The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-05-10
John Randolph In CONGRESS-,

Ben Perley Poore contributes to the
April Century, an anecdotal paper on
1.-The Capitol at Washington, from
which we quote the following:
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 large visor, heavy great coat
over suit of Virginia homespun, and
white-topped boots with .jingling silver
spurs. Striding down the main aisle,
followed by his brace of pointer dogs,
he would stop before his desk, upon
which he would deliberately place his
cap, his gloves, and his riding-whip.
listening meanwhile to the debate. Ii
he took any interest in it, he would be-
gin to speak at the first opportunity,
without any regard to what had pre-
viously been said. After he had utter
ed few sentences (and had drank a
glass of porter, which an assistant
door-keeper had orders to bring when
ever he rose to speak), his tall, meager
form would writhe with passion; his
long, bony index finger would be point
ed at those on whom he poured his
less, high-cheeked, and sallow counte-
nance would give additional force to
the brilliant and beautiful sentences
which he would rapidly utter, full OF
stinging witticisms and angry sarcasm.
So distinct was his enunciation, that his
shrill voice could be heard in every part
of the hall; his words were select and
strictly grammatical, and the arrange
ment of his remarks was always har-
monious and effective.
Randolph, having had dinner-table
difficulty with Willis Aston, of North
Carolina, never let pass an opportunity
for alluding to him in the most bitter
and contemptuous manner. Alston,
enraged one day by some language used
by Randolph in debate, said, as the rep
resentatives were leaving the hall, and
Randolph was passing him: '"The
puppy has still some respect shown
him." Whether the allusion referred
to Randolph or to one of his pointer
dogs, which was following him, was
afterward question, but Randolph i'm
/ mediately began beating Aston over
the head with the handle of his riding
whip, infiicting several wounds. The
next day the Grand Jury, which was in
session, indicted Randolph for a breach
of the peace, but the court allowed him
to offer the remark about the puppy as
evidence in extenuation, and lnt1lct-
ed a fine of twenty dollars.
During the debate on the Missouri
question, Mr.. Philemon Beecher, ma
tive of Connecticut who had emigrated
to Ohio, and had there been elected a
representative, became somewhat i'm
patient as his dinner-hour approached.
and at last, when Randolph made a
somewhat lengthy pause, moved "the
previous question. The Speaker said,
''The gentleman from Virginia has the
floor" and Randolph proceeded, to be
again interrupted when he paused again
to collect his thoughts. by demand
for ''the previous question; nor was il
long before the demand was made fol
the third time. Randolph could stanc
it no longer, but said, in a voice a!
shrill as the cry of the peacock: ''Mr
Speaker, in the Netherlands, a man O
small capacity, with bits of wood an6
leather, will in few moments construc
that which, with the pressure of thu
finger and thumb, will cry Cuckoo
cuckoo!' With less ingenuity and witt
inferior materials, the people OF Ohi'
have made toy that will, withou
much pressure, cry, Previous question
previous question: y and. as he spoke
Randolph pointed with his attenuate'
index-fnger at Beeohsr. who did no
attempt a reply