University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER VIII.

IN one respect, Mr. Randolph's life may be regarded a
perfect success. From the time that he made his first
appearance upon the political arena, to the last year of
his life, he held high and responsible positions in the affairs
of the nation.

"For more than thirty years," says Mr. Benton, "he was
the political meteor of Congress, blazing with undiminished
splendor during the whole time. His parliamentary life was
resplendent in talent, elevated in moral tone, always moving
on the lofty line of honor and patriotism, and scorning
everything mean and selfish. He was the indignant enemy
of personal and plunder legislation, and the very scourge
of intrigue and corruption." "During the first six years of
Mr. Jefferson's administration," adds the same high authority,
"he was the Murat of his party, brilliant in the charge,
and always ready for it, and valued in the council as well
as in the field. In England we are informed that "his company
was sought after by the nobility and gentry, and on
one occasion royalty itself condescended to admit him within
the same tent." Lord L. was forced to acknowledge that
his conversations were most dazzling even in London.

His example of lofty purpose, untarnished honor and

manly bearing, was worth a great deal to the nation. It is
true that there are few great measures of civil polity which
his admirers can lay their hands upon, and say: "This is
Randolph's work!" Mr. Baldwin says: "None." Mr. Sawyer
admits that "there were some important measures for
which the nation is indebted to his oratorical powers, as the
originator and successful defender;" and he mentions the
substitution under the appropriate heads, of specific, instead
of general and indefinite appropriations, which he brought
about after a warm and extremely powerful discussion with
Mr. Lowndes, of South Carolina, who advocated the old
system. The standing appropriation of $200,000, for arming
the whole body of the militia, is also placed to his credit.

The reader doubtless remembers that in his speech at
Halifax Court-house, in 1827, he plead guilty to the charge
of "trying to pull down other men's work," and boasted
that "it was the brightest feather in his cap." "My whole
aim," he said, "has been to prevent not to promote legislation."

But it is to Mr. Randolph at home that we wish to devote
ourself mainly. He exerted an influence which no other
man in his district or any other district ever did. His power
was almost supreme. We stated that he never was defeated
but once before the people, and that was by Mr. Eppes, who
he charged was imported like a stallion, for the purpose of
being run against him.

Mr. Baldwin, in his Party Leaders, says "he was defeated,
and without a murmur bowed his head to the stroke."

We say emphatically that is not Mr. Randolph. He may
have gone about in a more pleasing shape than that of a
roaring lion, but he certainly sought whom he might devour.
His resentment was high and lasting. He never did forgive
those who voted against him. Mr. Baldwin invests him with

a degree of Christian patience, which he was far from possessing.
Of all the men upon the face of the earth, we
should say he was the least disposed to bow to a stroke of
that sort. One of his old constituents once told us that he
frequently alluded to the canvass with Eppes, in which he
was defeated, and in no pleasant manner. We were forcibly
reminded of this remark when we read the manuscript report
of the last speech he made to the people of Charlotte
nearly twenty years after the canvass with Eppes. This
speech, as reported by one who heard it, and took it down
at the time, is now before us, and in it we find him cutting
at those who assisted in returning him, "to be discharged
from the confidence of his old constituents." We once
heard one of the keenest observers of human nature say,
that notwithstanding Mr. Randolph visited on terms of
friendship at her brother's, she fancied she could see in his
eye, beneath all that was superficial, that he remembered her
father's political opposition long years before.

The question is sure to rise in the minds of intelligent
readers, how did Mr. Randolph gain such continued support
of the people? What made them vote for him?

We have the greatest respect for Mr. Benton's "Thirty
Years" view of Mr. Randolph in Congress; but not much
value could be placed upon a picture of Mr. Randolph at
home, taken from his observatory at Washington. In our
estimation, the likeness drawn by Hon. James W. Bouldin,
who saw him in his house, on his plantation, and on the
court green, is much more valuable.

When Mr. Benton informed us that he never saw Mr.
Randolph affected by wine, we were somewhat surprised;
but we were still more so when he intimates that his popularity
was founded upon the love and affection of his people.
A member of Congress for sixteen years with him, and who

afterwards published a biography of him, after speaking of
his strong and lasting friendship for Mr. Tazewell, says: "So
with many others, and preëminently so of his constituents—
the people of his congressional district—affectionate and
faithful to him, electing him, as they did, from boyhood to
the grave."

Again, Mr. Benton says, his friendship with Mr. Macon
was historical. It is true that his friendship for a few, very
few, of his neighbors, and constituents in the different counties
composing his district, was proverbial; but it is equally
true that his capacity for friendship was very small.

In conversing with the old men of Charlotte, they will
talk a long time about how Mr. Randolph flattered this one
to carry his point; how he barbecued another for merely
differing with him in opinion; how he drove men clean out
of the country who offended him; how ridiculous he sometimes
made his acquaintances appear; we say they will
entertain you a long time in this way, before they will mention
one word about his friendship for anybody, or anybody's
for him.

