Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/57

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

upon. He opposed a single executive, pre- ferring an executive commission; opposed re-eligibility of the president, and his hold- ing pardoning power, the vice-presidential office, and states having two senators irre- spective of their population; and favored the giving of powers to the Federal gov- ernment sufficient to prevent any state from carrying out a law declared by the supreme court to be unconstitutional. It was his motion that eliminated the word "slavery" fiom the constitution. He refused to sign the instrument as prepared, unless a second national convention should act on it, after it had been discussed by the people. In the Virginia convention of 1788, however, he advocated its ratification as necessary to union. The clause of Article VI. on religious tests was added at his suggestion. He re- signed as governor in 1788, and secured a seat in the assembly, that he might take part in codifying the laws of the state. On Sep- tember 2T. 1789, he was named by President Washington as attorney-general, and served until January 2, 1794, when he succeeded Thomas Jefferson as secretary of state. He opposed the Jay Treaty as detrimental to Southern interests and the national dignity. He held the office of secretary of state till August 19. 1795, when, on account of a mis- understanding with Washington, he re- signed. An account was made up against him of $49,000 for moneys placed in his hands to defray the expenses of foreign inter- course, and he was held responsible for all moneys lost through accidents and other calamities; after repeated trials, his lands and slaves were sold, the government gain- ing besides the debt and interest about $7,000. He appeared as counsel for Aaron Kurr in his trial for treason at Richmond.

He was the author of: "Democratic So- cieties (1795)"; "Vindication of Mr. Ran- dolph's Resignation (1795)"; "Political Trust, or Animadversions on the Past and Present Sute of Public Affairs (1796)", and "History of Virginia" (MS. in possession of Virginia Historical Society). Edmuird Randolph died in Clarke county, September 13. 1813.

Randolph, Peyton, was born at "Tazewell Hall," Williamsburg, 1721, son of Sir John Randolph. He was educated at William and ^ Mary College; barrister of law at Inner Temple. London, and attorney-general for X'irginia in 1748; and the same year repre- sented Williamsburg in the house of bur- gesses. This body sent him, in 1754, to ap- pear before the English ministry to demon- strate the unconstitutionality of a pistole fee imposed by Governor Robert Dinwiddie on every land patent, and after his argument the fee was rescinded on land patents on less than one hundred acres, and soon after on all patents. He had gone to England without consent of the governor, who appointed George Wythe in his place in the office of attorney-general, the latter yielding to Ran- dolph on his return a few months later. Ran- dolph led a company against the Indians after Braddock's defeat ; was chairman of a committee, in 1769. to revise the laws of the province and was a visitor of William and Mary College. In 1764 he strongly opposed the Stamp Act; in 1766 was chosen speaker, and gave up his post as royal attorney, being succeeded by his brother, John. From this time on, he held all the first positions in the colony. He was chairman of the committee of correspondence, 1773-1775* and in August, 1774, he was chairman of the Virginia con-

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