The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-05-18
lFrom Thomas II. Benton's "Thirty Years. View.n1
Sketch of John RaMdOlDfl.

John Randolph died at Philadelphia in the sum-
mer OF lS35-the scene of his early and brilliant
hpParItIon on the Stage Of public life, having com.
menced his parliamentary careerin that city. under
the first Mr.. Adams, when Congress sal !here, and
when ne was barely Of an age TO be admitted into
the body. For more than thirty years he was the
political meteor Of Congress, blazing with undl-
mlnlshed spIendor during the whole time, and
often appearing the " planetary plague which
shed, not war and pestileDce nations but agon
and fear on members. His sarcasm was Keen,
refined, wIthering-with a great tendency to in.
dulge in it but, he believed, as a lawful par.
liamenary weapon TO effect some desirable pur.
pose. PretenSIOns, meanness, vice, demagooism
were the frequent subjects Of the exercise OF his
talent; and when confined to them, he was the
bcnefactor Of the House. Wit and genius all al
lowed him; sagacny was quality Of his mind
visible to all obserVers-and which gave him an
lntuItive insig ght into the effect OF measures Dur
ing the first SIX years of Mr.. Jefferson's admins
trauon, he was the Murat" of his party brilliant
in the charge, and always ready for it and valu.
ed in the council, as well in the field. EIe was
long the chairman of the Committee Of Ways and
Means-a place always OF labor and responsbitv
and oil more then than now, when The elements of
revenue were less abundant; and no man could
have been placed in that situation during Mr.. JEFF
fcrson's time whose known sagacity was not a
pledge Tor the safety OF his lead in the most sudden
and critical circumstances. He was one Of those
whom that eminent statesman habiruaIIy consulted
during the period Of their friendship and to whom
he carefully communicated his plans before they
were given to the public. On his arrival at
Washington a, the opening of each session OF Con.
grcss during this period, he regularly found wait.
ing for him "at his established Iondgings-hen
CTawiorGs S, Georgetown-lhe card of Mr.. Jeffer.
son, with an invitation for dinner the next day;
dinner at which the leading measures Of the ensu.
ing session were the principal topic. Mr. Jefferson
did not treat IN that way member in whose
sagacily he had not confidence.
II is not just TO Judge such man by ordinary
rules, nor by detached and separate incidents in
his IIIe. 10 comprehend him, he must be Judged
rs Whoe-physicaIIy and mentalIy-and under
many aspects, and for his entire life. He was
never welI-a chronic victim of i'll health from the
cradle TO the grave. A letter from his most init.
mate and valued friend, Mr. Macon, written TO me
after his death, expressed the belief that ne had
never enjoyed during his life one day of perfect
heatII-such well people enjoy Such life.
long suffering must have lis effect on The temper
and on The mind and il had>on hIs-brlnging the
temper often to the queruous mood, and The state
of his mind sometimes to the question of insanity;
a quc<ton which became judicial after his death,
when the validity of his will TO be contested.
had my opinion on the point, and gave it respon-
Slby. III deposition duly taken, 10 be read on the
trial of the will /; and in which a belief in his in.
sanity, at several specified periods, was fully ex-
pressed-wnh the reasons for the opinion. | had
good opportunities OF forming an opiuion living in
IN" same house with him several years, having
his confidence, and seeing him at all hours of the
day and night. 1t also on several occasions be-
came my duty to study the question, with view
To govern my own conduct under crlcicaI circum-
he fh hal
lenSes for him. Ii would have been inhuman to
have gone out with a man not in his right mind
and critical 10 ones self, accident the
ground mig seriously compromise the second.
My opinion was fixed, OF occasional temporary
alterations Of mind and during such periods be
Is ouId do and say strange things-bu. always IN
his own way-not only method, but genius in his
fantasies; nothing to be5prak bad heart, but only
nXaltarlon and excitement. The most brilliant
ak that heard from him came forth on
such occasons-a flow for hours (at one time
seven hours of copious wit and classic alIusion-
perfect scattering Of the diamonds Of the mind. |
heard friend remark on one OF these occasions,
8 he has wasted intellectual jewelry enough here
his evening to equip many speakers for great ora
IONS" ] once sounded him on the DELEGATE point |
IF his own opinion of himself of course, when |
10 was in perfert natural state, and when he |
lad said something 10 permit an approach 10 such |
subject. 1t was during his last visit 10 Wash |
ngton, two winters before he died. II in my |
oom, in The gloom of the evening light, as the day
vas going out and the lamps not !-no one pres
mt but ourselves-he reclining on a sofa, silent
md thoughtful, speaking but seldom, and only |
n reply, heard him repeat, if TO himself, those
ines from Johnson, (Which, in fact, had often
leard from him beGore,} on " "SenilIty and Imbe
ry," which show US life under lis most mean
holy form:
ts In ilfe's last what p7odigies surprise,
Fears of the brave, and follies of the wise!
From Marlboroughs eyes The streams of dotag flow,
And Swift expires, driyeller and shOw.'
When he had thus repeated these lines, which |
lie did with deep feeling, and in slow and meas
lred Cadence, | deemed it excusable TO make q
emark Of kind which had never yentured on
,efore; and said: Mr.. Randolph, have several
ines heard you repeat these lines, as if they
;ouid have an application to yourself, while no
,erson can have less reason to fear the fate OF
Swift. | said This to sound him, and 10 see what
Ie thought Of himself. His answer as:-"
lave lived in dread of insanity" That answer
vas the opening OF a sealed bOok-reveaIed TO me
he source of much mental agony that had seen
rim undergo. / did deem him in danger OF the |
ale of Swift, and from the same cause as judged
~ his latest and greatest biograPher, Sir Waller
Scott.
His parliamentary life was rpsplendent in talent
IN moral tone-aiwRys moving on the
Oflv line of honor and PATRIOTISM, and scornipg
,verything mean and selfish. He was the lndg