that majority that voted against him, with all their professed sympathy, who would have done likewise? And how completely has been fulfilled the prophecy of Mr. Randolph, uttered on the occasion of the Missouri agitation-"I am persuaded that the cause of humanity to these unfortunates, has been put back a century-certainly a generation by the unprincipled conduct of ambitious men, availing themselves of a good as well as of a fanatical spirit, in the nation."

There can be no doubt, that if the agitation of this slavery question had not been commenced and fermented by men who had no possible connection with it, and who, from the nature of the case, could have no other motive but political ambition and a spirit of aggression; had that subject been left as we found it, under the compromises of the Constitution, and the laws of God and conscience, aided by an enlightened understanding of their true interests-been left to work their silent, yet irresistible influences on the minds of men, there can be no doubt that thousands would have followed the example of John Randolph, in Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri, and that long ere this, measures would have been adopted for the final, though gradual, extinguishment of slavery within their borders; as it is, that event has again been put off for another generation.

CHAPTER XVII.

LOG-BOOK AND LETTERS.

"As one of the very few persons in the world (Dr. Brokenbrough) who really care whether I sink or swim, I am induced to send you the following extract from my log-book; relying on your partiality to excuse the egotism; and if you experience but the tenth part of the pleasure I felt on reading your account of your November jaunt, I shall be much gratified, as well as yourself:

66

1821, December 10th, Monday, half-past 11, A. M. Left Richmond. Four miles beyond the oaks met Mrs. T- -b and poor Mrs. R-h. Reached Underwood half-an-hour by run, and pushed on to Sutter's, where I arrived quarter past five. Very comfortable quarters. Road heavy.

"11th, Tuesday. Breakfasted at eight A. M., and reached Battader by quarter past twelve. Fed my horses and arrived at Freder

icksburg half-past three. Road heavy. Mansfield lane almost impassable. Excellent fare at Gray's, and the finest oysters I have seen for this ten year.

"12th, Wednesday. Hard frost. Left Fredericksburg at nine, A. M. Reached Stafford, C. H., at half-past eleven, Dumfries at five minutes past three, P. M., and Occoguon at half-past five. I made no stop except to breathe the horses, from Dumfries to Neabsco, sixtyfive minutes three and a half miles. The five miles beyond Dumfries employed nearly two hours. Roads indescribable.

13th, Thursday. Snow; part heavy rain. Waited until meridian, when, foreseeing that if the roads froze in their then state, they would be impassable; and that the waters between me and Alexandria would be out perhaps for several days, I set out in the height of the storm, and through a torrent of mud, and water, and sloughs of all degrees of viscidity, I got to Alexandria before five, where a fine canvas-back, and divers other good things, set my blood into circulation.

"14th, Friday. Bitter cold. Reached Washington half-past eleven. House does not sit to-day. Funeral. No southern mail. Waters out.

"15th. Very cold. No southern mail. Waters out. Just beyond Pohick I met a man driving a double chair.

"J. R. Pray, sir, can I ford Accotink?'

"Traveller. If you drive brisk perhaps you may.'

"J. R. Did you cross it, sir?'

"T.-Yes; but it is rising very fast.'

"As I pressed my little mare on, or rather as she pushed on after comrade and Johnny, I thought of Sir Arthur and Miss Wardour, of the old Gabertunzie, as, in breathless anxiety, they turned the head-land, and found the water-mark under water. Pohick, a most dangerous ford at all times, from the nature of the bend of the stream, which is what is called a kettle-bottom, was behind me, and no retreat and no house better than old Lear's hovel, except the church, where were no materials for a fire. When I reached Accotink, the sandbank in the middle of the stream was uncovered; but for near a mile I was up to the saddle-skirts. A great price, my good sir, for the privilege of franking a letter, and the honor of being overlooked by the great men, new as well as old.

"Just at the bridge over Hunting Creek, beyond Alexandria, I met the mail cart and its solitary driver. The fog was Cimmerian. J. R. How far do you go to-night, friend?'

"D.To Stafford Court-house, sir. Can I ford the Accotink?' "J. R.-I think you may; but it will be impossible before midnight I am really sorry for you.'

"D.- God bless your honor.'

"I am satisfied this poor fellow encounters every night dangers and sufferings in comparison with which those of our heroes are fleabites.

"Friday morning. Your letter of the 25th (Christmas day) did not reach me until this morning. I have been long mourning over the decline of our old Christmas sports and pastimes, which have given way to a spirit of sullen fanaticism on the one hand, or affected fashionable refinement on the other, which thinly veils the selfishness and inhospitality it is designed to cover. Your own letter may be cited as a proof that I am no grumbler (in this instance at least) at the times, although friend Lancaster, after puffing me in his way, was moved by the spirit (when I would not subscribe to his books) to say that the character I disclaimed in the H. of R. was the one that fitted me. Difficilis, querulus, laudatur temporis acti.' You date on Christmas day; you do not make the least mention of the season, into such 'desuetude' has the commemoration of the nativity of the great Redeemer fallen. On the eve of that day Pa gave a grand diplomatic dinner, at which Messrs. les Envoyès enragès were present, but held no intercourse. At this dinner J. Q. A. (the cub is a greater bear than the old one) gave this toast, rising from his chair at the time: Alexander the Great, Emperor of all the Russias, and the Cross.' Cross vs. Crescent, I presume; and no doubt M. P wrote to his court, announcing the disposition of this government towards Russia.' He is a wretched ass (this P.), who is writing a book on America, and whom every body quizzes. Some very laughable instances of this have been related to me. Travelling through Ohio, he was as much scandalized as John Wesley by the want of a commoditè, and took the host to task about it. The fellow gravely assured him that were he to erect such a temple to a heathen and obscure deity, the people would rise in arms and burn it to the ground; and this mystification completely took, and was clapped down in P's notes. I expect to see it under the head of state of religion.

