The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-02-02
Letter from John Randolph.

The Rev Sepiimus Tusin has commu-
nicated TO the Washington Union. the fol.
lowing hitherto unpublished letter from the
eccentric but highly intellectual orator of
Virginia, the Hon. John Randolph OF
Roanoke. 1t was written to his alfbrother,
the Hon. Henry St. George Tucker:
The Letter.
May He who has the power, and al
ways the will. when earnestly. humbly
and devoutly entreated. support and com
fort yop, my brother! | shall not point to
you the treasures that remain to you in
your surviving children, and their mother.
dearer than all these put together. No;
| have felttoo deeply how little power have
words that play round the head 10 reach
the heart when It's sorely wounded The
common places of consolation are at
tongues end of all the self.complacent and
satisfied. from the pedant priest to the
washerwoman. (They who don't fell can
talk.) abjure them all. The father OF
Lord Russell. when condoled with accord.
ing to form, by the book, said 81 would
not give my dead son for any other mans
living" May this thought come home
to your bosom, too; but not on the same
occasion. May the spirit of God. which
is not the chmera OF heated brains. nor
device ofartful men to frigh,en and cajoe
the credulous. but is as much an existence
that can be felt and understood as the
whisperiDgs Of your own heart. or the love
you bore to him that you have lost-may
the Spirit, which is the comforter. shed his
influence upon your soul, and incline your
heart and understanding to the only right
way. which is that of life eternal! Did
you ever read Bishop Buffers Analogy?
If not will send it to you. Have you
read the book?-What | say upon this
subject not onl y believe, but know to
be true-ihat the Bible. studied with an
humble and contrite heart. never yet failed
to do its work even with those who from id.
iosyncracy or disordered minds have con.
ceived that they were cut off from its promi-
ses Of a life to come.
"Ask and We shall receive; seek and We
shall find; knock and it shall be opened
unto you" This was my only support
and stay during years of misery and dark.
ness; and Just as had almost begun to
despair, after more than ten years of peni-
tence and prayer, it pleased God to en-
able me TO see the truth, to which until my
eyes had been sealed. TO this vouch.
statement have made the mos, migrate
iul returns. But would not give up my
slender portion OF the price paid for our
redemption-yes, my brother, our redemp-
tion-the ransom Of sinners-of all who do
not hug their chains and refuse to come
out from the house of bondage--l say that
| would not exchange my little portion in
the Son Of David for the power and glory
ofthe Parthian or Roman empire, as de-
scribed by Milton in the temptation of our
Lord and Savior. not Tor all with which the
enemy tempted the Savior of man.
This is the secret Of the change OF my
spirits. which all who know me must have
observed within few years past. After
years spent in humble and contri,e entreaty
that the tremendous sacrifice on Mount
Calvary might not have been made in
vain for me, the chieiest OF sinners, it
pleased God to speak his peace into my
heart-that peace of God which passeih
all understanding to them that know itnot,
and even to them that do. And although
! have now as then, to reproach myself
with time misspent and faculties misen.
ployed; although my condition has on more
than one occasion resembled that OF him
who. having one evil spirit cast out, was
taken possession Of by seven other spirits
moro wicked than the first, and the frs,