The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-04-21
John Randolph In Congress.

The despot of the debates in Congress
Tor many years was the eccentric John
Randolph, who would ride on horse.
back from his lodgings in Georgetown
to the Capitol and enter the House,
wearing fur cap with a large visor, q
heavy great-coat over suit of Virginia
hom,espun, and white-topped boots will,
Jlngling silver spurs. Striding down
the main aisle, followed by his brace OF
nointer-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 lie took any interest in it, he would
begin to speak at the first opportunity.
without any regard to what had pre-.
viously been said. After he had uttered
a few sentences land had drunk q 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
lndeX-finger would be pointed at those
Oh whom he poured his wrath; and the
expression of his beardless, high checked,
and sallow cOuntenance would give ad-
dltional force to the brilliant and beau
tlful sentences which he would rapidly
utter, full OF singing witticisms and
angry sarcasm. So distinct was his
enunciation, that his shrill voice could
De heard III every part of the hall; his
words were select and strictly grammat-
lcal, and the arrangement Of his remarks
was always harmonious and effective.
Randolph, having had a dinner-table
difficult with Willis Aston, of North
carolina, never let pass All opportunity
for allllding to him in the most bitter
and contemptuous manner. Alstun,
enraged one day by some language
used by Randolph in debate, said, as
the representatives were leaving the
hali, and Randolph was passing linn:
'Ihe puppy has still some respect shown
him." Whether the ailuson referred
to Randolph or to one Of his pointer
dogs, which was following him, was
afterwards a question, but Randolph
Immediately began beating Aston over
the head with the handle of his heavy
ridng-whip, ntlictmg several wounds.
The next day the Grand Jury, which
was IN session, indicted Randolph for q
breach of the peace. but the court allow
s,,ll! eM MN 70 Qller the remark about the
puppy as evidence Ir--e-.tnnnation. 7rnf
inflicted a fine of twenty dollars.
During the debate OH the Missouri
lucStlOli, MI. IHllelllOIl bCCCll6r, q
native of Connecticut who had emigrat-
ed to Ohio, and had there been elected
Il representative, became somewhat
impatient as his dnner-hollr 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 it
long before tho demand was made for
the third time. Randolph could stand
it no longer, but said, in a voice as
the cry of a peacock: "NIr. Speaker, in
the Netherlands, a man Of small capa-
city, 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 ingenuity and with inferior
materials, the people of Ohio have made
q toy that will, without much pressure,
cry, Previous question: previous ques-
tionl'" and, as he spoke, Randolph
pointed with his attenuated index-tn-
ger at Beecher, who did not attempt a
reply.