The means which a master spirit employs in gaining his
influence and establishing himself firmly upon his throne,
must ever be a subject for curious speculation. This is particularly
the case in regard to Mr. Randolph. But, really,
we should never get at the secret of his success if we relied
on the books that have been written; they being inconsistent
with themselves and with one another upon this point.

His first biographer attributes his popularity to his "acts
of neighborly kindness," and his "free and easy manners."
Another says, "his want of charity was his greatest defect;"
and laments that, "to the constancy and intrepidity of Mr.
Randolph were not allied the suavity and gentleness of manner,

which had made those stern attributes to be beloved as
well as admired."

Mr. Baldwin states that Mr. Randolph was "eminently
unsocial, proud, reserved, uncommunicative," and that "he
never made a speech that he did not make more enemies
than converts. How then did he manage always but once
to be elected? And what becomes of Mr. Benton's theory
of the affection of his constituents, electing him, as they did,
from boyhood to the grave? And there is something almost
laughable in the idea that Mr. Randolph owed his success
to "his acts of neighborly kindness." He did not owe it to
his "free and easy manners," nor to his "imposing presence,"
nor to the affection of his constituents gained by any
means; but he owed it to his commanding genius, to the
force of his will and the great strength of his moral and
physical courage. And it was chiefly by flattery, by domineering,
by bullying, that he obtained his unparalleled sway.
But his was not the fulsome adulation applied without discrimination;
nor was he an ordinary street bully. In all his
acts he was infinitely above ordinary men. His knowledge
of human nature was miraculous, and he had the greatest
facility for applying his knowledge. He had unwavering
supporters; but for the most part they were men who had
no affection for him, who had never received any favors at
his hands. Some voted for him because he was an able and
fearless exponent of their principles; but it was, as we
stated, chiefly by arts of flattery and bullying that he obtained
his almost supreme power in his district. There is
much truth in what Miss Mary Bouldin replied, when we
asked her how Mr. Randolph gained his position in society:
"By kicking every body else out of their places and getting
in himself," she said. She went on to state, that if there was
a man who stood high in the community before Mr. Randolph

came to the county himself, a man of great talents
and virtue, he soon gave him to understand that he, Randolph,
must be foremost, and that he did not intend to join
in the worship of him. If a citizen of his county held a
prominent position and opposed him, he immediately set to
work to pull him down—and that must have been a solid
foundation which his destructive hand could not demolish.

No one flattered more his friends than he did; none were
capable of doing it in finer style. Few could resist his arts.
A young man of talent and promise, upon whom he chose
for some cause or other to lavish his favors, might be conscious
of his insincerity, might have received the solemn
warnings of his friends, still he would remain under the
spell of his influence. Nor could he be led away from the
snare by his father even, until the tempter changed his better
nature, and "by some devilish cantrap slight," suddenly
forced him from his presence. Then followed tears of repentance,
for having neglected the advice of his parent who,
from long observation, had discovered how easily Mr. Randolph's
friendship was estranged, and how deadly his resentment
against those he once pretended to love.

When he chose to make himself agreeable, there was a
charm about him which was irresistible. The pious old
lady, who religiously observed the second commandment,
never having seen Mr. Randolph, might grieve to find her
husband worshiping an idol below, but when she too came
to know him well, found herself kneeling at the same idolatrous
shrine. We should like to know how many of those
he determined to win ever failed to be won. The only way
of escape, we imagine, was to flee. To remain within the
sound of that voice, when in tune, to gaze upon that eye
when "the fire was quenched," was certain and hopeless
captivity. It is curious how that eye and that voice could

be made at one time the instrument of such pleasure, and at
another of such pain; how his presence should be so fascinating
to his friends, and so terrible to his foes. But it is no
wonder that with these extraordinary physical advantages
and his genius he "raised emotions never felt before," and
produced effects which the world despaired of ever witnessing
again.

But, like Swift, Mr. Randolph coveted the fear of his fellow
man more than his love or admiration. His genius was
idolized, but the man was not beloved. He possessed the
art of making people in love with themselves, but not with
him. He mixed very little with society at home, and had
none of those qualities which drew his supporters near. He
looked upon mankind in the light in which they are represented
in the Scriptures, but without charity. Hence he
preferred to govern by fear rather than by love; to drive,
instead of leading them gently by the hand.

We are not mistaken in saying that he possessed an influence
in his district which no other man ever did. During
a long career of public service, as stated before, he was never
defeated before the people but once. His conduct, in consequence
of that defeat, his never forgetting it, his high resentment
against those who voted against him, and the
means he adopted of repairing his loss and ensuring his
next election, lets us into the secret of his great success, and
utterly dispels the illusion about his "bowing his head to
the stroke without a murmur."

In some places we are informed the people voted for his
opponent en masse. He found out the leading men in all
the neighborhoods which went against him. It is astonishing
what a knowledge he had, not only of the public affairs
of others, but of their private concerns. It seemed he knew
everything that was going on, heard everything to be heard,

and saw everything in sight, and what he could neither see
nor hear, he had some one to tell him, even if it was a negro.

