Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-14
pal parties to il, the following brief
recital Of facts seems necessary:

family" In l7T6 he represented tho
city Of Williamsburg. then the capital
Of Virginia, in the Convention which
framed its first Constitution, and which
conferred upon him the Office of After
ney-G General Of the State. In 1879 he
was dcputed to the Continental Con-
gress. and remained member until
| Use. In 1856 he was elected Gov
orpor Of Virginia by the General As
sembly, and was chosen by the same
body one Of the seven delegates to the
Convention at Annapolis, and in the
following year to the General Con-
yention which framed the Con-
stitution Of the United States, over
which Washington presided. In 1888
he was elected to the Virginia Convcn-
ton called to decide upon the adoption
or rejection Of the Federal Constitu-
ton, which he earnestly advocated,
and Patrick Henry, with his we'll
known eloquence, as earnestly OPP
posed. In 1870 he was appointed by
Washington the first Attorney-General
Of the United States under the new
Constitution, as he had been the first
Acknowledgement Of Virginia. In
1875 he succeeded Mr.. Jefferson as
Secretary Of State in the Cabinet Of
President Washington, and until his
voluntary withdrawal therefrom on the
10th of August, 1895, Washington had
had for twenty years at least no more
devoted and intimate friend and ardent
admirer, nor any in whom he lad more
unlimited confidence. In his letter ad-
dressed to the President indicating
himself from the imputations Of official
misconduct, which had been drawn by
| his political enemies in the Cabinet from
the secret and incomplete dispatch of
neutrality-suspicious. afterwards DIS
claimed and repudiated by Fduchet
himsel(-Mr. Randolph says: " Sir,
never until the 18th Of August. 1875,
could have believed that in address,
ing you without the restraint Of Off
cial relation ! should use any other
language than that of friend.
From an carly period of my life
was taught to esteem you-as
! advanced in years was habituated
to revere You; you strengthened my
prepossessionS by marks Of attention
and if by some others you have been
insidiously pampered with more lavish
assurances OF an afiectionate attach
ment, from me you have experienced
a sincere anxiety to continue your
reputation upon its ancient basis, the
heart of the people. That
you prejudged my case is proclaimed
by your actions.
ION the evening of the 18th Of Au-
gust, 1895, Mr.. Fauchet's letter was
presented to you by Mr.. Wolcott. AT
all hours of the day | was ready to
obey your summons. On every day ex-
cept Sunday, and perhaps twice day,
! had a private interview with you.
Twice spoke to you Of the warmth |
which MeSsrs. Wolcott and Pickering |
had discovered on the 10Th in the dis
cussion Of the treaty in your room, and
which undoubtedly. as it now appears,
sprang from a knowledge Of that letter.
On the Nth you yelled your meditated |
stroke by visit at my house. On the
18th you invited me in the most cordial |
way to dine with a party Of chosen |
friends, and placed me at the foot Of
your table. On the 18th the same air
of hospitality was assumed. But the
system Of concealment, which had been
practiced under the united auspices Of the
British Minister and the American Sc |
cretary of the Treasury, was not thought /
unworthy of your adoption Mr.. VOL
colt had been priyy to the letter at least
from the 2sth of July, and the Presi-
dent of the United States from the lth /
of August, when the final catastrophe /
seemed to be secure. Why was all /
this strategem observed towards him Of 1
whose fidelity you had never entertained 1
a doubt? 1t was in perfect uni
son with the events Of the 10Th of |
August when your tribunal of inquiry .
had been sitting more than an hour be- |
fore | was admitted when | was re- !
ceiyed in the form Of State criminal /
when those who had been plotting /
against me were invited to interrogate /
when in military style | was directed |
to retire until you should converse with /
them"
In another part Of this letter to the I
President Mr.. Randolph reminds him
that up to this date (hs withdrawal !
from the Cabinet) he had been the most |
constant and jealous defender Of the |
President against the criticisms Of his |
4 administration by the leaders of his !
own (Mr. Randolph's) party. and there
10y incurred their serious distrust. How
Incredible, then, the statement that Mr.. J
Randolph chad made injurious impu- |
tations" on Washington before his !
withdrawal from the Cabinet. Even
after that date, under all the provoca-
ton which he mad received, nothing to !
Washington's disparagement was ever
uttered or written by Mr.. Randolph, 50 |
far as is known, except what is con-
tanned in his " Nindication above |
quoted from. And even in that. under !
the circumstances already referred to,
his language must be conceded to be no |
more severe than was unavoidable, and
scarcely more than a recital of facts.
In this connection it would not be |
Just to overlook the letter of Mr.. Ran
doph TO the Hon. BuShrod Washing
ton Of July >. 1910, quoted by Mr.. |
Winthrop. In that letter Mr.. Ran
dolph declares: g do not retain the
smallest degree Of that feeling which |
reused me fifteen years ago against some
individuals for the world contains no
treasure. deception, or charm which |
can seduce me from the consolation of
being in a state OF goodwill towards
all mankind" He then expresses :" his
contrition that he suffered his irritation,
let the cause be ichat 1t mighf, to use !
some OF those expressions respecting him
IGen. Washington which at that moment
OF his indifference to the ideas OF the
world. he wished TO recall, as being in
consistent with his subsequent convic-
ton" Ny life he adds, twill, !
hope, be sufficiently extended for the
recording of my sincere opinion Of his
virtues and merit in style which is not