Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-08-18

it to the deck. lie made his way
through the crowd on deck and the
wharf, being assisted, as is believed,
by some rullian confederatcs, and
made his escape. lie stopped for Il
few moments at n tavern in Alexan-
dria, and passed on beyond the district
line. The Grand Jury, then in ses-
sion, in few minutes found Il pre-
sentiment against him, and the Court
issued n bench warrant. a magis-
trate had just previously issued a war
rant, but before the officers could ar
rest him he was gone"
An eye. witness, writing TO the Rich
mond Enquirer, gives some additional
particulars, rs follows: "When the
President said, Never mind your
glove, sir Randolph said in a low
tone that he came to take his revenge
by pulling his nose, suiting the action
to the word. The President cxclaim-
ed in astonishment, What, sir What,
sir ! Randolph on the instant was
struck by Mr.. Potter with an umbrella
very severe blow, which knocked
him against the berth. Capt. Brown
seized him and dragged him with
violence from the President and Mai.
Donaldson rushed toward the table in
his anxiety to protect the President.
1t was the work of an instant. The
President exclaimed, .eizing his stick,
Let no man interfere between me and
this personal assault | am an old
man, but perfectly capable Of defend
ing myself against, and furnishing Il
dozen cowardly assassins.' 1t is said
that Il person named Thomas ap-
preached the President, and, rendering
his hand, observed that if he would
promise to pardon him he would mur-
der the bastard. No, sir; ! do not
wish the majesty of the laws insulted
for me. am capable Of defending
myself against insult
There was Il general expression of
condemnation of the outrage upon the
President. The Administration organs
expressed themselves in strong terms,
but not stronger than the case called
for. But it must be confessed that the
censurcs of the opposition press were
uttered in measured phrase, and not
without apologize suggestions. Even
the conservative National iHteNigcucer.
while condemuing the act, used no
term Of rcproach which could wound
q, i Il
of redress fr4n a punctillious observer
of the code of honor. 1t was STYLED a
violent assault aud the editors con.
sidcrcd the occurrence as one deeply
to be lameutcd in every relation in
which it is considered, and in every
view which can be taken Of it, This
mild ccnsure accompanies the bare
announcement Of the fact on the morn.
ing after its occurrence. The next
day the InteNigcnccr copies from the
Giobe the leading facts stated above,
while three columns are devoted to n
history OF the charges against Ran
dolph, and his vindication. These pa.
pcrs are referred to editorially n toll.
lows: 1--WE have thought that our
readers would expect Us to lay before
them the history Of the dismissal of
Lieutenant Randolph from the navy.
We have accordingly done 50 to-day.
Without the disposition to cxtenualc
in hSy degree (iar less to Justify the
r@y-0nal violence 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 a trial BY his peers IN
legal court martial) ought to have
been allowed
The organ Of the Nullifcrs and Of
Mr.. Calhoun in Washington, the Unit.
ed States Telegraph, took no notice of
the assault, not even to publish an &C.
count of it, until the 9th of MAY, three
DAYS after it, occurrence. On that
day it spoke Of the assault n "a vio.
lation OF the laws which no one can
justify, and n 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 palliation Of which
it is susceptible are the aggravatiug
causes which produced it. In making
up an opinion upon the act, the pccu.
liar circumstances and the education
and opinions Of Mr. Randolph should
be taken into consideration. IL was
INTENDED to retaliate on the Prcsi.
dent, in the only way in his power,
the indignant and cruel injustice done
him by striking his name from the
navy list" The Telegraph 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. jackson TO attend the corner