1830 Andrew Jackson - John Randolph of Roanoke, 29 days in St. Petersburg

The eccentric John Randolph of Roanoke was asked by President Andrew Jackson in 1829 to serve as a special Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Russia but served only 29 days due to what he called the "deleterious and deadly climate".  When news of this was read in the congressional chambers, there must have been several moans and groans.   Randolph's eccentric ways and his heavy use of alcohol and even opium had made him an outsider despite his many years of leadership in Congress. 

John Randolph was the son of rich tobacco planters among the prominent First families of Virginia and a member of a family that provided two of the pillars of the First Continental Congress.  A genetic aberration (perhaps Klinefelter syndrome) caused him to remain beardless and with a high pitch voice of a prepubescent boy.   At a very early age of 26, Randolph was elected to the US Congress and served six consecutive terms until 1813.  What brawn and masculinity he lacked in his physical stature, he made up for in cunning speak.  Randolph held high positions, such as Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means and founded the Tertium quids, a faction of the Democratic-Republican Party that fought against what they viewed as a creeping nationalism.   In 1812, Randolph lost reelection due to his opposition to the War of 1812 but served again from 1814 to 1816 and from 1819 until 1825.  Mr. Randolph remained a lifelong bachelor and had many friends on both sides of the aisle, but became a permanent outsider, perhaps due to his personal eccentricities and heavy use of both alcohol and opium. 

There is so much that can be said about John Randolph of Roanoke from his flashy dress to his duel with Henry Clay, but here we find him towards the end of his career being asked to go to St. Petersburg, Russia as a special Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Russia.   Randolph had by this time developed a strong friendship with Andrew Jackson (or what historian Bill Kauffman called a 'crush').  Anyways, on September 16, 1829 President Andrew Jackson wrote to Randolph that the office in Russia was soon to become vacant and that none had more talent and experience than he.  Jackson confided, that he wanted to appoint Randolph, not only out of duty to his country but "on account of the personal respect and esteem, which I have always felt and cherished towards you."

from Jackson to John Randolph.  September 16, 1829Dear Sir, 

The office of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Russia will soon become vacant and I am anxious that the place should be filled by one of the most capable and distinguished of our fellow citizens. The great and rapidly increasing influence of Russia, in the affairs of the world renders it very important that our representative at that Court, should be of the highest respectability, and the expediency of such a course, at the present moment, is greatly increased by circumstances of a special character. Among the number of our Statesmen from whom the selection might with propriety be made, I do not know one better fitted for the station, on the score of talents and experience in public affairs, or possessing stronger claims upon the favorable consideration of his Country than yourself. Thus impressed, and entertaining a deep and grateful sense of your long and unceasing devotion to sound principles and the interest of the people, I feel it a duty to offer the appointment to you. In discharging this office I have the double satisfaction of seeking to promote the public interest whilst performing an act most gratifying to myself, on account of the personal respect and esteem, which I have always felt and cherished towards you. It is not forseen that any indulgence as to the period of your departure, which may be required by a due regard to your private affairs, will conflict with the interests of the Mission: and I sincerely hope that no adverse circumstances, may exist, sufficient to deprive the Country of your services.

In the summer of 1830 John Randolph boarded the Concord captained by Mathew Calbraith Perry and was on his way to St. Petersburg.  Two months later, while still aboard the Concord, Randolph wrote Jackson a letter that was marked "particularly private and confidential". In the letter, he confided that he wished to return home in time for the next session of Congress where he could fight under Jackson's banner.   There was no mention of why, other than he was "reduced to writing", but it was a hint of what soon was coming.
 

John Randolph to Jackson,  August 22, 1930
My dear Sir, 

 For reasons which I am now reducing to writing, but cannot detain the Concord to finish, I desire to return home in time to take my seat in the next Congress (provided that my old constituents see fit to elect me) where I may fight under your banner;

Then just 5 weeks later, Randolph wrote to Jackson that "self preservation" forced him to leave St. Petersburg much sooner and more abruptly than intended.   Randolph had not yet heard back from Jackson, but was forced to anticipate his "kind indulgence".    Randolph assured Jackson that he did not compromise any interest of our country, but was forced to leave the "deleterious and deadly climate so soon".  In total, Randolph had only spent 29 days in St. Petersburg, but it was long enough require him to return home to "renovate [his] shattered system". 

John Randolph to Jackson,   September 29, 1830
My dear Sir, 

 The first law of man's nature, Self Preservation, has compelled me to anticipate your kind indulgence and to leave St. Petersburgh much sooner and more abruptly than I had intended. I left that Capital on Sunday the 7/19 Instant and landed at the Custom House wharf this morning at 8, via Hamburgh. Nothing could have surpassed the affability and cordiality of my reception by their Imperial Majesties of all the Russias, and by the minister Prince Lieven. His Highness has won upon my esteem and his kindness has excited my regard. 

