Newspapers / Mecklenburg Jeffersonian (Charlotte, N.C.) / June 8, 1841, edition 1 / Page 1
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rm, 1641 levied in son, and aishce. f»rt, that t>itant of >¥cation Mcck- !UDes P. >ur said at on the here re lent pro ^vied ou li Court, intl 65tji M. c. r. cTistom- IS dispo- i, &c., to ill close ;\c cnsu- evcr, lie be glad rticle in ills. ntion iQ |n, either to come icstly rc^ for his losed. 1-tc mer., it to the Row, a will bt ;es to he Ire no et- liodcrate, 1S41. lly bc(T= .f C har ts! to Ihr E E F. le years, [e prices 111 insun' [le will of the lAKE. 2-r PLAN |EK,an(i list of to add idvaiila- Iditionu- wliicli Prices of llSTER pblishcil ^es each. 3, “ Pre- consist- la sinffl^ Itions the file riOi‘'^'S) Iherwisc. Ibscriber (except Imust be gk of lo.sa •es cou- lich have hands discon- lume has |ance for ice with not be shor aH'l soon (1=' jd after I will Iscontin- [thercoa Itor. Urotion I eve* ' accor* II.) issued) linstead, If either le of do |mbcr ot in ad- and ill jditi^>n= [ol. 7 or lev/ sab" land II ) lall the id \vh3 10 fore- choiccj lo be is- statelj lividitfil )stotficf guch (! hkc iviinti^' I the ped f^^ "post* 1 pro' I Ucatioii I ^IN. pay- lyinS _,sin sheri |6Ub* l-SpC' /oeu lub- •'pef' 11^) JOSEPH W. HAMPTON,- ‘The powers granted under the Constitution, being dcrive.l from the People of tli3 Urntjd States, nny be nuramod by th'r.n, whenevjr pcrvcrtc l to their injury or oppression.”—Madison.. -Editor anil Piiblislier. VOLUME I, »s 8, The '• 'Mech^enburp Jcfcrsoniari'' is pubhshcd weekly, at Two Dollar, and Fifty Cents, il paid in advance; or Three Dollars, if not paid before the expiration of three months from the time of subscribing. Any p.TSun who will prccurc s(‘.r subscribers and become re.-ponsiblc for their subboriphon^ shall have a copy of the paper gratis or, a club of Icn sub- Ecrtbere may have the paper oivj year for Ticcnly Dollars ia advance. No paper ill be discoutuiucd wlulo ihc sunscrioer ow^cs any thing, if be is able to pay;—and a failure to ni)tify the l^c.i.or of a wish fo discontinue at least one month befon' thcexpira' 't’.on of the time paid for, will be co:i?idcrcd a now engagement, Adreri‘scment!} will be con.spicuour,!y and corrcctly insert ed at One Dollar poT square for the first ins rtion, and Ticcn- iij-JivF Caits for each continuanec—except Court and other judicial advertisements, which will be charged ticcnty-fivcpcr f'cnt. higher than the above rates, (ovv-ing to the delay, gene ral!}', attendant upon collections). A liberal discount will be made to t!iose who advertise by the year. Advertisements si nt iu for publication, must b3 marked with the number of inser tions desired, or thf'y will be publishjd untd forbid and eharg* rd nc ’ordingly. Xy Loiters to the Editor, unless containing money In sum? of Fire Dollars, or over, must come free of postage, or the arnciunt paid at the officc hero wdl bj chargod to tiie v/iittT, in every instance, and collected r.s other accoiuits. PR08PECTUS OF THE gjcmrsioniau gjisaig'isaj ndAWHsr© \u J 1155 ; V. licii IHIVI cin.' W*i» • ® rally, tliat he has opened a shop in town of Charlotte, nearly opposKe RE^'PECTFUI.L V inforins tlio cit- i.^ens ofCiiarlotte and the pnhiic iiene- iiitlie the ‘•Carolina Inn,” where he will he j^hul to receive work in his line of business. Clocks, Watcher?, &c., will be repaired in the most substantial manner, at short notice, on moderate term?:, and warranted to perform well. A portion of public patronage is respectfully solicilcil, Charlotte, June 1, 3S41. 13...r DR. G. J. FHX Has just rcc.civcd a large and general assortment of present is the first effort that iias been made L to estabhsh an organ at the birth-place of Ame rican Independence, thrgurrh wkich the doctrines of tlie Democratic Party could be Ireely promulgated and defended—in which the great jjrincipics of Lib erty and Equatity for wliich the Ai-exanders, the Poi.Ks, and thetr heroic compntriot.s perilled their all on Die 20th May, 1775, could at all times fiml an xinshrinking advocate. Its succes.