The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1908-05-22
May 18Th, 1925.

tors of Prince Edward came out with
a statement Of their entire confidence
i'm John Randolph, Of which endorse
ment he wrote "lf anything could
exhilaraie me IL would be such man
Hesitation Of the confidence Of those
who know me best Randolph had
the misfortune To believe that he was
generally misunderstood. lie was
rather pleased at this until he beg III To
grow old.
Garland gives the following account
of Mr. Randolph's speech at Prince
Edward Courthouse, May IS, 1873.
1T was the first time the writer had
the pleasure of seeing Mr.. Randolph
among his constituents, or hearing
him on the hastings. lie was then a
lad at the neighboring college, Hamp-
den-Sydney. That day was given as
a holiday 10 the students, and they all
repaired AT an early hour 10 the court
house TO see the wonderful man Of
whom they had heard 50 much.
d" saw Mr.. Randolph when he ar
rived on the courthouse green He
alighled from his sulky some distance
from the courthouse, and handed over
the rcins to Johnny, who was in an in
slant by his side. lie was dressed in
his old uniform Of buff and blue, with
knee buckles, and long fair-top boots.
lie seemed to limp slightly in his gait
which only added dignity and gravity
To his carriage The moment his ar
rival was known the people came
locking from all directions towards
him. The tavern porches, the shops
and offices were soon emptied, and
everybody went running towards the
great object Of attraction. His old ac-
quaintances and who were not old
acquaintance therel were eager 10
take him by the hand, they pressed
forward without ceremony, and their
greetings were most cordially recipro-
Gated. To all the old men he had
something to say, pointed and appro-
pirate. that seemed To give them IN
finite satisfaction. lie marched slowly
towards the courthouse, still greeting
and talking with his friends. Many
followed him. doubtless, from curios-
ity: but much the largest portion of
the crowd that lowered around him
were men who had known him all
their lives and had seen him hun
bred time. before; yet they followed
him with rs much interest a the
Youngest school boy there, and their
eyes could not be stated by gazing upon
him.
"Mr Randolph was pressed to make
speech He pleaded his wreiched
health and begged To be excused.
Finding that no apology would be
taken. that such men as the Morions,
the Prices. the Watkins and the Ven
ablcs were urging ON him to say some
thing To crafty the people, he at
length c0nsented and retiring from
the multitude, hc sat down on an
oaken bench i'm the corner OF the court
house yard and rested his head on the
end of his umbrella. After sitting
some ten or fifteen minutes, he arose
and asked the sheriff To make procla-
nation that he would address the peo-
pie.
"The newspapers said He descant-
eli with great eloquence and power ON
the alarming encroachments of the
general government upon the rights OF
the States. have mo- doubt that was
the theme Of his discourse. But what
/ saw shall never forget THE man
ner of the man The tall, slender fig
ure, swarthy complexion, animated
countenance. the solemn glance that
passed leisurely over the audience,
hushed into silence before him, and
bending forward To catch every look
every motion, and every word Of the
inspired orator the clear, silver tones
of his voice: the distinct utterance; the
twinkling of that long, slender fore
finger that accompanied the keen, cut
ting sarcasm of his words-ail these ]
can never forget. Those who have
heard him elsewhere concur IN the
opinion that before the people Of Prince
Edward he was peculiarly free and
happy.
" From the stand Mr.. Randolph re-
tired To the bench m the courthouse
The polls were opened and the voting
commenced. Each one, as he came
up. pronounced with "A clear and audi
bic voice the name of John Randolph
as the person voted for Congress.
There was not a dissenting voice
When any Of the old men gave his
vote. Mr.. Randolph partly rose from
his seat and thanked him for his vote
"None could look upon the scene
without eXclaiming that with such
constituents and such representative
no danger or harm could beiall the
Republic. They were men, for the
most part, owners Of the soil aud liv
ing by it, cultivation; men who, from
their youth up, by the daily reading
of the best conducted political jour
mails. and their monthly conversations
and discussions at the courthouse on
political topics, had become familiar
with the institutions Of their country
and the manner in which they hao
been conducted who knew the char
acters of all public men that had risen
above neighborhood reputation, and
could Judge dispassionately and with
lout enthusiasm of their objects and