This is the last day that I can write by the Packet, which leaves Liverpool on the 1st of next month (the day after tomorrow.) I shall therefore reserve my further communication for the packet of the next week (the 8th.) The following extract from a Memo: of Mr Clay will suffice to show that (health out of the question) I have not compromitted any interest of our Country, or acted contrary to your instructions or wishes, in leaving that deleterious and deadly climate (for such it is in the summer and autumnal months) so soon. . . . . 

I trust my dear, Sir, that you will excuse this hurried letter written in pain and sickness. By the next packet ship you shall hear more fully. I purpose going to the continent to try and renovate my shattered system. If the season were a fortnight earlier I would embark at once for the U. S. As it is I shall if it pleases God return to St. Petersburg (with your approbation) in the Spring and to the U. S. in September next, if not sooner.

Through official communication from the Department of State, Jackson confirmed that Randolph was to return to the United States now and then back to St. Petersburg in the spring.   He wrote a personal letter back to Randolph to share his sympathy for his ill health, and his continued confidence in his capacity to serve his country, but he pleaded with Randolph to share his true feelings and wishes regarding the future without reserve.  It very much seems like a hint, that perhaps Randolph should consider resigning as minister to Russia and stay closer to home.  Given Randolph's eccentric and storied past, Jackson must have known that such a short trip could give way to attacks on his character, so Jackson wrote to Randolph that he would defend him from any "implacable malice of your enemies".   Jackson closes his letter with some words of hope " if your life is spared, be wholly deprived of the benefit of your talents and experience."

To John Randolph from Jackson,  December 3, 1830.  Confidential
My Dear Sir, 

 My views in regard to the more immediate subject of your letters are so fully detailed in the official communication from the Department of State, which accompanies this, as to leave me but little to say in a private letter. My principle object, therefore, in writing is to assure you of my sympathy in your personal sufferings from bad health, and my continued confidence in your disposition and capacity to serve your country. I beg you to speak your feelings and wishes in regard to the future without reserve, and to count with confidence in the steadiness of my friendship for you. Thoroughly convinced that the interests committed to us by the people, will never be intentionally prejudiced in your hands, you shall not as far as I can avoid it, suffer by the implacable malice of your enemies; And allow me as an act of justice to add that in this sentiment and desire, no one more sincerely participates than our mutual friend Mr. Van Buren. From the first inception of your mission to the present moment he has evinced a solicitude for your success and personal credit which could not have been exceeded by your nearest relations. 

It is unnecessary to enlarge upon the reasons for the preference. I have directed to be expressed in the letter addressed to you from the State Depmt. that you should return to St Petersburg in the Spring, if your health will admit of it, and you should have reason to believe that you will be able to accomplish the whole or apart of what is desired. The motives for that desire will be obvious to you: If however either circumstance should be wanting and you should prefer to return to the U States, in the Spring, let me know your wishes freely, and as early as practicable, and I will see that the necessary directions are sent to you without delay. Altho, I should in common with your friends regret the necessity which compels you to come home, I will nevertheless cherish the hope, that the Country will not in that event, if your life is spared, be wholly deprived of the benefit of your talents and experience. You will probably, by the same conveyance which brings you this, receive my message to Congress. That every part of it will meet your approbation, is perhaps not to be expected. The condition of the Confederacy will scarcely admit of one which will be entirely acceptable to every part of the union. If you find in it, more to approve than to question, it is perhaps, as much as I have a right to expect. 

We are on the eve of a short but I fear a stormy and intemperate session. It is too plain to be disguised that the opposition are determined not to be pleased with any thing that advances the public interest, and mean to throw every obstacle in our way which their malice can invent, and their ingenuity suggest. I have however no apprehensions for the general result. The people are honest and firm, and if we do not receive their ultimate approbation, it will be because we do not deserve it.
Write me occasionally, and believe me to be
your sincere friend

Now it was time to inform Congress, that John Randolph had returned from St. Petersburg for reasons of health.  Jackson included a small paragraph in his State of the Union Address which I can only imagine earned some moans and groans when it was read in Congress.  Perhaps those moans and groans came from former Secretary of State Henry Clay and Senator Daniel Webster who apparently as we shall see in Randolph's follow up letter to Jackson made some "monstrous allegations" about John Randolph.  Clay and Randolph had remained friends through their duel in 1826, but perhaps that friendship was now fading.

Andrew Jackson, State of the Union 1830 

"I sincerely regret to inform you that our minister lately commissioned to that Court, on whose distinguished talents and great experience in public affairs I place great reliance, has been compelled by extreme indisposition to exercise a privilege which, in consideration of the extent to which his constitution had been impaired in the public service, was committed to his discretion -- of leaving temporarily his post for the advantage of a more genial climate. 

