The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-01-29
Gov. Wise, Anecdotes of John Randolph.

uary.- Charleston Courier.
."
Gov. Wise, Anecdotes of John Randolph.
ONANcocK, Accomac county, Va, De,
cember IL, lS56.-Gov. Henry A. Wise
has fine farm and tastefuly arranged
residence lying on the bank Of the Oman.
cock creek, where he spent most Of his leis.
ure time before placed in the gubernatorial
chair. was curious TO know how a man
so famous throughout the country would
be regarded mt home; and found notwith.
standing the old proverb, this prophet was
not without honor even in his own country.
Hls nelghbors, seem TO regard the Cover
nor rs one Of the most remarkable men of
his time, and to think that he will ultimate.
ly triumph over every obstacle, no matter
IN what direction he exerts his talents They
are not more proud OF his fame as an ora.
tor and statesman than Of some other quail
tiles not so well known at n distance.
Personally, the Governor is very pleas.
ant, sociable, hospitabIe man. Like Ran
dolPh of Roanoke, his conversational pow
ers are remarkable.
Speaking of Randolph reminds me of
the two new anecdotes told me here re-
spectng this eccentric statesman We
have often heard of his pride OF position,
and OF the contempt with which he regar-
sed all who did not owe something, at
least, to the accident of birth. The follow
ing anecdotc shows that trait to have been
a part OF his character:
There was in the neighborhood of Roam.
oke carpenter named Wyatt Caldwell,
who, by industry and prudence, had ac,
qnired good property. He was tolera.
bly, we'll educated and highly respected by
all who knew him; so much was lie thought
of 10y his neighbors that he represented
them for some time in the State Legislature.
In this man, Randolph had the highest con.
tidence. On going to Europe he was nc
customed TO leave Mr.. Caldwell in charge
OF his whole estate. On one occasion he
published an advertisement TO that effect.
IN which lie said Mr.. Caldwell was one of
the few honest men he had ever met. Yet
this gentleman declared, after the de1th of
Randolph, that notwithstanding their long
intercourse, and their transaction of bust
ness to the amount Of many thousand dol.
lars, Randolph had never asked him to din.
ner And yet he was considered one OF
the most hospitable men in the Old Do
minion.
All who have read the life OF this great
man will remember the great importance
he attached to correct pronunciation. His
biography, Mr.. Garland, records, the fact
OF his correcting DR.. Parish twice in his
manner Of pronouncing words, while The
doctor was reading him a short article the
day before his death, and that when the
doctor hesitated about adopting Mr. Ran
dolph's mode of pronunciating, the dying
man exclaimed, in his usual impatient, ab.
soIute manner: Pass on, sir, there can be
no doubt OF it." This had seemed TO me
10 have been slightly colored by the biog-
rapher; but the accompanying incident con
vinced me that it was but the ruling pas.
sion strong in death.
When Tazewell was at the zenith Of his
fame, on one occasion he made speech at
the bar, surprising even himself in elo.
quence. On finishing, Randolph approach
ed him, and complained bitterly, with an
oath. that it was fated that nothing human
should be perfect. Tazewell, who was re-
ceiviug impassioned congratulate ms from
his friends, asked Randolph what he meant
His queStioner. with all his usual acerbitv
demanded: "Why did YOU not say hor zon
instead of hor-izonl Were it not for that
Id barbarism there would have been
one perfect human production"