The Alleghanian

For the Alleghanian.

ABOUT JOHN RANDOLPH OF ROANOKE.

Capt. Bailey:

I declare to you, that I have no disposition to enter into any controversy of any kind, with Vivian, who, however I may differ with him, as to some of his political views, is a chaste and excellent writer; but I feel impelled to make some enquiry of him, with regard to Mr. John Randolph of Roanoke. In Vivian's 3d number, he exhibits Mr Randolph thus "The Demosthenes of America, that guardian of constitutional liberty, who has stood the faithful sentinel on its battlements, from the "year one,' to the present period, the patriot Randolph of Roanoke, has' &c. In a succeeding part of his observations about Mr. Randolph, he calls him (Randolph) "this great protector of human Rights!" Although I am infinitely remote from charging Vivian, with the expression of any sentiment derogatory from his own, conscientious impressions, yet I am bound, from every correct and just principle, to say, that I have never known,—that I can find no cause to know, that Mr. Randolph is duly and justly entitled to the high encomium. which Vivian has exhibited above. Mr. Randolph, as I think, entered his political circle of action, under the presidency of Old Mr John Adams; and, from that day, to the present moment, I have never lost sight of him; but have uniformly noticed all his conduct; and can very safely say, that I have no consciousness of any good at all done by him, for the benefit of his country. He always appeared to me to be a captious, contradictious, troublesome, vexatious, spiteful, ill-natured, selfish. Very vain, and lofty member of our public councils & debates, uniformly affecting great originality, even in his various modes of sarcasm and abuse. And from recent exhibitions of facts, in the public prints, it appears, that the revenge of Mr. Randolph, or some other base temper of Mind, reached (attempted to reach) Mr. Lowndes, in his grave! And furthermore, in the same case. as to Mr. Lowndes, the veracity of Mr. Randolph, does not appear to be unsullied. But what shall we say, with due regard. to Mr. Randolph's Mission, to Russia? He received the public money, $18,000! (how much more?) what service did he render his country, for so large a sum of money? He was, from the very best Authority, only ten days, in St. Petersburgh! the remainder of his time, he spent in England, at his ease and pleasure! He has a large estate, and is very rich: if he had been well impressed with principles, (honesty and truth,) so often and so warmly avouched by him, in public debate, upon what safe, what conscientious ground, could he have received all this money, and claimed it, as his own? I declare again, that I seek no controversy, with Vivian: for I am pleased with him, as a nice, scientific writer; and acknowledge the information, which I derive from his development of several of the subjects of his attention. But I know. that I have herein spoken the truth of my heart, about Mr Randolph; but it is evident, that, if he deserved the eulogy of Vivian, as expressed above, I have greatly injured him, (mentally at least,) ever since the presidency, of Old Mr. John Adams: I have only to say, that my mind is open to conviction, and that, whenever I shall be convinced of my erroneous habits of thinking, upon this subject, I will recede from, and abandon, them most cheerfully.

An Enquirer After Truth.