^ rests chietl}'with the Republican party of Mecklenburg—and to thenu and the Republicans of the t.nirrounding country the tippeal is now made tor sujjport. , The Jefiersonian will as.sume as its political creotl, those landmarks of th;: Republican Party, the doc trines set ibrth in the Kentucky ami Virginia Reso lutions of 1798—believing, as tne undersigned does, that the authors of tiiese papers. Vv'lio bore a conspicu ous part in framing our system of Government, were b'bst qualiiied to hand down to po.-t(n’ity a correct ex- po.sifion of its true spirit—tiie best judges of what ])ov»'er3 .were delegated 1>V; and what reserved to, the States. It will oppose, as dai;gcrou.=; lo our free ivislitutions, 'i.e spirit of monopoly., wliich has been stealthily, but stoadiK' increasing in the country from the founda tion of our Government. 'I'hc most odious feature in this systcna is, that it robs the ?.t.\NV, im'perceptihbj, to enrich the few;—It clotlies a few wealthy indivi- duai> with power not only to control the wages ot i the laboring man, but also ot flieir pleasure to inflate r or depress tlie commerce arid bu.-dness ol^the whole 'Muniry—exciting a spirit of extravagance, which it terminates iu pecuniary ruin, and too often the mor al degradation of its victims. This syatein must be thoroughly I'eforntcJ. before we ca.i Jiope to see set tled prosperity smile alike upon all our citizens. To ;.id ia producing this roforWs v.’ill be one of the main objccfs of the .letlersonian. It will war against f..r- rluah'o iirirUc^cs., or partial Icgi^latiou^ under '.'»hat- ‘ver guise granted by our Legislatures : and, there fore, will oppose the chartering of a United States Jbuik, Internal Improvements by the Federal Gov- ‘ rnment, a revival of the Tariil' System, and the new :’deral scheme of the General Government ass\im- ingtopayto foreign moneychangers tiro hundred ■1,1(11 ims of dollars, borrowed by a few States for local pt'.rpcscs. As a question of vital importance lo the South, and one wliich, from various causes, is every day asf'-uming a more momentous and av.'fvd aspect, the Jetfersoniaii will not fail lo keep its readers regularly and accurately advised of the movements of the '\orthern Abolitionists, it mupt be evident to all I andid observers, that a portion of the party press of ihe South have hitherto been too silent on tiiis svd>- ject. Wc shall, therefore, without the fear of being de nounced as an alarmist, lend our humble aid to assist m avrakening the People of the South to due vigi^ lance and a sense of their real danger. While a portion of the columns of tlie Jeffersonian will be devoted to political difcussion, the great inte rests of MoRAi.p, Litei?ati:i;k, AoRicuLTcni:, and tlie Mechamc Arts, shall not he neglected. With the choicest selections on tliese subjects, and a due quantity of light reading, the Editor hopes to render his sheet agreeable and profitable to all classes in society. ~ Orders for the paper, postage paid, addressed to tlie Editor of the Jeirersom'an. Charlotte, N. C.,” v. ill be promptly complied with. Postmasters are requested to act as Agents fjr ‘he paper, in receiving and forwarding the names oj subscribers and their subscriptions. The Terms of the paper will be founfi above. JOS. W. HAMPTON. Ciiariolte,^Vlarcli 5, 1S41. Catawba Spriii^s. THE Subscriber would inform the public generally, that he is prepared to entertain Visiters at the above celebrated watering-place, and pledges himself that no efforts shall lie spared to render comfortable and profitable the stay of all who may call on him. Terms of board moderate, to suit the times. THOMAS HAMPTOxN. Lincoln county, N. C., April 6, ISiO. The Camden Journal will insert tlie above 3 weeks, and the Charleston Courier, w’cekly, to the amount of 3, and forward the accounts to T. H. WILLIAM HUISTER would inform liis custo mers and the public generally, that he still continues the BOOK-BINDING BUSINESS at his old sUind, a few doors south-east of the Brach Mipt. He will be happy to receiv'e orders in his line, and pledges lumsell to spare no pains to give complete satisfaction. Orders left at his Shop, or at the Office of the Mecklenburg Jeffersonian,’* will receiv’-e immediate attention. [Charlotte, March 5,1841. Administrators Notice. Dyc-Stidls, Perruiiiery, Thoivipsonian 3Icdiciiio.r. \Viiifs and Spirits for medical use, And a variety of other articles, all of Vvdiich he warrants genuine, atid will sell low for cosh. Charlotte, April i7, 1S40. 