, 1890-04-13

Biographical.
Samuel j. Randall was born in Phila-
delphia. Oct. 30. 1928. His father was
Josiah Randall, a lawyer OF high standing
in that city. and his mother was Ann
Worrall, a daughter Of Gen. Joseph
Worrall, a Democratic leader in the time
of Jefferson. After receiving an academic
education, young Randall entered into
mercantile life, but he showed an early
taste for politics, and when quite a young
was elected a member of the city council
of Philadelphia. He served four years
in this capacity. and was afterwards cleo
ted to a term in the state nate
Mr.. Randall was a member OF the
First troop. Philadelphia city cavalry"
n volunteer military company organized
IN IVA Immediately after the fall OF
Fort Sumter the troop rendered It's ser
vices to the government, and was mus
tered into service May 10, 1861, for the
term of ninety days. 1t was attached TO
the 2nd United States cavalry. con-
manded by Col. afterwards generaD
George Ii. Thomas, and assigned to the
command OF Gen. Robert Patterson. who
says of it: 1T was with me in the valley OF
the Shenandoah in the summer of 1861.
II was in the advance at the battle of
Failing Waters. when, tor the hrst and
only time, that gallant soldier, Stonewall
Jackson, was defeated and driven back"
Sergt. s. j. Randall acted as quarter
master oil the company and was alter
ward promoted to the rank of cornet-a
rank corresponding to that of captain In
the regular army. On the first intima-
ton of the advance OF the confederate
army north of the Potomac. in June,
1863, Cornet Randall. with his command,
made an important reconnaissance. cap
turing several of the enemy and estab-
fishing their presence in large force be.
tween Chambersburg and Williamsport.
Retiring from Gettysburg as the confed-
crate army entered. the troop had a
skirmish with an advancing force under
Gen. j. b. Gordon near S~usquehanna.
During the battle Of Gettysburg Mr.. Ran
dali was provost marshal Of Columbia.
Being released from duty after the re-
treat of the invading army, letters were
received by "Cornet S. j. Randall. com
handing LIST CITY troop" from the gov
ern or of thestate and The war department
thanking the company for its efficient
AT the convcning of the %thirty-eiehth
Dec. 4. 1868, Mr.. Randall took
his seat in the house o. representatives.
He has been elected to every succeeding
congress since In The thirty. eighth con.
Rress he served on the committee on pub
lie grounds and buildings; in the thirty
ninth. or the committees on banking and
retrencbment and the assassina-
tiob OF President Lincoln. Elected as a
democrat. he has usually acted with
party. Without occupying the atten-
tion'of the house with long speeches he
indicated his. interest in pending leg
by frequently participating briefly
and pointedly in its discussions. In the
forty first congress he was a member OF
the committee on privileges and elections,
on expenditures in the treasury depart
ment, and OF the Joint committee
on re~trenchment. In the fcrty-sec-
ond and forty third congresses he served
on the committee ON banxing and cur
rency, postofice and postroads, and on
rules, and was one of the most influential
members ofthe minority. His triumphant
leadership in the two days and all nights
contest to prevent the force bill from
going to the senate in time for action on
1t brought him first into great promin-
ence. When the Democrats came into
power at the opening OF the forty fourth
congress in December. 1875, Mr.. Randall
was made chairman OF the committee on
appropriations. He devoted himself to
the work of retrcnchment and succeeded
in cutting down the appropriation many
millions.
On Dec. 4. 1876, Mr.. Randall was cleo
ted to ill the vacancy in the office of
speaker occasioned by the death OF Mich.
ael o. Kerr.
1t was greatly owing to his brave and
atarpnInaH cntr,t that tho .urh,lo. l.
lions in the house were held in check, and
the results OF the electoral commission
quietly acdulesced in. As he expressed
it in bis valedictory at the close of this
The Democratic party yielded
temporary possession of the administra-
ton rather than entail upon the people
civil war with all its attendant horrors."
At the called session of the forty fifth
congress Oct |, 1877. he was reelected
At the extra session in March,
1879 he was again elected speaker of the
congress. The Republicans
then came int power, and the speaker
fell to j. Warren Keifer of Ohio.
In 1888, when the Democrats again got
control OF the house. Randall was a
prominent candidate for speaker, but he
beaten by Carlisle of Kentucky.
Mr.. Randall was long a presidential
possibility, but he was never thoroughly
in accord with his party on the tariff
question. In personal appearance he was
a handsome man, with stalwart form.
clean-shaven face and strongly marked
He was a born leader of men.
thoroughly aggressive and magnificently
equipped intellectually for the congress
sional arena. He was a thoroughly hon.
est man. and. with all his opportunities
for money making, died poor.
BaIdwin's Bad Break.