If, as it is to be hoped, the improvement of his health should be such as to justify him in doing so, he will repair to St. Petersburg and resume the discharge of his official duties. I have received the most satisfactory assurances that in the mean time the public interest in that quarter will be preserved from prejudice by the intercourse which he will continue through the secretary of legation with the Russian cabinet."

In Randolph's letter back to Jackson just days after the State of the Union was delivered, he gives some final remarks about the treatment he was given by the "creatures of C. and W.", most likely Clay and Webster.   Randolph discounts their treatment of him, and doubles down on his support from Jackson's policies.  At least for now ...  Randolph was reelected to the House in 1832 where he served until his death on May 24, 1833.  Randolph's support for Jackson wavered with the passage of the Force Bill during the South Carolina nullification crisis of 1833.

John Randolph to Jackson,  January 5, 1831  (from London)
My dear Sir, 

 Yesterday, I had the pleasure to receive your valued and most welcome letter of the 2d of December. It more than compensates me for the implacable malice of my enemies.   The storm of obloquy and calumny, which has been poured upon my defenceless head is, so far as I know, without precedent. It seems as if the assailants thought there was nothing too absurd, or preposterous, to be asserted of me. There are other besides publick reasons, which have made me particularly obnoxious to the Duumvirs, who lead the coalition forces; and I have no doubt that their caterers are well aware of the appetities of their masters. If what they allege (or any part of it) be true, then am I unfit for my country; if false, (and of general belief) then is that country unfit for me. But no! it is not my country that brings, or credits, these monstrous allegations of the creatures of C. and W.  But let me dismiss them and the subject, on which I have already wasted too many words forever! Of Mr. Van Buren's personal regard and good feeling towards me I have never entertained a doubt. On my part, I have cherished the kindest dispositions towards him, which have perhaps rendered me more sharp sighted to the difficulties of his position. My best wishes and regards attend him. 

It gives me pleasure to inform you that my health has so far improved that I confidently look back to a return to St. Petersburgh as soon as the Baltic shall be open: unless indeed all hope of success in either of the objects of my mission shall be desperate. Events have been very untoward for us, The French Revolution, that of Belgium, the Cholera Morbus, but above all, the Polish insurrection. I do not consider that my own ill health, or absence from Russia, have had any ill effect upon our negotiation. Before I left St. Petersburgh I had put the Imperial Ministry in full possession of all our views, and here, I am conveniently situated for communicating with them as well as with my own Government. I have found in Prince Lieven not only an accomplished gentleman, but one who has won upon my esteem. His deportment towards me is so frank and cordial (to all he is courteous) and so unequivocally indicative of good opinion on his part, that I am sorry he is not charged with the conclusion of the Negotiation which I opened with him. For many years Russian ambassador in London.  

I had read in the Times Newspaper a few minutes before I received the official Copy. It is unnecessary for me to use the privlege which you so generously and kindly accord, but I cannot refrain from expressing my admiration of the manly and lofty spirit in which it is conceived, as well as the general correctness (in my humble judgement) of its views. There are points of dissent of which you are not unapprized: but Anti Tariff as I am, and ever shall be, I cannot overlook the glaring absurdity of those who oppose themselves to that measure as 'unconstitutional', while at the same time they defend the constitutionality of the Bank of the U. S. They belong to that class who confound Tyranny with Usurpation, as if that made any difference to the victim;for it is not perhaps so much by the Assumption of unlawful powers, as by the unwise, or unwarrantable use of those which are most legal, that Governments oppose their true end and object!  Who doubts the 'constitutionality' of the Corn Laws, that are starving the English labourers? Are they therefore more bound to submit to starvation? 

Occupied as your time always is and especially during the sitting of Congress I feel as if I were indiscreetly intruding upon it. I cannot close this unreasonably long letter, however, without saying that it is not the least of my gratifications arising from the favourable change in my health, that it will enable me to comply with your wishes and to manifest my sense of your noble conduct towards me. . . . .

References

Presidency.ucsb.edu. (2019). Second Annual Message | The American Presidency Project. [online] Available at: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/second-annual-message-3 [Accessed 5 Jan. 2019].

En.wikipedia.org. (2019). John Randolph of Roanoke. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Randolph_of_Roanoke [Accessed 8 Jan. 2019].

Jackson, A. and Bassett, J. (1926). Correspondence of Andrew Jackson. Edited by John Spencer Bassett. Washington. [online] Available at: http://memory.loc.gov/master/mss/maj/aj04/aj04.sgm [Accessed 8 Jan. 2019].