8....r W^TTCW'. A VINO removed their stock of Goods to the country, and declined busiuf'.-ss in Ciiarlott*, the undersigned earnestly request all persons owinir them, cither by note or account, imme«liately to call and make settlement. 'WILLIAM ALEXANDER will remain in Charlotte to clo:je the businc.':s of the late concern, and it is hoped those indebted will not di.-regard this-notice;—at any rat*', all are re quested to call and see him on tlie subject, anti such as ov.'e accounts, and cannot now pay, can close them by note. The subscribers will keep constantly on hand a lariTC and well selected stock of And every other artii’le in the mercantile line, at their stand at C'liEAll C’llEEK-in this County, where they will be pleaded to sue and nocommodatc all who may favor tlicm with a call. ALEX.WDER & BROTHERS. Charlotte, Tklarclj isil. 3-f C H A K L O T T E GOAGH AMD FACTORY. THE undeiTigned respect fully ten- lerr' liis most sincere thanks to the citi zens of CliarlottA) and the surrounding country, for tlie very liberal putronag;; ^ beslbwed upon him since he lias been in business in this place. Hc^ would at the .same time nri.ike it known, tiuit he stiil carries on a Shop at !ii:: ohl stand nearly opposite the Jail, and has on hand ;m assortment oi'Furniture in his line unsurpassed, tor workmanship and style, bj' any si milar c.slabiislunent in the southern country. His manufactures consist, in part, of Open C'loj«e FamiSy Carriagres, Barouches, Bugoy.s^ Suikeys, and (Jarryails, Of nil ]',atterns, and at prices v. hicli cannot fail to suit those v.'ho wish to purchase. And as he uses none but materials of the very best quality, and has in his employ workmen of (experience :ind knov. n capacity, the tindersigned will fetd no hesitation in wari*a,ntiug his work, as to durability, if carefnlly used, REPAIRING done at short notice, and at moderate charges. Owing to the ‘‘pressure of tlie limes,*’ the under signed novv' otiVrs his manofa.ctures at prices v.’bich. he liopes, will not fail to induce purcluisers to r^ive him a call. CARTER CRITTENDEX, C harlotte, April 20, 1S40, 7....F PLANTERS’ HGTfcL, (LATE DAVIS’.) 2^arjiie ^ PKOSPECTL’S. The pubhshers of the Globe have recently given \o the f'.iMitry an cx];‘i^iti;^n ''■f tiie motives which rnmpied the attempt by the b'ederal ]Kirty to pros trate f!i( ir cr^tabiiohnient, by the lawless al i*o_’:aion of liudr contra|j|(||^j!ljf^^ri:it;"r.i co the Srnate. They showed that inere'faerc alreaily six Federal news papers—to which a fecventh is about to be added— published at Washington—all devoted to t.he dis semination of Federal principles, .and the defence of Federal measures. And to make tliis overwhelm ing battery of Federal presses at tiie seat of gov ernment tell Vv ith the more efiect throughout the Union, the character of the CUobe was to be, tarnish ed, its means impoverished, and its political influ ence destroyed, by a sweeping denunciation of in famy on the part of the Federal leaders in the Sen ate—by throwing the dead v/eight of an expendi ture of 10,000 in preparation to do the Congress ional work, on the hands of its publishers, (the prin ters whose contract, was violated,) and by having this whole Vv'ork of defamation and ruin accomplish ed by t!ie judgment of the Senate of the Union to give it the sanction of the highest tribunal known to our country. The work wa.s done by a caucus packed UKijority ol’ Federalists, and the Editors of the Globe are lell to sustain tiieir establishment by. the patronage they mav recieve from political Iriends tor tiie papers they ptiblish. AVe will not ask or re ceive thf' sort ot’ lumpinsr contribution by which the banks and Federal politicians nustain their })resses. \Ve will abandon the publication of the Globe, if it cannot be supported by tlie regubir rubscription price of the jiaper. If such ot" our Democratic iriends v.’Iiost; circumstances do not justiiy a sub- si'ription to tiio daily or s('mi-weekly-papt'r, will pa tronize the cheaper publications is.