6

a

"To return. The next day the parties were reconciled, and all is hushed up. Yesterday, I had the honor of a visit from M. l'Envoyè de sa Majesté très Chretienne and the Secretary of Legation. This great honor and distinction (for such the folks here deem it) I suspect I owe to the exercise of a quality for which I have not, I fear, been greatly distinguished; I mean discretion; for, although I was present, I refused to be a referee, when applied to from various quarters, on the subject of the quarrel. I did not hesitate to say that certain very offensive words imputed to de N. were not uttered by him; but I declined giving any account of the matter, except to my old friend, Mr. Macon, and one other person, forbidding the mentioning of my name under the strongest sanctions.

"On reading over the above, I perceive that it is horribly

stuffed' with scraps of French. This apparent affectation (for it is only apparent) is owing to a silly falling in with the fashion in this place, where the commonest English word or phrase is generally rendered in (not always good) French.

"I showed your letter to my most discreet friend, Mr. Macon. He concurs with me that the first part (relative to the chair) of what you heard is pretty much all my eye, Betty;' but will not agree as to the remainder, which I class under the same head. Else how comes the greatest latitudinarian in our State, and a professed one too. who acknowledges no law,' but his favorite one of circumstances, a bank man, or any thing you please, to have received greater and more numerous marks of the favor of the Legislature of Virginia (recent ones too) than any citizen in it, the three last Presidents excepted? I detest mock-modesty, and will not deny that if I had the disposition, and could undergo the labor, (neither of which is the case,) I might acquire a certain degree of influence in the House, chiefly confined, however, to the small minority of old-fashioned Republicans. As to the first station, there was a time in which I might not have disgraced it, for I had quickness and a perfect knowledge of our rules and orders, with a competent acquaintance with parliamentary law in general. But since the dictatorship of Mr. C-y, on a change tout cela' (French again), and I am now almost as raw as our newest recruits. Then, too, I had habits of application to business; but, my good friend, while I am running on (Alnaschar-like), I protest I believe the thought entered no head but Mr. S―'s (to whom, of course, I am much obliged for his good opinion); for no suggestion of the sort ever occurred to me until I read it under your hand.

"My days of business, of active employment, are over. My judg ment, I believe, has not deserted me, and when it does, as old George Mason said, I shall be the last person in the world to find it out: my principles I am sure have not; and if, which God forbid, they should, I shall be the first person to find it out. Till that shall happen, I will be the warder on the lonely hill.'

Why cannot all the honest men (not poor Burr's sort) unite in a man for the presidency who possesses: 1. Integrity, 2. firmness, 3. great political experience, 4. sound judgment and strong common sense, 5. ardent love of country and of its institutions and their spirit, 6. unshaken political consistency in the worst of times, 7. manners (if not courtly) correct. I could name such a man.

"Apropos to Burr. I have been reflecting this morning on the fate of some of the most active and influential (pardon the slang) of them that contributed to effectuate the change in 1800-1. Burr stands foremost; Ned. Livingston; W. C. N.! though last, not least. It is mournful to think on. I might mention a good many more who played an under part in the drama, such as Duane, Merriwether, Jones. &c.. &c."

In the appropriation bill for the ensuing year, there was a large undefined appropriation for the Indian Department asked for by the Secretary of War, and was understood to be intended to cover up a deficiency of the past year. Mr. Randolph, the 4th of January, 1822, moved a re-commitment of the bill.

"Unreasonable jealousy of the Executive Government," said he, "often led to the opposite extreme--a blind confidence in the governing power. From this jealousy and confidence he felt himself free. He believed that this House also was as free from unreasonable jealousy as any reasonable body ought to be. In fact, jealousy in public life was like that same green-eyed monster' in the domestic circle, which poisoned the source of all social happiness. It was extraordinary, and yet apparent, that the case had occurred in which confidence had lost its true character, and taken another, which he would not name in this House. It was remarkable, as well on the other side of the Atlantic as this, that a general suspicion had gone abroad, that the department which emphatically holds the pursestrings of the nation, was more remiss than any other in guarding against the expenditure of its subordinate agents. If it should be generally and unanswerably understood, that the body whose duty it was to guard the public treasure from wasteful expenditure, had abandoned their trust to a blind confidence in the dispensers of public patronage, they must immediately and justly lose all the confidence of the community. He had heard yesterday, with astonishment, a proposition to surrender inquiry to a confidence in the integrity and ability in the officer who had made the requisition. When this House should be disposed to become a mere chamber in which to register the edicts, not of the President, but of the heads of departments, it would be unimportant whether the members of this House professed to represent 35,000 freemen, or collectively the single borough of Sarum. This proceeding was to him unprecedented. He would give to the Government his confidence when it was necessary, and he would not give it to the Government, nor to any man further than that, unless to his bosom friend. But there was a wide difference between voting for an advance for the service of the current year, and voting for the same sum to cover a deficiency of the past year, under cover of an advance for the present year."

The same day, January 4th, before making the above speech, he thus writes to Dr. Brockenbrough:

"A question will come on to-day respecting an appropriation, ostensibly in advance (or on account,' as trading folks say) of the military expenditures of the current year; but really to cover a defi