Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-09-28
John Randolph and John MARSHALL.

John k8HOQIpn ana JOnn MaaFSHAIE.
Mr.. Wood Bouldin, Of Richmond, writes the
following interesting letter to the editor of the
Danville Times, to correct Il remlnsccnce OF
John Randolph, which occurred in the kan
dophiana" of the editor ,,.......... ..,... ...,
~. "RIcHMoND, VA, Sept. H., ls'1.
''In referring to the scene at Charlotte court
house, when there was IN effort made to pre-
vent Mr. Randolph from making his slaves
pull fodder on Sunday, injustice has been done
to that highly-respected and respectable tribu-
nal, the county court of Charlotte. ... .
It is a great mistake to say that that court
was 'buled by Mr.. Randolph, and induced to
disregard its duty. 10 fact, the scene alluded
to occurred not in the county court, but IN the
circuit court, and before Judge Leigh. 1t
might we'll have been introduced in the notices
Of him, as illustrative of his tirmness and deyo-
ton to duty [ was present IN court at the
time, and heard what passed. 20. n ,.ns
The grand iury had called up the subject IN
thsir room, and the late Johu Marshall, who
honnened TO be a guest Of Mr.. Randolph, and
heard the order ut the time it was given to the
slaves, was summoned to prove the Of
fence. He positively refused to answer, be-
cause las he alleged) he was Mr.. Randolph 5
guest, and what took place under such clrcum-
stances, in his presence, was deemed sa-
cred among gentlemen; and voluntarily to
divulge it would be an act OF dishonor, and IN
gross violation Of the decencies and proprletles
Of social intercourse. The grand jury said that
they could not he governed by such conSldera-
tion in the discharge Of their legal duty
Mr. Marshall still refusing to answer, the jury
tbrouah M their foreman, appealed to the court
Judge Leigh The Judge, without 4 mo-
|, t,ti,, bot q u1lpS
ever UNPLEASANT his situation might be. could
claim no such privilege as that asserted by MIR.
Marshall, and ordered him to answer.
Mr.. Marshall returned TO the jury-roon, and
about that time Mr. Randolph, in his English
coach-a very clumsy vehicle, by the way
drawn BY four blooded. horses, drove rapidly
into the village, and stopped Immediately in
front of the court house. He camo directly.
into the courtroom, and took his seat III front Of
the bar between that and the jury BENCH, and
almost Immediately in front Of the Judge. As
he took his seat: Mr.. Marshall. who had Just
come down from the jury-room, approached
him. Mr.. Randolph, in one of: his peculiar
halfwhispers, which penetrated every portion
Of the courtroom, and which was heard as
plainly as if spoken in the loudest ,tone, said to
him 81 understand am to be presented, sir,
and have come to make my own ;deteare.s
Mr. Marshall Immediately replied! that; the
matter had been dropped by the jury, ana he
would hear no more OF it. ..''' 80; =
The remarks published by you were made
not to the court OF the grand jury, but privately
to Mr.. Marshall, and after the scene which |
have described, to let him know the line Of de-
fence he had intended to pursue. ,.,'d ~:
Mr.. Marshall; when sent back to tho jury
with orders to answer, had referred back TO the
revised Code Of 1919, the then law Of court,
and ascertaincd that the act of each slave was
separate offence, and the penalty only $l.6'',
being below the jurisdiction Of the circuit court
The grand jury being satisfied, on reference to
the statute, that they had no jurisdiction of the
offence, abandoned the Investigation, and thus
the presentment was NOT made , ,,.'.
The foreman OF that jury, # my memory iS
not at fault was Mr. +. W.. Henry, and he is
still alive-the last Of the sons of Patrick
Henry. ~: .'&.''''. -. - .."
The county court Of your aud my native
county, under the old aud better regime OF BY
gone days, when presided over by such nen as
Clement Darlington, Robert Morton, Martl
Hancock, and many others OF the,samc stamp
could not be bullied even by Mr.. Randolph. ::
..i : Il Yours truly, WooD BoULDIN.