-uied by us—the Extra Globe—the Congressional Globe', and the Appendix—we shall be enalded to maintain ashere- tol'ore, our corps ot' Congressional Reporters at the cost ol’ per annum, and to draw to our aid some of the ablest pens in our country. We trupt, under these circtunstaces, and at a time when the greatest interests of the country, and its t’uture des tiny. arc put at slake upon Iho c\ ents with which tiie first year of the ]ire>ent Aduiinislrafion is preg nant, tiiut no individual wiio has the cause of De mocracy at heart, Vv ill het^ilate to meetliiis appeal, when ai the same time iie v.'di feel assured that this trilling tax for his own atlvanfago, will sustain iu triumph at AVashington the l^.ig-tried and faithful press of his parly. The extra GLOPE will be published weekly for si.K months, connni-ncing on Wednesday, the lOtli May, and ending on the iOth November next, making twenty-six numbers, the last of which will contain an index. Each niun!>er v.’ill contain six teen royal quarto pfigcs. It w;!l contain principally politicn'l m-vttci Tlie poTtnT*arfispect'and bearinL*' of the measures before Con during the special session will be fully develop' d, and when the }>ro- cerditurs are considered of much iiiterest to tha pub lic, they will be given at length. The (‘ONCiuESSJONAL GLOBE and AP PENDIX will begin with tlie extra ses.sion of Con gress, to commence on Monday, the 31st of May next, and will be continued during the session. The CoNonEssioNAi. Glohe will give an impartial history of the proceedings of both Houses of Con gress; and the Arenxnix will contain all the speech es oul)oth sides of important subjects, at full length, as v. ritlen out or revised by the members themselves. They will be printed as fast as the business of the two [louses furnishes matter tor a number. Il is cer tain that we will publish u-:ore numbers of cach than there will be Vve•^l^s in the sesson. They will be i.s- sued in tl.e same form as the b^xtra Globe, and a cojdous index to each. No:hing but tlie proceedings and speeches of C-ongrcss will be admitted into the Congressional C41obe or Appendix. Tiiese works bvdng printed in a suitable form for binding, with mpious indexes, will Ibrm a vauable, indeed, a necessary, appendage lo the lil,*rary of the statesman and jKihtician, giving, as they do, at an extremely moderate price, a complete epitome of tlie polilical and b'gislative history of the period. Subscri|)lions for the Extha. Globe should be here by the 2Gth May, and for the Congressional Glore and Ariuixnix by the (ith June next, to insure Jill the num’oers, ter:«.-=:. For 1 roMv of tlio Kx!n ('Jlobe n COpH S 12 (io do do )sl r, ]0 20 Having purchased the Hotel formerly Davis’, will continue the establisinnent on the same li beral scale as heretofore, and will rxert themselves to make it a desirable residence for BOARDER S and T RAVE L L E R S, as their Table will be al- way*s supplied v/ith the best tb.e market allbrds, and their Bar v/ith the best Liquors, and tlieir Stables with attentive Ostlers and abundant provender. The establishment w’ill be under the exclusive management of Thomas A. Hague, formerly of tlie Salisbury Hotel, North Carolina, and iiis long experi ence v/ilf, it is confidently hoped, enable hiin to give general satislaction. Camden, S. C,, .Tanuary 29, 1841. 1—Gm “With ScissoRfj sharp and Razor keen. I’ll dress your hair and shave you clean.” BilOS^aparte, Xhc Barber, RESPECI’FULLY informs his customers, ■ that he has removed liis establishment to the cast end of Col Alexanders Long Row, a few doors east of the Courthouse, where he v.nil be pleased to see them at all times. He professes to be master of the “ Tonsorial Art,” and will spare no ef fort to afford entire satisfaction. CJharges moderate, to suit the times. j Charlotte, March 9, 1841. 