The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1881-07-22

pardon him he would murder the das- !
tard. The President put by his hand,
saying: mo, sir I do not wish the
majesty of the laws insulted for me. I
am capable OF defending myself against
insult"
There was general expression of
condemnation of the outrage upon the
President. The administration organs
expressed themselves in strong terms,
bat not stronger than the case called
for. But it must be confessed that tho
censures of the opposition press were
uttered in measured phrase, and not
without apologize suggestions. Even
the conservative National LIstelligeacer,
term of repronch which could wound a
sensitive nature or warrant q demand
of redress from q puuctilious observer
of the code of honor. 1t was styled "a
violent assault" and the editors sscon-
sidered the occurrence as one deeply to
be lamented in every relation in which
| it is considered, and in every view
which can be taken of it." This mild
censure accompanies the bare announce
ment of the fact on tho morning after
its occurrence. The next day the
Autel2igence7' copies from the G1o6e the
leading facts stated above, while three
columns are devoted to a history of the
charges against Randolph, and his
vindication. These papersare referred
to editorialiy as follows: "We have
thought that our readers would expect
us to lay before them the history of the
dismissal of Lieut.. Randolph from the
navy. We have accordingly done SO
to-day. Without the disposition to
extenuate in any degree (far less to
justify the personal violence which he
has since offered to the President on
the ground Of his dismissiOn, we must
| say that he has been hardly dealt with,
To an officer Of his standing and gallant
services, if the finding of the court of
inquiry was not satisfactory to the
Executive, the privilege of trial by
his peers "a legal court martial) ought
| to have been allowed"
The organ of the Nu1iifiers and of Mr..
Calhoun in Washington, tho United
States Telegraph, took no notice Of the
assault, not even to publish an account
of it, until the 9th of May, three days
spoke Of the assault as ga violation of
the laws which no one can justify"
and as aggravated by the fact that it
was committed on the President on
account of the manner In which he had
discharged his official duty. "The
only pailiation of which it is suscepti-
bic are the aggfavating causes which
produced it. In making up an opinion
upon the act, the peculiar circu mstances
and the education and opinions of Mr..
Randolph should be taken into con-
sideration." 1t was sintended to re-
taliate on the President, in the only
way in his power, tho Indignant and
cruel injustice doneh by striking his
name from the navy list.'' The Tsle-
graph states that the citizens Of
Fredericksburg were SO indignant at
the dismissal of Randolph that they
debated the propriety Of withdrawing
the invitation extended to Gen. Jack
son to attend the corner stone cere-
mony. The Telegraph says: awe
learn that Mr.. Randolph left Alexan-
dria to attend 4 wedding party in the
neighborhood, and purposes to return
l and deliver himself up to the civil
authorities in a few days, The story
in tho Globe about his escape is leather
and prunella.'' This is from the TEL
sy'x,2'A, May ..
The Charleston Me7re0:y spoke of the
affair MS Unnecessary result" of an
ttabuse of discretionary powers" to
"purposes Of private and personal
reVeDge.'
1ne lNlclll1OnU VH8, eUlte0 by
John Hamptlen Peasants, one of the
most brilliant paragraphists of the day,
reVefied in fun over the affair, and
amused his readers by II chapter on
"Moses."
At Il public dinner given by Mr..
Coke, IL Virginia politician of the Null
lifers' school, the following toast was
given: "IAieut. Robert Ii. Randolph,
late Of tho United States Navy-May
he yet receive justice, though at pres
ent withheld by Corruption The
Globe charged tho Nullitlers with
aiming to break up the Union by
bringing the Government and the
President into contempt. 1t says !:
''Fo attack the person of the Chief
Magistrate, we were before appraised,
was cherished feeling with many of
them, and we do not doubt but that he
would be assassinate,i if they could
find wretch wreckless of life willing
to perpetrate the act.''
Randolph was never brought to the
bar of justice for this outrage, and his
immunity may have enboldened Law
reance two years later to attempt the
assassination of the President.
a Santa Fc paper tells Il tale which
recalls Holiness novel of NElsie