The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-05-12
John Randolph in Congress.

From the 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 large visor,
a heavy great-coat over suit of Virginia
homespun, and white-topped boots with jing-
ling 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 If he took any interest in
it, he would begin to speak at the first OPP
portunity, without any regard to what had
previously been said After he had uttered
a few sentences (and had drunk glass Of
porter, which an assistant door keeper had
orders to bring whenever he rose to speak,,
his tall, meager form would writhe with
passion; his long, bony index-fnger would
be pointed at those on whom he poured his
wrath; and the expression Of his beardless,
high-cheeked, and sallow countenance would
give additional force to the brilliant and
beautiful sentences which he would rapidly
utter, full of singing 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 arrangement
of his remarks was always harmonious and
effective.
Randolph, having had a dinner-table diff
ficulty with Willis Aston, Of North Caro-
lima, never let pass an opportunity for al
luding 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
ferred to Randolph OF to one of his pointer
dogs, which was following him, was after
ward "a question, but Randolph immediate
ly began beating Aston over the head with
the handle of his heavy riding-whip, in
licting 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 extenua-
ton, and inflicted a fine of twenty dollars.
During the debate on the Missouri ques-
ton, Mr. Philemon Beecher, a native of
Connecticut who had emigrated to Ohio,
and had there been elected representa-
tive, became somewhat impatient 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 Viz
ginia has the foor," and Randolph pro-
ceeded, to be again interrupted when he
paused again to collect his thoughts, by a
demand for 'the previous question; nor
was it long before the demand was made
for the third time Randolph could stand
it no longer, but said, in voice as shrill
as the cry of a peacock; "Mr. Speaker,
in the Netherlands, man of small capaci
ty, with bits of wood and leather, will in
few moments construct that which, with
the pressure of the finger and thumb, will
cry "Cuckoo! cuckoor' With less inge-
nuity and with inferior materials, the peo-
pie of Ohio have made toy that will,
without much pressure, cry, "Previous
question previous question p and, as he
spoke, Randolph pointed with his attenuat-
ed index-fnger at Beecher, who did not
attempt to reply.