The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-09-24
JOHN RANDOLPH.
Gossip About Him-Instances of His Ar
rogarce and Insuits-Reminiscence of
His Duels,

rogarce and Observation-Disclosures of
His Duels.
Washington Letter to Cleveland Leader.
l have been much interested lately
in the study OF John Randolph of
Roanoke, and nowhere do l find q bet
ter description than in the private
memoirs of Ogle Tayloe, one of the
rich old citizens OF Washington, who
published his recollections some time
ago, exclusively for the use of his
friends. These stores OF Tayloe have
never gotten into general circulation.
He published only very few OF his
books, and they never get into the
stores. Reading them is like looking
over some old manuscript diary of
the past, and from their pages you
can get more real truth as to the pri-
vate life OF our great statesman than
from history. The following letter l
quote freely from Tayloe's book about
Randolph, and in many instances YER
batim:-
"John Randolph" says Mr.. Tayloe,
"was unquestionably man OF genius,
OF rare eloquence, and high literary at
tainments. His penetrating and mel
lifiuous voice was wonderful Though
not equal to Clay's) it's low notes
reaching every part ofthe largest hall.
lie and Clay were rivals in eloquence
and debate. They represented op-
posing political parties and principles.
The one patrician by birth, the 9TH
er sprung from the epeople. Both were
born in Virginia. There were giants
in those days. Randolph started in
life as the tribune OF the people, fol-
lower OF Jefferson; but, when q leader
himself, he changed some of his opin-
ions, and became aristocratic, proud,
and overbearing. He prided himself
on the forte and style OF an English
gentleman. He dressed well and APP
propriately, importing his clothes from
England. When he rode his blood
horse-the way he usually moved-he
wore leather breeches and white tops
He drove his phaeton, his servant fol.
lowing on horseback, or was driven in
his chariot and four, the carriage and
harness from Longacre. London. But,
in some respects, Mr. Randolph was a
lusus nature. The Hon. Richard
Rush, in a controversy, described him,
not inaptly:-
/" "A fiend, lean and lank,
That moved upon aspndlc shank
"Mr. Randolph was tall and thin,
as straight as an Indian. He walked
like one, and prided himself on his
descent from Pocahontas. He was
quick at repartee, and unsparing in
satire"
"For meanness and pretension he
expressed the greatest scorn. A few
examples will suffice. In one of his
walks along Pennsylvania avenue, in
Washington, he was overtaken by an
obese gentleman, putting from his exer-
ton, with the remark: You walk
very fast, Mr.. Randolph lean walk
q little faster, was the reply, striding
away from him. A sycophant follow
ed him to a coachmaker's repository
and volunteered his opinion on a
close carriage. Please examine the |
interior, said Mr. Randolph, and then
fastened him in and walked off. A |
person meaning to be very civil to Mr..
Randolph, on meeting him at Rich
mond, said to him, 4 lately passed by
your house i hope, sir, you'll al
ways pass it by, was Mr.. Randolph's
reply. On his being prosecutor
in the celebrated trial of Judge
Chase, it was remarked to him, by
supple NJ. c., OF his kinsman, the &C.
compilshed gentleman, David Meade
Randolph, whose testimony favored |
Judge Chase, that it was not to be
relied upon I would sooner believe
Mr.. Randolph's s word, was the reply
than yours, sir, upon your OATH In
reply to sophomorical sort of men,
her OF Congress, who had eulogized Mr..
Randolph's great talent, concluding
with the remark, but were he Obliged
to take his heart with his head, he
would prefer to remain as he is, Mr..
Randolph, with mock humility, depre-
Gated the praise, although coming
from one OF high moral qualities OF the
honorable gentleman; but if l were
Obliged to have his head, even with
his noble heart, l too should prefer to
remain MS | am In the war of 1912,
q pretentious politician, a militia
general, at a dinner party, boasting
of our American prowess, used the
word We He was silenced by
Mr.. Randolph's s reply: Did you say
we, General?' To another general,
in debate on the floor of Congress, he
having been unfortunatein in an attempt
to invade Canada, and then making
an onslaught on the Secretary OF War,
Mr.. Calhoun, Mr.. Randolph replied by
quoting from his proclamation, with
significant emphasis: The gentle
man is at last carrying the war into
the enemy's country One of the
earliest speeches Mr.. Calhoun made in
Congress, was to assail Mr.. Randolph
for his 'audacity in comparing himself
to the great Lord Chatham Mr.. Ran
dolph modestly disclaimed the pretel-
sion, but added: In one thing we are
alike, pointing his finger to Mr. CAL
houn, every scoundrel assails me-
An able, but vain member of Con-
gress, attacked Mr.. Randolph in de-
bate. He merely replied, to the others
great indignation: Tray, Blanche,
and Sweetheart all bark ut me-
'''rhe distinguished Mr.. Pleasants
resolved to avenge an insult, and
planted himself in front of Mr.. Ran
dolph, on the main street in Rich
mond, saying: II don't get out of the
way for ID rascal But I do
was Mr.. Randolph's prompt reply.
stepping aside. Mr.. Pleasant laughed
and acknowledged himself beaten. He
and Mr.. Randolph were afterwards on
friendly terms. When Lord Brougham
was bent on the ballot vote in En-
gland, a scheme of his cwn, he met
Mr.. Randolph at fashionable dinner
party in London, and inquired OF aim
the opinion in his country about the
ballot: The reply was: "Inmy state,
\ i. /. L.