The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-23
JOHN RANDOLPH.
Some Of His EccentrIcities and Scene
In Congress.

Some Of His Eccentricities and n Scene
In Congress.
Ben Perley Poore in Century.
The despot Of the debates for many years
was the eccentric John Randolph, who
would ride on horseback from his lodgings
in Georgetown to the Capitol and enter the
House, wearing fur cap with a large
visor, q heavy greatcoat over a suit OF vir.
ginia homespun and white-topped boots
with iingling silver spurs. Striding down
the main aisle, followed by his brace OF
pointer dogs, he would stop before his
deck, upon which he would deliberately
place his cap, his gloves, his riding.whip,
listening meanwhile to the debate. II he
took any interest in it, he would begin 10
speak at the tirst opportunity, without any
regard TO what had previously been
said. After he had uttered few
sentences land had drunk glass OF porter,
which IN assistant door keeper had orders
TO bring whenever he rose to speak,, his
tall, meagerfo would writhe with passion;
his long, bony index finger would be
pointed at those on whom he poured bis
wrath; and the expression OF his beardless,
high checked, and sallow countenance
would give additional force to the brilliant
and beautiful sentences which he would
rapidly utter, full OF singing witicisms aud
angry sarcasm. s. distinct wash is enuncia.
ton, that his shrill voice could be heard in
every part Of the nall; bis words were select
and strictly grammatical, and the arrange
ment OF his remarks wasalways harmonious
and effective.
Randolph, having had dinner table
difficulty with Willis Aston, OF North
Carolina, never let pass an opportunity for
abiding to him in the most bitter and con.
temptuous manner. Aston, enraged one
day by some language used by Randolph
In debate, said, as the representatives were
leaving the hall, and Randolph was passing
him: "The puppy has still some respect
shown him." Whether the allusion re.
ferIed to Randolph or to one OF his pointer.
dogs, which was following him, was after
ward a quet n, but Randolph immedi.
ately began beating Aston over the head
with the handle OF bis heavy riding-whip,
inficting several wounds. The next day
the Grand Jury, which was in session, in.
dicted Randolph for breach OF the peace,
but the court allowed him to offer the re.
mark about the puppy rs evidence in ex.
tenuation, and inflicted a fine Of twenty
dollars.
During the debate on the Missouri ques.
ton, Mr.. Philemon Beecher, native Of
Connecticut, who had emigrated to Ohio,
and had there been elected a Representa-.
tive, became somewhat impatient as bis
dinner hour approached, and at last, when
Randolph made somewhat lengthy pause,
moved "lhe previous question" The
Speaker said "The gentleman from Vir-
ginia has the floor" and Randolph pro-
ceeded, to be sgain interrupted when he
paused again to collect his thoughts, by a
demand for "the previous question:" nor
was 1t long before the demand was made for
the third time. Randolph could stand /,
no longer, but said, in voice as shrill as
the cry Of Of peacock: "Mr. Speaker, in
the Netherlands, a man OF small capacity.
with bits oil wood and leather, will In few
moments construct that which, with the
pressure Of the finger and thumb, will cry
Cuckoo! cuckoo! With less ingenuity and
inferior materials, the people OF Ohio have
made toy that will, without much pressure
cry, Previous question! previous question!
previous question: and, as he spoke,
Randolph pointed with his attenuated in.
dex finger at Beecher, who did notattempt
reply.