The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-06-03
AYABLE IN ADVANCE
VOLUME VII.---N0. 5.
JOHN RANDOLPH,


Doctor Miller who still lives in all the
Of life that has denied rest or
quiet TO itself for almost four score years
and ten, was scate in the gallery of tbs
House Of Representatives. when his atte.-
ton WAS given to the occurrence Of Young
person engaged in conversation with tho
Speaker. From his boyish look he pr,-
snncd him to be one Of the pages of tho
House. The interview was a brief one, but
it WAS historic in the annals Of Congress.
That was the hour when John Randolrl,
appeared to present himself before the
speaker to take tho constitutional oath, and
when that presiding officer asked him, of
course III pleasantly, whether he was Of the
age defined 10y the Constitution, and when
Randolph gave him such an answer MS Pitt
would have 'nade-Ask my constituents.
Long buried henearl, the aust of his ma
tive State, the boy grown to be man, and
mind and body decaving-comng to 81
premature grave, has been this wonderful
Firginian, While he, WHO saw the start
in1 point Of lis extraordinary career. has
lived uu.ii auovc tie ltuanokc's death. bed,
: no laurel like unto his own has grown on
Viryina's soil. The orator who could talk
; of nothing for hours, and talk so well, so
beautifully, that over the memory it passc,
, as quick glittering water, pnurs over the
agate slrewn bed Of Minncsoia's streams,
Indicating the precious stone, but not bear
ing !, on-thc statesman who alnos, hv in
stinct knew the affairs over whose elaborate
working other men must toll long before they
obtained an analysis, who was an encyclopaedia
in variety. who had the eye that saw tho
lovely, and tongue that talked it, is Of Vir-
ginia's Past, and no man Of her Present re-
new sIIis memories.
There WAS an earnest intimacy existing
between Randolph and the late iIertnanus
BIect4;cr; Of Albany, commencing during
the latter gentleman term in Congress, and
! enduring into the last years of life One Of
the occasions in the Statvsman's latest wears,
when he renewed his intellectual vicor, an,t
blazcd ut his dinner. table with that variety
OF knowledge, gracng all he touched and
glowing in all departments of conversation.
WAS when he entertained Mr.. BIeeclzcr and
Mr.. DE Witt. Of Albany. No two men
could possibly he more unlike than were
these two gentlemen. Mr. B!eecker was the
philosopher Of the calm, Mr.. Randolph of
the storm, but both were earnest men in
their way, and they were linked hv mind,
and consequently never disagreed.
n portrait Of the Vircinian was a cher
i.hed possession Of Blreckcr At his death
twas acquired by 4 gentleman Of Albany,
who. with full appreciation Of its worth, re-
;ains it. cAnd who has Virginia like him Z
who of all the men that yet answer when
her roll Of statesmen is called can respond in
tones Of true oratory, can kindle the thought
and brighten The brain, by their voice OF
eoquence2 When that great Constitutional
Convention held its session, what wealth Of
response might have been made But the
Past is Virginia's only treasure, and when
in its enumeration. the record Of the men
wonderful in intellect is made-he whose
name heads this article, will he among the
highest written.-New Xork Courier. u