So it was one court day he sought out a certain Mr. S.,
who he knew had carried a certain precinct almost unanimously
for Mr. Eppes. He met him with malice prepense,
but with all the forms of the greatest politeness and friendship.

Now let the reader bear in mind that whenever Mr. Randolph
stopped for a moment on the street, the people began
to collect around him, and if he remained long at a place
talking politics to any one, the whole court green was gazing
at him, and eagerly catching in every word he said.

Mr. S. being artfully drawn into a political discussion, Mr.
Randolph propounded to him some of the most difficult
questions that ever were conceived of, questions which perhaps
Webster himself could not have answered.

His opponent being a plain farmer, who made no pretensions
to deep learning, failed of course to solve the abstruse
problems. Mr. Randolph would then express the
greatest astonishment that a man of his sense and weight in
the community had not turned his attention to those matters.

Mr. Randolph raising his voice to a pitch resembling a
speech, by this time had gathered a tremendous crowd
around him, who witnessed the agonizing scene. Mr. S.
would have given his right arm for a chance to escape; but
the inexorable schoolmaster held him on to his lessons. To
break off and run before everybody, and with a fire in rear,
was what he could not stand.

Mr. Randolph kept putting knotty questions to him, which
he failed to answer, whereupon he would repeat his expressions
of astonishment. Still, all was done in such elegant
style, that no offence could be taken. But no school-boy on

examination ever suffered more at being found deficient than
did Mr. S. on this memorable occasion.

The sympathies of the spectators were all against the ignorant
man who undertook to control the votes of others.
For, we may rest assured, that Mr. Randolph, before he was
done with him, made them believe that his antagonist had
committed an unpardonable sin. We would not be surprised
if they were enraged both against themselves and him—
themselves for following the blind and him for presuming to
lead.

This thorough examination and exposure, before a large
collection of people, we are informed, completely destroyed
the confidence of the neighbors in the political sagacity of
the said Mr. S. At the next election Mr. Randolph carried
the precinct by an overwhelming majority.

This unmerciful chastisement was to be, moreover, a warning
to all who should dare to take an active part against him
for all time to come.

Few men who, if they had the ability, have the heart to
expose a man after this manner. But, we must recollect,
Mr. Randolph could stand no opposition, and individual
feeling was never in his way. Nor did he regulate the punishment
according to the offence. If he were thwarted in
the least, he would crush the very soul of his opponent.

Attacks upon the feelings and opinions of others was one
of the means he adopted of maintaining his supremacy.
But he also made people afraid of the dirk which he wore in
his pocket. Generally, he could pierce a man through with
that bony bony finger; but those who were insensible to that,
he wished to keep in dread of the solid metal.

His plan was to make people afraid of him physically, as
well as mentally. He frequently talked about shooting people.
He threatened to shoot Mr. S., and actually called for

him at a sale for the purpose; but Mr. S. stood firm and Mr.
Randolph abandoned what he pretended was his purpose.

He also threatened the son of Mr. S., and scared him terribly,
for talking about whipping his servant, Juba.

As to his servants, he kept them in terror of him.

After his return from Russia, and after the Southampton
insurrection, he gave orders that all his negroes should
change quarters. Those at the lower should be moved to
the upper plantation, and vice versa. At the same time he
instituted a general search for stolen goods.

In one of the cabins he found some wood, which he said
he was convinced was stolen. He shut himself up in the
same room with the suspected negro, told him he could not
live in the same world with such a rascal, and gave him one
gun, and he took another. The poor slave, alarmed nearly
to death, ran up stairs and jumped out of the window.

All this was for effect. He knew his servant was afraid to
defend himself; nor had he the slightest idea of shooting
him; his sole object was to place the negro in terror.

His method of dealing with his overseers is well known
in the county. We have seen how he dismissed one for not
joining in his abuse of a neighbor, and how he made another
pull off his shoes before he went in to see him; we will now
state how he served another for a slight variation of orders.

In a spirit of spiteful annoyance to a gentleman who resided
on the opposite side of Staunton river, and who kept
a ferry, he established another, offering its use gratuitously.
One day Mr. Randolph rode down and found York, the
ferryman, absent from his post. The overseer was immediately
summoned to explain why it was so.

Mr. Randolph asked him if he did not tell him that York
was to be on the bank?

The overseer replied that he had merely sent him a little

way off to worm some tobacco, which he thought he could
do, and attend to the ferry besides.

"The next time you disobey my orders," said Mr. Randolph,
"I wish you to understand that you are to be cashiered."

Mr. Randolph has the reputation of being one of the
strangest men that ever lived; and we have no doubt the
reader, when he opened this volume, expected to find a record
of some of his extraordinary deeds. If not already
satisfied that there never lived a human being like him, we
are confident he will be when he peruses the following incidents,
written at our solicitation by the late Henry Carrington,
of Charlotte county, Virginia, a gentleman of the
highest standing, who was an eye witness to the scenes described,
and whose statements are entitled to the utmost
credit. We are glad to be able to lay them before the
reader in his own words and graceful style. Mr. Carrington
says:

Mr. Carrington continues: