeemer,
and with Gods aid firmly resolve to lead a
life less unworthy of one who calls himself the
humble follower of Jesus Christ Many pas
sages OF the Psalms seem written right at me.
1t is there that find my sin and sorrows de-
t picted by fellow sinner and fellow-sufferer
and there too, find consolation
: In 1920, in consequence of the excitement in
Congress ON account of the Missouri Compro-
} mise, and the unfortunate death of his friend,
Commodore Decatur, Randolph's feelings de-
he'd, Tor time the controlling influence of his
will, hs words and conduct became extrava-
CANT the nicely-balanced machinery of mind
having lost its regulation, "went whrling and
dashng IN mad disorder and the ignorant
multitude, without sympathy with his delicate
but oyertaxed sensbties proclaimed "he
man IS mdd Though there was method in
7 ms madness many facts tend to show that the
t mind had lost its balance but during the sum
mer the excitement subsidized and in November
he wasin Washington himselfagain' but more
than ever The terror OF his political opponents