The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-12-03


gladys for never bad been 30 anxious "a
speak NJ mind. 4 congregation Of nearly
three hundred persons assembled AZ halfp
ten O'Clock, and took my stand between thr
lados' and gsnllemens cabins seated 10 thc
places Of honor ~pon my right and lett hapd
we're most Of my late objects Of interest
the members Of Congress. had never be-
fore spoken under such circumstances, but
nevertheless, preached ~ well as I could,
which is not saying much, a. the close Of
the diScourse proper however, could not
resisl the impulse 20 speak straightforward
word 10 the men on my right and LEFT turn
/ Ing 70 them, therefore, said something 20
the following effect, 81 understand that you
are members Of the Congress Of the United
States, and as such you are or should be- the
representative not only Of the political opiu-
ions, but also Of the intellectual moral aud
religious condition Of The people Of this
country. A. had rarely seen men Of your
class, frlt on coming on board this boat O
natural interest to hear your cooperation
and 90 observe your habits, If am 20
judge the nation boy you, can come 90 uo
other conclusion than, that it Is composed Of
proianc Wcarcu, card-play,gs, and drunk
ards. Suppose there should be an iutcli,
gent foreigner on this boat travelling through
the country with the intent ofiorminga well
considered aud unbiased opinion, ~ TO the
practical working Of our free Institutions
seeing you and learning your position, what
would be his conclusion '--iuryitahly that
our experiment isa failure, and our country is
hgIen!ng 20 destruction, Consider the innu-
ence your example on the Young men fthr
uation--what school Of vice you ore c,t,b-
fishing II you insis, upon the righJ Of ru-
iuisg yourselves, do not by your example
corrupt and dchauch those who are the hope
Of the land. ] must tcIl you, that as on
American citizen / feel disgraecd hy your be-
ha,ior as preacher Of the Gospel am
commissioned TO tell you, that unless you re-
nounce your evil courses repent your SINS
aud believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ with
hearts pnlo righteousness, you viii certainly
be- damned"
At the close Of the services, / retired g.
my state room 20 consider my imprompiu ad.
dress word by word, and whether, il were
called to a reckoning Tor IL, ! should bc viii
ling 70 abide by il and It's consequence
Plain speaking and stern acting are common
things among the men of the West and
Southwest, and whosocyer starts TO run
race Of this kind should De prepared 70 go
uuAnehingly to the goal. ! came To the
conclusion that nothing had been said Of
which oaght to be ashamed and that ]
would stand by every word Of H. lct the is-
sue be what it might while cogi,ntinR.
there was rap at the door. a gentleman
entered who said; 81 have hocn requested
TO wait upon you by the. members Of Con
grcss on board, Who have had mcctipg
since the close Of the religious cNcrci,c,--
They desire me toprcscut you with yhis purse
of money handing me between ffy and
hundred dollarS--"as token Of their opprc-
citation Of your sincerity and fcarlcssncss IN
4lpG.4.!.-- ilass
have also desired me to ask If yoW will al.
low your name to be used at the coming rjcc-
ton Of chaplain for Congress il you will
consent 20 this, they are ready TO assure YOU
an honorable election" Quite stunned with
this double message, ] asked time for quiet
reflection and for consulting with my friend.
lie warmly urged my acceptance of the eilrr.
As the boat norcd Wheeling my decision
was asked. / ascuted to their proposal
They went forward to the capitals | tarried
in Wheeling to preach. but the sermon on
the boa, was far more remunciatiyc than all
the labors at Cincinnati and Wheeling uni
ted, BY the agency of my new friends,
was in due time elected. Their money paid
my expenses to Washington, and so | enter
cd upon my duties as chaplain to Congress"
We will conclude our extracts this week
by giving a single incident in the life Of that
peculiarly eccentric man,
John Randolph.
"Thc great Virgininn, II lifelong victim to
sore disease, was at the same liG;c subject to
great depression Of spirits, at which times
he was in hourly expectation Of death. I'M
rcrous in his friendship as in his disduin he
would require the attendance of his friends
at his bedside, that they might see him
breathe his last. On Sue OF these occasions,
his servants went flying through the town,
bearing messages to various persons for whom
he felt esteem, desiring them to hasten to
him Immediately if they would see him die.
Most of them were dressed or dressing for
parties but, obedient to the mandate, came
in hot haste to his lodgings. The cmociatcd
invalid, apparently at the last pulse, surveyed {
his guests, and saw officers Of both arms Of
the service in full uniform, and group OF
gentlemen, old and young, in mll evening /