Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-25
EDMUND RANDOLPH.
SOME Few LIGHTS THEOwg on HIS
ToRIcAL POINTS.
Mr.. oonvay's View Book-Randolph's Re-
lation with wssaington-An
Elaborate Defence.
for the plspatch.I

Mr.. Conway's pen-aRd who has not P
will expect treat IN this volume, some
foretAste OF which has been given in
articles heretofore contributed by the
author TO the magazines However high
his expectations. the reader Will not DO
disappointed. Mr. Conway is full OF
his subject, and it Is one worthy OF his
pen. 1t is not too much to say that he
has wiped from the fair name OF one OF
the ablest and purest of our Reyolu-
tionAry fathers the stain with which In
tugue and perfdy had blackened 1t,
and by the production Of documents
from the archives of the British and
French Governments has established the
innocence Of the man who, by their
Ministers, was driven from tho Cabinet
of Washington undsr a cloud to die OF
broken heart.
Edmund Randolph, the son Of long
line Of honored ancestry, WAS born 10th
Of August, 1888. His father, the sc-
compllshed Kings Attorney for Nir-
einia, adhered to tue royal cause on the
breaking out of the Revolution and
called for England. Not 80 with bis
talented son. Ee at the age OF twenty
one made his way to the American camp
vt cambridge with letters OF introduce
ton from benjamin Harrison, Richard
Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, and Thomas
Jefferson, which at once secured him
the position Of aide-de-camp to wash
Ington. From that day to the day OF
bis fall, in 1895, there existed the warm
est friendship and closest intimacy be-
tween the two. At the age OF twenty
two he was O wonderland probably
the youngest nember-of the famous
Convention of Virginia which declared
Independence thus entering public life
along with his intimate friend, James
Madison, who was about the same
age. Ills ability WAS at once recognized
by bis appointment on the committee
that drafted the Bill OF hights-tbat won
der of political science-and the first
Constitution OF the State. Fortunately
he has left an interesting account OF the
proceedings Of the committee and con-
yention in formulating these great pa
pers, which were tho mould IN which
have been cast al the American constl-
buttons. The convention deemed him a
worthy successor to the Office vacated by
tho flight Of his father and he was
elected Attorney-General for the new
State, an Office he held till he became its
Governor in 1856. More than once
during this time he represented the State
in the Continental Congress.
While Governor Of the State it fell to
his lot TO arrange for the convention
called by Virginia to revise the Const-
tuition Of the United States, to which he
was a delegate. To him in great measure
the country was indebted for tho attend
ance OF Washington. lie had at fret de-
clined the appointment OF delegate, but
being urged by Randolph, who would
not accept his resignation, be finally &C
cepted. Beyond doubt the presence OF
Washington harmonlzed conflicting IN
terests 50 as to enable the convention to
ngree on tho Federal Constitution, and
his earnest advocacy OF it afterwards Sc
cured its adoption. 1t fell to the lot OF
Randolph to introduce into the con-
vention the plan of the new
government proposed by the Nlr-
gina delegation, which, with some I'M
portant alterations, formed the basis Of
tho instrument framed. But in the pro-
cess OF generation the germ was 80 d.
verted FROM its proper development
that he could not conscientlOusly sign
tho proposed instrument. The failure
OF Randolph in one respect is strikingly
noticed by his biographsr. lie says:
at il melancholy to reflect that the con-
vention disregarded Randolph's efforts
TO make the relative State and Federal
powers definite and unmistakable. The
clause ho would have added in ink has
since been written in blood. The chap
ters upon RandoIph's connection with
the Constitution are OF the deepest in
terest and fraught with instruction to
the student Of our constitutional gov
erpment.
But Randolph soon concluded, With
Washington, that, though not perfect,
the Constitution WAS tho best that could
10 then framed and was far preferable
10 tho existing government under which
disunion WAs threatened. be then bold
~ declared his intention TO support 1t
in tho Virginia Convention called TO con
cider it. 1t is probable that Mr.. Con-
way attributes too much to the influence
OF Randolph in giving the history OF
that convention. 10 Is quite certain that
the admirers OF Madison will not agree
taat "the struggle Ia the Virginia Con-
yention, which opened June ,, 1873,
Was manly combat between Randolph
and Henry" But, nevertheless, that
Randolph was a great power in that
body cannot be denied, and this IN spite
Of the fact that he had changed front on
the question Of adoption.
Under the new government Washing
ton called him 10 the portfolio OF Attor-
ney-deneral, and SO ably did he fill the
position that on the retirement OF Jefler-
son as Secretary OF state in 1893 no
was transferred to that then specially i'm
portsnt post
No higher compliment could have
been paid him by the Father Of his
Country, as the bark Of State, but lately
launched, was in imminent danger OF be-
Ing stranded.
The American trade was the prize con-
tended for by the tao European bellige-
rents, ENGLAND and France, and each
AAiAfdkCutA VIZ I nAtt-AA tftaANo N++AA VOL -
she did not break with the other.
The young nation was as yet too fee
bic to risk war with either had II been
heartily approved OF by her people But
the country was rent by discussion. The
great parties which have since contended
for the control OF the Government we're
now in the vigor, and alas, with the in
discretion OF youth, the "FederAlists. "
desiring sstrong Government, We're nstu-
rally inclined towards England, while
the Republicans, more strongly demo
cratic, were openly the friends Of the
French republic, which had plunged
into a delirium OF license.
"The war between England and France
wes rejected here in a conflict yerging on
bloodshel." Washington was doing his
best, as be said, to steer between Scylla
and Charibdis, and u bis aid he called his
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