The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1871-12-13
LIE. SOUTH CAROLINA, DECEMBER Is, 1871

| 6"'0 tnOh duy Cr6u6uC6s 6OV
ernor Middleton, however, spoke
OF them as not being susceptible OF
a Doubt
In speaking further Of Ran.
dolph, he said he acted Strangely
in Russ a in every way. He would
not visit or receive visits from any
one. On all occasions his servants
were instructed to say that he was
not at home! Governor Middle,
ton said, Randolph was a most
pleasant fellow and fine company,
but possessed cccentricity border.
ing on arrangement. In his ap.
pearance he looks very much like
an Indian. Governor Middleton
says that Jefferson gave him let.
tiers when he went to Europe, and
that he was strongly attached to
him throughout his life. Their &C.
quaintance commenced when the
Governor was quite young man,
and they corresponded ever after.
wards. But the publication OF
Jefferson's works, after his dcatl.,
satisfied Governor Middleton that
he was not sincere in his profcs.
slons, but a hollow.hearted man |!
lie said Randolph always spoke of
Jefferson as great coward.
In Paris Governor Middleton
became acquainted with Elbridpe
Gerry, then Minister to France,
with Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
and Chief Justice Marshall. They
were not recognized as ministers.
1t was intimated to them by a lady
authorized by Talleyrand, that If
they would give presents they
might be received. Il carried this
lady to see my uncle, General
Pinckney," said Governor Middle
ton, " when she made the commu-
nication." This gave rise to
Plnckney's famous expression,
Millions for defence, but not a
cent for tribute" Talleyrand af.
forwards denied that the lady was
sent by him, or authorized To make
the offer. Gerry told who the la
dy was, and she was arrested and
imprisoned for some time. The
Governor said lie had seen this la
dy long afterwards, and they talk.
cd over the whole circumstance
Gerry was great coward, and
terribly frightened ,ne night, in
Paris, by the kicking and stamp
ing of the horses in the stable. lie
thought robbers were breaking in.
to tho house, aud alarmed all the
inmates
Governor Middleton was a man
of ordinary height, erect in his
carriage and neat in his dress. lie
was a man of great information,
and wrote and convcrsed well. He
did not attempt to speak in any of
our union conventions or caucuses.
Whilst in Greenville lie wrote sew.
eral political articles for my paper.
lie took an active part in the Leg
islature OF South Carolina, when a
very young man, in favor of gen.
eral suffrage, and was told by his
colleagues that lie would be de-
teated at the next election in
Charleston. But, instead of being
defeated, he was elected the head
of the ticket. He was then elect
ed Governor of the State, and af.
terwards sent as Minister TO Rus.
sia. After an absence of more
than twenty years, lie returned to
the United States, being recalled
by General jackson. When he
went to call on tho President,
Jackson expressed great pleasure
at seeing him, and Governor MID.
dleton replied to him, 81 am in,
debtcd to your excellency for the
pleasure it gives you.' lie found
his native State in the midst of
what he regarded a revolution ;
and he took an active part in try.
ing to stop the revolution and pre-
serve the Union. He told me that
his sons were going astray when
he returned to South Carolina, hut
that he had stopped them in their
folly.
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.