The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-03-31
JOHN RANDOLPH IN CONGRESS
Zen; Perley Pooro's Rocolieotions of tn,
statesman from Roanoke.

Zen; Perley Pooro's RocoliectiOns of the
Statesman from Roanoke.
Ben; Perley Poore contributes TO the
April Century an anecdotal, richly illus
trated paper on "The Capitol at Washing
ton, y in which ne says The despot of the
debates for 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 II
tur cap with u large visor, heavy great
coat over a suit of Virginia homespun, and
white.topped boots with juggling silver
spurs. Striding down the main aisle, fol
lowed by his brace OF pointer-dogs, he
would stop before his desk, upon which he
would deliberately place his cap
his gloves and his ridinr.whip'
listening meanwhile to the debate
IL he took any interest in it he would
begin 10 speak at the first opportunity,
without any regard to what had previously
been said. After he had uttered few sen
fences land had drank Il glass of porter
which an as istant doorkeeper bad orders
to bring whenever he rose to speak,, his
tall, meager form would wrthe with passion
hislong, bony index finger would be pointed
at those on whom he poured his 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 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.
Randolh, having had u dinner-table diff.
Guilty with Wills Aston, of North Caro-
| INA, 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
shown him Whether the allusion re.
lerred TO Randolph or to one of his pointer
dogs, which was following him, was after
ward IL question, but Randolph immedi.
ately began beating Aston over the head
width the handle OF his heavy riding whip,
inillctinR several wounds. The next day
the grand jury, which was in session, in
diCted Randolph for a breach of the pence.
but the court allowed HIM to offer the re-
mark about thepuppy as evidence in exten,
uhtlon, ana lnHlCteu me OF SyO,
During the debate on the Missouri
question, Mr. Philemon Beechcr, ma
tive of Connecticut, who had omigrated to
Ohio, and had there been elected q repre-.
sentative, became somewhat impatient as
his dinner hour approached, and at last
when Randolph made q somewhat lengthy
pause, "moyed the previous question. y
The speaker said: "The gentleman from
Virginia has the door, and Randolph pro.
ceeded, to be again interrupted, when he
paused again to collect his thoughts, by q
demand for "tho previous question:" MOI
was it long before the demand was made for
the third time. Randolph could stand il
no longer, but said in voice as shrill Il.
the cry OF peacock; "Mr. Speaker, in the
Netherlands, n man of small capacity, with
bits OF wood and leather, with the pressure
OF the finger and thumb, will cry, Cuckoo
cuckoo with less ingenuity and with in
ferior materials, the people of Ohio have
made toy that will, without much pres
sure, cry, Previous question! previon.
question: and as he spoke Randolph
pointed with his attenuated index finger a,
Beecher, who did not attempt reply.
The population of Mexico is estimated a,
, IN OO0 ON