HIS ELECTION TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
Mr. Randolph was elected senator in Congress, on December 17, 1825.
Among the candidates nominated, was Judge Henry St. George Tucker, his
half-brother, by the mother's side; William B. Giles, and Dr. John Floyd were
recommended, and each had his advocates in the legislative body. On the first
ballot, the vote stood, Tucker 65, Randolph 63, Giles 58, Floyd 40. According
to the rule of the House Mr. Floyd was dropt, and the second ballot stood,
Tucker 87, Randolph 79, Giles 60. Mr. Giles being likewise dropt under the
rules, and the members having prepared and deposited their ballots in the
boxes, Mr. Jackson, on the part of the friends of Mr. Tucker, rose and stated
to the House, that it was the desire of Mr. Tucker in no event to be placed in
competition with Mr Randolph. Considering that Mr. R. had no chance of
being elected, they had, on their own responsibility, put Mr. Tucker in nomination.
But as the collision was now between these two gentlemen, they thought
it due to Mr. Tucker's request and feelings to withdraw his name. Some conversation
then ensued, in which it was suggested that the ballot boxes ought to
be emptied and the ballots again collected. Mr. Jackson declared he did not
know the ballots had been put in the boxes, or he should have withdrawn Mr.
Tucker sooner. One gentleman remarked, that the person who had been last
dropt, ought, under these circumstances, to be again before the House. But
the chair decided, that as the ballots had all been deposited in the boxes, and
there being no mistake or irregularity, they must be counted under the rule of
the House. This was accordingly done, and the ballots stood, Randolph 104,
Tucker 80. Mr. Randolph having a majority, was declared duly elected.
Had not the friends of Mr. Tucker withdrawn him, it appears from this proceeding
he would have been elected, because 42, who voted on the first
ballot, did not vote on the last, and Mr. R's majority being only 24, while all
his friends voted. As he retained his seat in the Senate only two years, he
must have been elected to supply the place of a Senator who had resigned or
died, for the balance of his term. Having given some of his speeches while in
that body, as likewise others of a convivial nature during his visit to England
while a Senator, we may here give the final termination of his senatorial career,
to round off this short period of his legislative course. By his indiscriminate
abuse of the administration, his personalities, and his extravagant behavior on
the floor of the Senate, he lessened in no small degree the dignity of that body,
and rendered himself unpopular in his own State, particularly to his political
creators, the members of the legislature. At their session of January the 18th,
1827, a committee of five members, Linn Banks at the head of it, wrote the
following note to the governor, John Tyler.
"Sir: We understand that the friends of the administration and others will
support you for the Senate in opposition to Mr. Randolph. We desire to
understand distinctly whether they have your consent or not: and if not, will
you be pleased to say, whether you will abandon the chair of state at this time
to accept a seat in the Senate."
To which Mr. Tyler replied by note as follows:—
Your note handed to me last night by Mr. Goode, in which
you say, `understanding that the friends of the administration and others will
support you for the Senate in opposition to Mr. Randolph, you desire to understand
distinctly whether they have my consent, or not; and if not, request me to
say whether I will not abandon the chair of state at this time, to accept a seat
in the Senate,' deserves and shall have a candid reply. Let me premise that I
am unacquainted with the political preferences of those disposed to sustain me
for the Senate. Suffice it to say, that my political opinions on the fundamental
principles of the government are the same with those espoused by Mr. Randolph,
and I admire him most highly for his undeviating attachment to the constitution,
manifested at all times, and through all the events of a long political life; and
if any man votes for me under a different persuasion, he most grievously deceives
himself. Yon ask me whether I have yielded my consent to oppose him.
On the contrary, I have constantly opposed myself to all solicitations. I desire most
earnestly to be left at peace. There is no motive which could induce me to
seek to change my present situation for a seat in the Senate at this time. I
cannot admit that to be one in a body of forty-eight members is to occupy a
more elevated station than that presented in the chief magistracy of Virginia.
My private interests, intimately connected with the good of my family, are
more highly sustained by remaining where I am, than by the talked-of change.
There is then no consideration, public or private, which could lead me to desire
it. From the first to the last, everywhere and to all with whom I have conversed,
this has been my uniform language. Your last inquiry is one, which,
urged by those who felt disposed to sustain me, I have constantly declined
answering. Propriety and a due regard to consistency of deportment require
me to decline an answer now. Should the office, in opposition to my wishes (a
result which I cannot anticipate), be conferred upon me, I shall then give to the
expression of the legislative will such reflection and pronounce such decision as
my sense of what is due to it may seem to require. These explanations might
have been had by each and all of you, gentlemen, verbally if you had sought to
have attained them in that way, which might possibly have discovered a greater
degree of confidence in me. But as they are now given, you are at liberty to
use them in any mode you please, reserving to myself a similar privilege.
"With sentiments of proper respect,
"Your obedient servant,
"To Messrs. Banks and others."
(Signed), "JOHN TYLER."
Mr. Tyler was elected by a majority of ten votes over Mr. Randolph, and
upon being notified of the result by the clerks of the two Houses, he signified
his acceptance of the office in a letter under date the 18th of January.
George W. Crump, being then in his seat in Congress as the representative
of the district, immediately on receiving the news, wrote a letter to his
constituents, withdrawing his own name from the list of candidates for the
ensuing election, in April, 1828, and joining with Mr. Randolph's other friends
in bringing forward their old and favorite representative. Mr. R. was accordingly
elected without opposition.