4 LL persons having claiins against the estate of Gilbert Coles, deed., are hereby notified to present them legally authenticated w'ithin the lime prescribed by law, or this notice will be plead in bar 'if tlieir recovery. All persons indebted to said es tate, are also notified to make immediate payment, tlie services of an officer may he emplovQd- luw. WE are prepared at this Ofnce wath a handsome supply of Fancy Type, to execute all kinds o IC65 lUttiitg/ ino. very superior style, and at short notice. Orders Ami so on in ju'nporlion fora grciiler number. For 1 copy of th'^ Congressional Globe, or Appeiidi.x 50 cents, “ (i coj/u s of either .... $2 50 “ Vi lo (!.) . . . - . 5 00 “ ‘»5 do do . . . • • 10 00 And F-o on in jn-opoilion for n g.vaf^ r number. i .:ytncr‘- fnaybe transmitted hv mail, postage p(iit.^i.\i our risi . joy tiie i :;ni i!ions id’the Post Oliice Department, }>ostniasters are auiiiorized to frank letters containing money lor subscriptions to newspapers. The notes of any bank, cin'i’cnt in the section of country where a subscriber resides, will be recicved by us at par. No attention will he paid to any order unless the v.ioney accoinpaoies it, BLAIR & RIVES. WAsnixGTax City, April 20, 1841. NFORMATION WANTED, of haac Garner . of Wake County, North Carolina, who left his Avife and four small children in August, 1839, slating t!mt he was going to Guilford County to seek em ployment, V. Inch he obtained frorn Mr. Isaac Pills of Jamestown, who engasred hini in MarcJi, 1840, to go to Columbia, South Carolina, to assist in selling a load of Guns or Rifles. Mr. on his retiu’n, tells his flmiily that he lef’t him in Columbia Jail. In January last, young Mr. Pitts carries another load of Guns to South Carolina, and whilst there, he hears of (rarner driving a stage about 100 miles below Columbia. Said Gamer is about 5 feet 7 or 8 inciies high, light compleclion, dark red hair and beard, blue eyes, with a thick upper lip, and inclined to be round shouldered. He cannot read or write, and is very dull of apprehension; he is also very much ad dicted to using profane language. Should this meet the eye of any individual who knows any thing concerning Gai'ner^ they will be doing a humane act by addressing a letter to his distressed wife at Raleigh, N. C. It is the desire of his affectionate and confidential companion that he should return to her and their four helpless children. Should it not be Garners wish to see his wife again, it is hoped that he is not so depraved, and lost to all feeling as not to heed the cries of his chil dren who are now suffering for bread. CINDERELLA GARNER. Raleigh, May 14th, 1841. Warrants, Casas, and Casa JOHN RANDOLPH, OF ROANOKE. From a volume of Sketclies now preparing for tlie Pres.=5, by the author of Clinton Bradshaw, &c. “ Groat wits to madness nearly arc allied.” I remember some years since to have seen John Randolph in Baltimore. I had frequently read and iieard descriptions of him, and one day, as I was standing in Market, now Baitimore-street, I remark ed a tall, thin, unif?ue looking being hurrying to- wju’ds me witli a quick impatient step, evidently much annoyed by a crowd of boys who were fol lowing close at his heels, not in the obstreperous mirth with which they would have followcil a cra zy or drunken man, or an organ grinder an-.i his monkey, but in silent curious wonder w’ith which they would have haunted a Chinese bedecked in full costume. I instantly Icnew the individual to be Unndolph fi'om the descriptions. I therefore ad vanced towards liim, that 1 inigiit make a full ob servation of his person Avithout viofating the rules of courtesy in stopping to ga.'^e at him. As he ap- proached, he occasionally turned towards the boys with an angry glance, blit without saying anything, and then hurried on as if to outstrip them, but it would not do. They followed close behind the ora tor, each one observing him so intently that he said nothing lo his companions. Just before I met him he stopped i\Ir. C—, a cashier of one of the banks, said to lie as odd a fish as John himself 1 loitereil info a store closo by, and unnoticed, remarked the Iloanoke orator for a cotisiderable time, and really he was the strangest looking being I ever beheld. His long thin legs, about as thick as a strong walking cane, and of much such a shape, were en cased in a pair of tight small clothes, so tight that they seemeil part and parcel of the limbs of the wearer. Handsome white stockings were fastened Vv'ith great tidiness at the knees by a small gold buckle, and over them', coming about halfway up the calf, were a pt^r of what, I believe, are called hose, coarse and country knit. He w'ore shoes.— They were old-fashioned, and fastened also with biickles; huge ones, fie trod like an Indian with out turning his toes out, but planking them down straight ahead. It was the fashion in those da3*s to wear a fan-tailed coat w'ith a small collar, and but tons far apart behind and few' on the breast. Mr. Rimdolph’s were the reverse of this, and, instead of his coat being fan-tailM, was what, bo believe, the knights of the needle call swallow-tailed; the coliar was immensely large, the buttons were in k'issing proximity, and they sat together as close on the breast of the garment as the feasters at a crowd ed j)ublic festival. His waist was remarkably slen der; so slender that, as he stood with his arms a kimbo, ho could easily as I thought, with his long bony fingers have spanned it. Around his coat, which was very tight, was held together by one button, and, in consequence, an inch or more of tape, to which it was attached, was perceptible wiiere it was pulled through the cloth. About his neck he w^ore a largo white cravat, in which his chin was occasionally buried as he moved his head in conversation; no shirt collar was perceptible; every other person seemed to pride himself upon the size of his, as they were then worn large. Mr. Randolph’s complexion was precisely that of a mummy, withered, saffron, dry and bloodless: you could not have placed a pin’s point on his face Avhere you would not have touched a wrinkle. His lips Avere ^hin, compressed and colorless; the chin, beardless as a boy's, was broad for the size of his face, u'hich was small; his nose was straight, with nothing remarkable in it, except perhaps it was loo sliort. He wore a fur cap v.'hich he took ofT. stand ing a few moments uncovered. I observed that his bead was quite small, a characteristic which is said to have marked tnany men of talent, Byron and Chief Justice Marshall, for instance. Judge Bur net, of Cincinnati, who has been alike distinguish ed at the bar, on the bench, and in the United States Senate, and whom I have heard no less a judge and possessor of talent than Mr. Ilammond of the Ga zette, sa}', was the clearest and most impressive speaker he ever heard, has also a very small head. Mr. Randolph's hair was verj" fine; line as an in fant’s, and thin. Il Avas very long, and Avas parted Avitb great care on the top of his head, and was lied behind AA'ith a bit of black ribband about three inch es from his neck; the whole of it formed a queue not thicker than the little finger of a delicate girl. His forehead was low with no bumpology about it; i)Ut ins eye, though sunken, AA^as most brilliant and .startling in its glance. It aa’qs not an eye of pro found, but of impulsive and passionate thought, with an expression at times such as phj'sicians de scribe to be that of insanitj’, but an insanity, Avhidi seemed to quicken, not destroy, intellectual acute ness. I neA^er beheld an eye that struck me more. It possessed a species of fascination, such as Avould niake you Avonder OA'er the character of its possess or, Aviihout finding any cIcav in your Av&ndermenl to discover it, except that he Av^as passionate, v.*ay- AA'ard and fearless. He lifted his long bony finger impressiA'ely as he conversed, and gesticulated with it in a peculiar manner. His Avhole appearance struck me, and I could scarcely imagine, how, with his great command of language, so appropriate and full, so brilliant and classical, joined to the A'ast in formation that his discursive oratory enabled him to exhibit in its fullest extent, from the storehouse of Avhich the vividness of his imagination Avas always pointing out a happy analogy, or bitter sarcasm, that startled them, more from the fact that his hear ers did not perceive it until the look, tone and fin ger brought it down with the suddenness of light ning, and with its effects, upon the head of his ad- A'ersary; taking all this into consideration, I could easily imagine hoAV, when almost a boy, he won so much fame, and preserved it so long and with so A^ast an influence, notwithstanding the eccentricity and inconsistency of his life, public and private. By the bye, the sudden unexpected, and aphoris- tical way in which Randolph often expressed his sentiments had much to do Avith his oratorical suc cess. He Avould, like Dean swift, make a remark, seemingly a compliment, and explain it into a sar casm, or he Avould utter an apparent sarcasm, and turn it into a compliment. Many speakers, Avhen they have said a thing, hurry on to a full explani- startling thoughts, he left the hearer for some time puzzling in doubt as to Avhat he meant, and when it pleased him, in the coolest manner in the Avorld he explained his meaning, not a little delighted if he discovered that his audience Avere wondering the while Jipon whom the blow would descend, or Avhat principle the remark aa^ouH be brought to illustrate. A little anecdote Avhich I heard a member of Con gress from Kentucky tell cf him, shoAvs this cha racteristic. The Congressman, on his first visit to Washington, (he had just been elected.) AA*as desi rous of course of seeing the lions. Raiidolpli, though not a member of either house, Avas there, and had himself daily borne into the Senate tr House by iiis faithful Juba, to listen to the debates. Everybody, noted, or unnoted, AA'cre calling on the eccentric orator, and the member from Kentucky determined to do likeAvise, and gr.alify his curiosity. A friend, CJeneral , promised to present hinu saying though, ** You must be prepared for an odd reception, ibr, if Randolph is in a bad humor, l.e Avill do or say any thing; if he is in a good humor, you will sec a most finished gentleman.'’ They called. Mr. Randolph AV'as stretched out on n soke “He seemed,” said ihe member, “a skeleton, ei.- dowe^ Avith those flashing eyes which ghost stories give to the re-animated bod}' Avli(.n sent upon some earthly mission.” The Congressman Avas prescrilrd by his frirrjd, the General, as a Member of Congress froia Iver - tucky. Ah, from Kentucky, sir,’* exclaimed Ran dolph, in his shrill voice, as he rose to receive him, “from Kentucky, sir; well, sir, I consider youv Stale the Botany Bay of Virginia.” The Iven- tuckian thought that the next remark AVould be a quotation from Barriagron's Botany Bay. epilogue, applied by Randolph to tlie A'irginia settlers of Kentucky, '• True patriots v;e, f »r o3 it uudeistooJ, We left our country for our coun‘ry's good.” but Randolph, after a pause continued: I do not make this remark, sir, in application to the morals or mode of settlement of Kentucky. No, su‘, I mean to say that it is my opinion, sir, that the time approaches AA’hen Botany 13ay Avill in all resprcts surpass England, and 1 foar it aa’III soon be so Avith regard to your Slate and mine.” I cite this little anecdote not for any peculiar pith that it possesses, but in illustration of his character and in proof of* the remark aboA*e made. If i\Ir. Rindolph^had liA'ed in ancient limes, Plu tarch, with all hiapoAvers in tracing the analogies of character, Avould have looked in A'aiii'for his pa rallel, And a modern biographer, Avith all anciei^t and all modern times before him, Aviil find the ef fort fruitless that seeks his fellow. At first; the read er might think of Diogenes as furnishing some re semblance to him, and that all that R?:ndolph Avant- ed AA'as a tub; but not so if another Alexander h.'ii asked him Avhat he would haA'e that imperial pow er could bestow—the ansAA’er ncvfr AA’ould have been to stand out of his sunlight. No. Randolph, if he got no higher emolument and honor, Avould immediately have requested to be .• cnt on a fjreign mission; that over, if Alexander had nothing more to give, and \A-as so situated as not to be feared. Avho does not belieA'e that the ex-ininiilt?r Avould turn tail on him. Tho fact is that Randolph Avas excessively am bitious, a cormorant alike fjr praise and plunder; and though his patriotism couM point out the disin terested course lo others, his love of money Avould not let him keep the track himself^—at least in his latter years, Avhen Mammon, tlie old man's God, be set him, and he turned an idolater to that for Avhicli he had so often expressed his detestation that his countrymen belieA'ed him. Iiis mission to Russia broke the charm that the prevailing opinion of his disinterestfxlness cast about him, and his influence in his oAvn native State AA'as falling fast brneath tlio appointment and outfit and salary that had disen chanted it Avhen he died ; and noAV old Virginia avIH forget and forgive these consistencies of one of her greatest sons lo do rcA’crence lo his memory. Randolph’s republicanism AA'as noA'er heait-felt; he AA'as at heart an aristocrat. Ho should have been born in England a noble—there he Avould stubbornly have resisted the encroachincnts of all beloAV him upon his OAvn prerogatives, station, dig- nilA*, and quality; and he Avould have done his best to haA'e brougnt the prerogatives, statiou, dignity, and qualhy of all above him a little below his leA’-el, or at least upon an equlily Avith his. Ran dolph Avould haA'e lifted "W’ilkes up to be a thorn in the side of a king Avhom he did not like, and over throw his ministers; had lie been himself a minister, his lo3*alty Avould then have pronounced Wilkes an unprincipled demagogue, Wilkes, we knoAv, Avhcn he got office, said he could prove to his majesty ihat he, himself, had ncA'er been a Vv'ilkeite. Randolph Avas intensely selfish, and liis earl}* success as a pol itician and orator impress.ed Jiim AA'ilh an exagge rated opinion of his own importance, at an age AA'hen such opinions are easily made and not easily eradicated. In the case of Randolph, this OA’er- wtaning self estimation greAA’’ monstrous. “Big man me’John,” and the bigness or littleness of others’ services were valued and proclaimed just in propor tion as they ele\’ated or depre.ssed the interests and personal dignity of the orator of Roanoke. And often Avhen liis interest had nothing to do Avith tho question presented to liim, his caprice aa'ouM sway his judgment, for iiis per.sonal resentments led him far aAA^ay from every consideration save that of how he could best AA'ound his adversary. His bloAV AA'anted neither vigor nor venoin; his weapons Avere poisoned Avith such consummate skill, and he so Avell kne\A' the vulnerable point cf every character, that often AA’hen the wound by nn obser ver who knew nothing of his opponent AA'as deem ed shght, it was rankling in the heart. Randolpli was Avell acquainted Avith the priA'ate history of the eminent men of his time, the peccadilloes, frailties, indiscretions, Aveaknesses, vanities and viccs of them all. He used his longue as a jockey Avould his whip; lie hit the sore place till the blood came, and there was no crack, or flourish, or noise, or bluster in doing it. It Avas done Avith* a-celerity and dex terity which shovv'cd the practi^ hand, and its un expectedness as well as its severity often dunifound- ed the victim so completely thai'hc had not one AA'ord to sav, but wrrtheilin silcnce. I remember hearing tvA'o anecdotes of Randolph, Avhich strikingly his charateter. le exliibits
Mecklenburg Jeffersonian (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
June 8, 1841, edition 1
1
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