Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-04-27

reference, doubtless, to that early blight of love
which clouded all his sky. "Dreary, desolate,
dismal! There is no language, or any other, can
express the misery of my life. l drag on like a
tired captive at the end of Save chain in an
African castle. l 60 because must. No pun
ishment, 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 miserable.
The vulture was preying upon his vitals. But
what had become of his religion! Our biogra-
pher does not inform U.S. Nor does he give any
reason for Withholding the information we so
much desire.
From 1921 to 1923, while in the senate, in
the house of representatives supporting the adj
ministration, leading the opposition, in fierce de-
bate 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 epistolary cor
respondence with his friends nothing more APP
pears respecting his religious opinions or expc-
rience. Strange phenomenon What blank
in the history of great man! Nothing more
appears except the single sentence, 81 have OBJ
tained pardon"
During his last visit to Washington, "he went
to the senate chamber, andtook hisseat in rear of
Mr.. Clay" who happened to be addressing the
senate "Raise me up" said Randolph, 81 want
boor tbot ,.o;,, M Clo,- boy,pcr oop
cluded his remarks, and seeing Mr.. Randalph,
went to speak to him, saying, as he offered his
hand, "Mr. Randolph, l hope you are better,
sir.'' NO. sir!"' replied Randolph, Il am dying
man; and came here expressly to have this in
terview with YOU" They gasped hands and
parted to meet no more on earth. This done,
he left with lighter heart, on his way to take
passage for England; but being exposed on the
way to storm, his disease became aggravated,
and, for the first time, he yielded to a conqueror
He sleeps quetly at Roanoke-all that remains
of Virginias ill:,strious statesman and most de-
voted son.
In 1921, he wrote the long-contested will CIV
ing to his slaves their freedom. To this will there
was added codicH in 1926, another in e25,
another in 1881, while in London, bequeathing
three thousand pounds, to enable his executor to
carry into execution his will respecting his slaves;
and his dying hour, he gathers 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 oppo-
ncnt of emancipation He was ready to hazard
every thing in defence of the rights of the South.
H. would admit no compromise on the Missouri
question. 81 now appeal to this nation, wheth-
or this pretended sympathy for the rights of few
free negroes Is to supersede the rights OF the
free white population, of ten times their whole
number" Look at the relation of master and
slave (that cpprobrum in the opinion Of some
gentlemen, to all civilized society and all free
government J there are few stations in life where
friendships, so strong and so lasting are formed,
Us in that very relation" Eccentric man An
idiosyncracy all his life! How true his own Oft
repeated exclamation: "Mv mother she only
knew me-" Many, says his biographer, who
professed to know him, could not comprehend
the "hair-trigger" scnsbility of the man.
Mr.. Garland claims that Randolph, by the de-
fence of the doctrine of state rights, saved the
Union; his mastery defence having prepared
the extremes to acquiesce in the compromise.
" His mastery efforts arrested that centnpetal
tendency which was destroying the counterbal-
ance of the states" He died in the midst of
battle, but not until the victory had been won;
the states and the Union, in perfect harmony,
moving,
Like a star that makcth not haste,
That taketh not rest,
-. Each one fulfilling
His God-given hest.
We care not to attempt all estimate OF the
comparative merits and dement's of Rando!ph's
political character 1t is his mental and moral
history which attracts our attention. His histo-
ry is an interesting one-scarcey less so than
that of Ignatius Loyola, and scarcely less mys-
terious. We have studied it profoundly but in
vain. We do not, can not comprehend him.
If his mother ever did, it was before his charac-
ter was matured (')-peruerted-for she died
while he was in his fifteenth year. "Cut ott IN
the bloom of youth and beauty, he ever retained
a most vivid and inpassiorcd remembrance OF
her person, her charms ana her virtues lie al
ways kept her portrait hanging before him In
his chamber"
Webster Clay, Calhoun-their character has
unity, transparent simplicity; that OF fan-
dolph is contradictory as the changing winds.
He said of himself, "Ihare been sick aH my
lfe." lie often looked back to the days ofyouth,
rendered dear by the recolections of love and
friendship, love blighted love- deeply bnried in
his heort's inmost core" and exclaimed,