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His support of the [[Louisiana Purchase]] was a surprise for it violated his philosophy of state rights and strict construction of the Constitution. He led the Jeffersonian attack on the federal judiciary, but as manager of the impeachment of Justice Samuel Chase he was easily outwitted because he was not a lawyer, did not understand the legalisms and hurt his cause by intemperate eloquence. Chase was acquitted, thus ending the effort to seize control of the Supreme Court, and Randolph took the blame; it was a bitter disappointment to him and a blow to his reputation.  

His support of the [[Louisiana Purchase]] was a surprise for it violated his philosophy of state rights and strict construction of the Constitution. He led the Jeffersonian attack on the federal judiciary, but as manager of the impeachment of Justice Samuel Chase he was easily outwitted because he was not a lawyer, did not understand the legalisms and hurt his cause by intemperate eloquence. Chase was acquitted, thus ending the effort to seize control of the Supreme Court, and Randolph took the blame; it was a bitter disappointment to him and a blow to his reputation.  

Convinced there was profound corruption in a complicated land deal known as the "Yazoo claims," he decided Jefferson, Madison and other top administation leaders were corrupt, and he broke with them and lost his leadership role. He kept his chairmanship for a while, and thus his power.  But as new Congressmen arrived with equal legislative and oratorical skills, and stronger political bases, such as [[Henry Clay]] and [[John C. Calhoun]], he became more and more irrelevant. In 1825 in the Senate, his mind was disordered and his speeches, while still brilliant, were more than ever extravagant, irrelevant, and eccentric. He never lost his mordant wit; suspicious of Clay and bitterly hostile to President [[John Quincy Adams]], in 1826 he described the alliance of these two leaders as "the coalition of Blifil and Black George," the combination "of the Puritan with the blackleg."  

Convinced there was profound corruption in a complicated land deal known as the "Yazoo claims," he decided Jefferson, Madison and other top administration leaders were corrupt, and he broke with them and lost his leadership role. He kept his chairmanship for a while, and thus his power.  But as new Congressmen arrived with equal legislative and oratorical skills, and stronger political bases, such as [[Henry Clay]] and [[John C. Calhoun]], he became more and more irrelevant. In 1825 in the Senate, his mind was disordered and his speeches, while still brilliant, were more than ever extravagant, irrelevant, and eccentric. He never lost his mordant wit; suspicious of Clay and bitterly hostile to President [[John Quincy Adams]], in 1826 he described the alliance of these two leaders as "the coalition of Blifil and Black George," the combination "of the Puritan with the blackleg."  

He was the most prominent delegate to the Virginia constitutional convention of 1829-30, where he defensed eastern tobacco interests against the westerners. Opposing any significant change in the constitution of the state he was responsible for the victory of the conservatives—and the ultimate secession of West Virginia.  The new president Andrew Jackson appointed Randolph as minister to Russia—a disastrous mistake. His health broke down in Russia and he returned in less than a month. By 1831 he was demented; he drank excessively, used opium, and though previously a kind master was harsh and abusive to his hapless slaves, who, he was convinced, had been faithless in his absence. Starting with a rich inheritance he finally owned more than 8,000 acres of land, nearly 400 slaves, and a valuable stud of blooded horses.  

He was the most prominent delegate to the Virginia constitutional convention of 1829-30, where he defensed eastern tobacco interests against the westerners. Opposing any significant change in the constitution of the state he was responsible for the victory of the conservatives—and the ultimate secession of West Virginia.  The new president Andrew Jackson appointed Randolph as minister to Russia—a disastrous mistake. His health broke down in Russia and he returned in less than a month. By 1831 he was demented; he drank excessively, used opium, and though previously a kind master was harsh and abusive to his hapless slaves, who, he was convinced, had been faithless in his absence. Starting with a rich inheritance he finally owned more than 8,000 acres of land, nearly 400 slaves, and a valuable stud of blooded horses.  

* Devanny, John F., Jr. "A Loathing of Public Debt, Taxes, and Excises": The Political Economy of John Randolph of Roanoke. Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 2001 109(4): 387-416. 0042-6636  

* Devanny, John F., Jr. "A Loathing of Public Debt, Taxes, and Excises": The Political Economy of John Randolph of Roanoke. Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 2001 109(4): 387-416. 0042-6636  

* Kirk, Russell. ''John Randolph of Roanoke: A Study in American Politics.'' (3rd ed., 1978). 588 pp. admiring study by a leading conservative

* Kirk, Russell. ''John Randolph of Roanoke: A Study in American Politics.'' (3rd ed., 1978). 588 pp. admiring study by a leading conservative

** * Kirk, Russell. ''John Randolph of Roanoke]] [http://www.firstprinciplesjournal.com/articles.aspx?article=361&loc=qs online], very short biography

** * Kirk, Russell. ''John Randolph of Roanoke [http://www.firstprinciplesjournal.com/articles.aspx?article=361&loc=qs online], very short biography

* Kirk, Russell. '' The conservative mind: from Burke to Eliot‎ '' (2001) pp 155-67  

* Kirk, Russell. '' The conservative mind: from Burke to Eliot‎ '' (2001) pp 155-67  

* Risjord, Norman K.  ''The Old Republicans: Southern Conservatism in the Age of Jefferson'' (1965) the standard history of the Randolph faction. [http://www.questia.com/library/book/the-old-republicans-southern-conservatism-in-the-age-of-jefferson-by-norman-k-risjord.jsp online edition]

* Risjord, Norman K.  ''The Old Republicans: Southern Conservatism in the Age of Jefferson'' (1965) the standard history of the Randolph faction. [http://www.questia.com/library/book/the-old-republicans-southern-conservatism-in-the-age-of-jefferson-by-norman-k-risjord.jsp online edition]