Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-05-12
From tsenton.s .crhirty Years View page ia. g
Death of John Randolph. of Roanoke.


He died at Philadelphia The SUMMER OF 1883
the scene of his early and brilliant npparaton
on the stage of public life, having commenced
his parliamentary career IN thpt CITY mnuer me
first Mr. Adams, when Congress sat there, and
when he was barely,of an age TO be admitted into
the body. For more than thirty years he was the
political meteor of Congress, b azng with und:-
m nisle splendor du ing the whole lime, and often
appearing us the planetary plague" which shed,
not war aud pestiience on nations, but agony
and fear on members. Hissarcasm was keen, re-
fined withenng-with a tend.ncy to indulge in
il; but, as lie believed, as lawful parliamentary
weapon TO effect some desirable purpose. Preten-
sion; meanness, vice, denagogisin, were the IRE.
queut subjects of tie exercise of his talent; and
when confined to them,f lie was the benelactor OF
the House. Wit and geniusall allowed him; sa-
gacity quality of Ills mind visible TO all OBJ
servers-and which give linn an intiitive insight
into the effect of The measures. During the first
six years of Mr.. Jefersons administration, he was
the ftMurat, of his pnrty, bHlliantint the charge,
aud always ready for it; and valuedin the council
as well as in the field. He was long the Chairman
of the Committee of Ways and Meaps--a place
always of labor and responsibility, aud of more
then than now, when. the elements of revenue
were less abundant; and no man could have been
placed in that situation during Mr.. Jefeson,s time
whose known sagacity was not pledge for the
safety of lis lead in the most sudden and critical
circumstances. He was of those whom That emf
nent statesman habitually consulted during the
period of their friendship, and TO whom lie care
fully comnun cated his plans before they were
given 10 The public. On his arrival at Wash ng-
ton at the opening of each session of Congress
during this period, he regularly found waiting for
hun at his established lodgings-then Crawiord's,
Georgetown-the card of Mr. Jefferson, with an
invitation TO dinner the next day; dinner ut
which the leading measures of the ensuing s=s-
sion were the principal topic. Mr.. jefferson did
not Treat in that way member in whose slgacity
he had no confidence.
1t Is not just to judge such man by ordinary
rules, nor by detached and separate Incidents in
rEI.
as whole--physcally aud mentally-ani under
many aspects, and for his entire life. He was
n yer well-a chronic victim of ill health from the
cradle to the grave. A letter rom his most init
mate and valued friend, Mr.. Mnct n written TO me
afer his death, expressed the belief that he had
never enjoyed during life Que dav of perfect h. nlth
such as we'll people enjoy. Such lfe-longSuf-
teiing must have had its effect on the temper End
on the mind; and ut had on hls-Sringing the
temper Often 10 the querulous mood, aud the state
oil his mind sometimes 10 the question OF Insanity;
a question which became judicial after his death,
when the validity of his will came TO be contested
had my o. inion ON that point, and gave ii re-
sponSby, III a DIT position only taken, 10 be read
OF the Trial of tile will; and IN which belief of
insanity, at several specified periods. was lully ex-
lresSed--with the reasons for the opinion. had
good opportunities for forming All opinion, living
III the same house with him for several yearS, hnv-
ing his confidence, and seeing him all hours Of tile
daynnd III ut. Ii also oil several occasions be-
came my duty 10 study the question with view
TO govern my conduct under critical circurustan-
ces. Twice lie applied TO me 10 carry challenges
for him. 1t would have been inhnmnn 10 have
gone out with man not in his right mind, and
critical to one's self, as any accident OH the
ground might seriously compromise the second.
My opinion was liked, OF occasional tempOriry
auerrltiOnS OF the mnd and during such periods lie
would do and say strange things but always III his
.wn way not onlylrethod, but genius in his fan
tastes; nothing TO bespeak bad heart, but only
rxuitati II and excitement. The most brilliant
Italk that il ever heard him
such OCCASIONS flow for hours (atone time seven
hours) ofcopiouswit and classic allusion-a perfect
scattering oil the diamonds OF the mind. heard
Trend reark ON one oil lheSe occasions "Ile has
dintelle cua jewelry enough here tins evening
10 equip many speakers for great orutions.' once
Sounued him on the delicate point of his own PIN
non of himseli:-cf course when he was in q per
iectly natural state, and when he had said some
thing 10 permit al approa cl tosuch subject. 1t
vas during his last visit In Wasliington two VIM
tiers before he died. 1t was in my room, in the
gloom of the evening light, the dny going
out and the lamps not lil--no present but on.
selves--he reclining on sofa, silent and thought
ful, speaking but seldom, anti only in reply,
heard him repeat If 10 himself, those lines fro
johnson (Which in fact had often heard from him
belcTe), on 'Semlity aud Imbeciity,' which shows
us life under its most melancholy lornI.
ain lies last scenes what prodieies surprise;
Fears OF tho bIave. aud Ioics OF The yyisG!
From Malboroush's eyes the streams OF doiase flow,
And Swift expires a driveller and u show
When he had thus repeated these lines, which
lie did with deep feeling, and in slow and meas
ured cadence, deemed 1t excusatie 10 make a
remark of kind which had never ventuled OH
before, aud said: Mr.. Randolph | have several
times heard you repeat these lines, as if they could
have an application to yourself, while no person
can have less reason to fear the fate OF Swift. l
said this to sound him, aud 10 see what he thought
Of himself. His answer was; sI have lived in
dread of insanity" That answer was tile OMEN
ing OF a sealed book-revealed TO me the source OF
much mental agony thatI had seen him undergo.
Ill. Il.
from the same cause as judged by his latest and
greatest biographer, Sir Walter Scott.
Ais parliamentary life was Respondent IN tall
rni--elevated i'll moral ione-alwnys moving IN
the lofty line of honor add patriotism, AMI ScUrn-
ing every thing mean and selfish. He was the in
dIgnant enemy OF personal aud plumber legSla-
ton, and the very scourge oil intrigue and coTrup-
ton. He reVerenced an honest man in the hum
bleSt gnTb, and scorned the dishonest, though pla.
ted with gold. An opinion was propagaied That
lie was tickle in his friendships. Certainly t.ere
were some capricious changes; but fur more IN
stances Of steadfust adherance. His friendship
with Mr.. Macon was hlstronic. Their names went
together in hfe-live together in deatIl-and are
hOnored together, most by those who knew them
best. With Mr.. Tazewell, his friendship was
still longer thant that with MIR. Mason, commencing
Ill Loyhood, aud only ending with life. So of ma
ny others; and pre-eminently SO of his neighbors
and constItuents-the people OF his congressional
MISUNDERSTANDING we'll ns faithful TO him;
electing him they did, from boyhood 10 the
grave. No one felt more for friends, or was more
solcitous and anxious Ut the side OF The sick and
dying ed. Love OF wine was attributed 10 him;
ano what was mental excitement, was referred 10
ueep po;ationS. TWAS great error. never saw
him affected by wine-not even to the slightest
departure from the habitual and scrnpulous deco
ru OF his manners. His temper was naturally
gay and social, and SO INDUCED when suffering
ol mind and body permitted. He was the charm
of the dinner table, where his cheerful and spark
lug wit delighted every enr, Int up every counie-
nance, and detained every guest. He was eharit-
ablej but chose 10 conceal the hand that minister
ed relief. have often seen him send little chill
dreu out 10 give 10 the poor.
He was one OF the large shareholders of Virgin
10, but disked the institution, and, when let
alone, opposed its extension. Thus, IN 1908,