Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-05

the life of John Randolph was romance
! around which has always lowered a
mystery quite In accord with the rest OF
his strange career. On plantation neal
| his mothers home lived Maria Ward, a
young girl Of wonderful beauty, famed as
the belle Of her day In the State. All the
wild devotion in Randolph's nature was
concentrated on his beautiful neighbor,
and finally they became betrothed. one
day, however, they parted after a long,
solemn interview, and from that time
never met when possible to avoid it,
though their interest in each other SEEM
ed undated. Neither Of them could ever
be induced to explain the strange oc-
currence. In after years Miss Ward mar
ried his cousin, Peyton Randolph, and at
her death left a sealed package of letters,
with solemn injunctions that II should be
kept unopened and given TO her daughter,
then years old, when she should be
Of age. This package, it is thought, ex-
planned the reasons of the broken en-
gagement, but the executors concluded
the papers were to sacred too chance
the uncertainties Of so many years and
burned them unopened, destroying at the
same time all chances of ever solving
the mystery.
John Randolph re-entered Congress in
health, and despite the fact that he suf-
fered 10 an alarming extent the balance
OF his life he took a prominent part I'm
politics. He opposed the national bank
bill, the tariff the Missouri compromise
and numerous other measures of impor-
lance which were brought forward. He
cared little for the approval or disap-
prevail of any individual and upheld his
opinion in spite of every one. He was
passionately devoted TO his State. This
sentiment, indeed, ruled him, and even
his enemies could not but admire it in
him. His chief political efforts were ex-
erted for States rights in opposition to
most Of the party leaders of the day,
who favored strong central government
Studying his life, one becomes impressed
with the fact that his most fiery shafts
and bitterest taunts were directed not so
much against his own enemies as against
those whom he considered the foes of his
State.
IN THE 1929 CONVENTION.
Randolph took brilliant part in the
famous Virginia convention of 1929, where
the greatness of his intellect and elo-
quence was conspicuous even In an as
sembly composed OF such men as Mon
roe, Madison, and John Marshall. A few
months before his death the country was
thrown into great excitement by Andrew
Jacksons proclamation TO enforce the
tariff law. Randolph, though Ill in bed
at the time, opposed this so bitterly that
he insisted on being lifted into his coach
and driven from county to county, where
he addressed the people with all the ear
nestness OF dying man. His district
Immediately adopted resolutions con-
demning the proclamation as an in
fringement upon the rights Of the States,
and the effect OF his eloquenco spreading
abroad had great influence In bringing
about the compromise bill of 1891 This
last powerful stroke for the cause for
which the powers Of his genius and elo-
quence had been so constantly exerted
seemed to form fitting end TO the life |
or John Randolph. He died June a. 1893, |
at the City Hotel, in Philadelphia, where |
he had gone to set sail for England. On |
his way there he passed through Wash |
ington, and, dragging his emaciated body !
with difficulty TO the Senate chamber, |
again met Henry Clay. The former ene- |
mics had touching interview and parted, |
for the last time, in peace and good will. |
After his death Randolphs body was
brought to the old homestead, In this
State, and buried under the pines OF |
Roanoke In the midst OF that solitude
which he loved so we'll during life. Many
years later--about ten years ago-his- rela-
lives decided to remove his remains to
This was done at the joint
expense Of a number Of the kinspeople OF
the statesman. chief among whom was
John Randolph Bryan. The reinterment
was made privately. only few persons
being witnesses TO the solemn ceremony.
JOHN RANDOLPH.
THE TOMB OF JOHN RIA
NDOLPH OF ROANOKE.