Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-12-25
First Speech Of John Randolph.
An able correspondent is communicate

An able correspondent is communicating
to the n Y. Evangelist some personal
sketches Of the eccentric orator of Virgin
ia. It is now well known that disap-
pointment in early love, the rejection Of his
suit BY an estimable lady to whom he was
devotedly attached, had controlling infu-
ence over his life, and did much to form
those misanthropic feelings, and those hab-
its Of bitter invective, which poisoned his
own happiness, and made him an object Of
dread rather than Of affection to others
The writer in the Evangelist gives an ac-
count Of the first appearance OF Randolph
before public assembly.
In the year 1899 party spirit was run
ming fearfully high in all parts Of the coun-
try, and nowhere higher than in Virginia.
Such men as Washington and Henry be-
held with alarm the progress Of the system
which Jefferson preached, and they, in
common with all the staunch Federalists of
the nation, strove to beat back the rising
tide, and save the nation from what they
honestly believed to be imminent peril.
Washington and Jefferson were, for a time,
estranged from each other, and this to the
extent even Of suspension Of all social in
tercourse. Patrick Henry espoused the
side of the Federalists, and was announced
for q speech at the Charlotte Courthouse
during the March court. Expectation was
on tip-toe to hear him again, especially now
that his infrmities were prophesying his
speedy departure from earth. The famous
orator Of Virginia, the most famous in
America, was to speak, in order to arrest
the progress of the radical principles Of
Jefferson's party. A large concourse as
sembled to hear him. According to Gar
land, the occasion was sufficient to draw
from the neighboring county Of Prince Ed
ward, those two famous diyines, DR.. Moses
Hoge and DR.. John Holt Rice. When
James Adams proclaimed, "Oyes! Dyes
Colonel Henry will address the people from
this stand, for the last time, and at the risk
Of his life y the excitement to hear him
was 50 great that the Grand Jury, then in
session, "burst through the doors, some
leaped out Of the windows, and came run
ming up with the crowd, that they might
not lose word that fell from the old man s
lips" The feelings Of Virginians for the
aged orator were almost of the nature Of
idolatrous worship. Making all allowance
for Mr.. Wirt's enthusiasm, his description
Of Henry's power on this, his last appear
ance, is probably not far from the truth
His pathetic defamation SO moved the vast
audience, that .sthey wept like children, .
and John Holt Rice exclaimed, as Henry
Literally sunk into the arms Of the tumul-
tuous throng," s.the sun has set in all his
gloryp
But whilst that crowd Of people were
yet weeping under the mighty inspiration
Of the dying orator, slender, boyish,
beardless, and almost unknown person, bold
! " took the stand which Henry had just left
John Randolph was candidate for Con
gress, and his views were in harmony with
Jeferson's, to arrest which had elected the
efforts Of Henry. He had never before
spoken in public, but tradition still tells
how happy was his apology to the people
for daring to follow such king as had just
lifted his sceptre over them, and how grad
ually he glided into most eloquent anc
Iforcible defence Of his views, holding hi
audience in perfect delight for three hours
Well does Garland gather up the scattered
fragments of tradition in his glowing pages,
describing the amazement Of his hearers
Even that vast-minded man, one Of the
mightiest divines Virginia has ever had
Moses Hoge, turned from the stand, and
went away, repeating to himself these lines
from the Deserted Village
"Amazed, the gazing rustics ranged around,
And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew,
That one small head could carry all he knew"
No auditor Of the young orator was more
gracious to him than Patrick Henry, ane
thenceforward Henry had no more devoted
and admiring friend than Randolph.