USA > North Carolina > Historical sketches of North Carolina : from 1584 to 1851, Vol. I > Part 72
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While in the army, he was elected by the people, a member of the Legis- lature, without his knowledge or consent. Such was his patriotism, and his attachment to his companions in arms, that for a time he resisted all allurements to leave the army ; but by the persuasions of his commanding officers, he left this for a different service ; and here he was destined to a
* Ingersoll's History of the War of 1812, p. 209.
t Colton's Life of Macon, p. 47.
2
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long and brilliant career. He served several years as a member of the General Assembly.
About this time, he married Miss Hannah Plummer, an accomplished lady, and of one of the most excellent families in the State. In this, he had oppo- sition ; for she was an object worthy of the richest affections. It is recorded, that while on a visit to her, he met one of her suitors at her house. With his characteristic frankness, he proposed to his rival, in the presence of Miss Plummer, that they should play a game of cards for her hand, as that was the shortest and an amicable way to decide the controversy. This was agreed to; and they played. Macon lost; upon which, raising his hands, with his eyes beaming with affection, he exclaimed, " Hannah, I have lost you fairly, but love is superior to fortune !. I cannot give you up ; I love you yet."
This frank conduct, it is said, secured him the hand of the lady. A life of uninterrupted domestic felicity to her, proved the wisdom of her conduct. He was happy in the wife of his love, and she was proud of the husband of her choice.
The sublime idea of the Roman poet was more than realized :
" Felices ter et amplius Quos irrupta tenet copula ; nec malis Divulsus querimoniis Suprema citius solvet amor die."* HORACE.
He now devoted himself to the improvement of his farm and the happiness of his family. But fortune had not destined him to remain in retirement.
In 1791, he was elected a member of Congress from this District : so accept- able were his services, and so patriotic his efforts, that he was continued from the same district until 1815, when, without his solicitation or consent, he was transferred to the Senate of the United States, where he served until 1828.
In 1824 he received the vote of Virginia (twenty-four electoral votes), as Vice-President of the United States.
In 1825, '26 and '27, he was chosen President, pro. tem., of the Senate.
Warned by the advances of age, in 1828, after a service of thirty-seven years in Congress, he voluntarily resigned all his public trusts to the General Assembly.
A longer period of continuous service in the public councils is not presented by any one individual in the annals of our republic.
From 1801 to 1806, he was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the only individual from North Carolina who has ever enjoyed this distin- guished honor.
His career (embracing the whole period of the war with Great Britain) was in the most excited times of the country. Yet with such acceptability did Mr. Macon pursue "the even tenor" of his way, uninfluenced by parties, and unmoved by persuasions from any quarter, that he was regarded as one of the safest depositaries of popular power. He was emphatically and radically a democrat. Early he was opposed to the Federal Constitution, organized upon the model of the English Government, adapted to our republican insti- tutions, and in the language of one who was in Congress with him, t and knew well his motives of action, Macon was willing to trust the people "further than Jefferson would have ventured, far beyond Washington, and to an extent that Hamilton would have pronounced anarchical."
He believed, implicitly and cordially in the people, and the people knew it. This was the sesame which threw open the door of promotion. He never held any office but from them ; and they, " the people, loved him because he first loved them." He looked upon a seat in Congress, from the people, as the end of his desires ; not to be used for his own aggrandizement, or that of his family or friends, but to serve them and their real interest, and true
* Happy, and thrice happy, are those who enjoy an uninterrupted union ; and whose ove, unbroken by any sour complaints, shall continue until dissolved by death.
+ Hon. Charles Jared Ingersoll, of Pa.
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welfare. To him this was the goal, not the stepping-stone in his career-the penultimate of his political sentiments. Hence when a seat in the Cabinet, and foreign missions, at different times, were offered to him, they were re- fused with a pertinacity hardly respectful.
To the people, and the people alone, he devoted all the faculties of his mind, and the warmest inspirations of his heart. Though the friend of the people, he was not their flatterer. He used no arts of the demagogue to secure his election, no undue means to ingratiate himself in their favor. In his inter- course, he was. frank and sincere ; and in his correspondence, rare and laconic.
The following is a copy of one of his circulars to every postmaster in his district.
" WASHINGTON, June 18th, 1812.
SIR : War was declared against Great Britain yesterday.
Yours, &c., NATHANIEL MACON."
In 1805, his speech to the House on his taking the chair, when elected Speaker, was :-
-
GENTLEMEN : Accept my sincere thanks for the honor you have conferred upon'me. Permit me to assure you that my utmost endeavors will be exerted to discharge the duties of the Chair, with fidelity, impartiality, and industry, and that I rely with confidence on the liberal and candid support of the House.
This is recorded as a model for our days, when the same ideas, and no more, are conveyed in a lengthy address, as to honors unexpected (which have been eagerly sought and desired), as to want of qualification (which may be too true), and protestations of impartiality and fairness (which are evinced by packing every Committee of a particular party).
His belief in politics was, that "the world is governed too much; that society in every state is a blessing; but government in its best state but a necessary evil, for when we suffer from the miseries of a government our calamity is heightened by the reflection that we furnish the means by which we suffer. Government, like dress, is a badge of fallen innocence ; the palaces of kings are built on the ruins of the bowers of paradise.", Macon's course is marked throughout his whole career in Congress by this'principle. His constant effort was to let the power remain with the people where it belonged, and for the government to protect the people in their rights, liberties, and lives, and do no more. Hence, during his service, he was in much of the, eight years of Washington's administration, all of John Adams', in most of Jeffer- son's, and part of Madison's, in the opposition. Although he voted during Mr. Madison's administration, for the war, yet many measures of this admin- istration he did not support. "In the nearly forty years he served in Con- gress, no ten members gave as many negative votes." He was told once in Congress, by an intimate friend, that "if Mr. Macon should happen to be drowned, he would not look down the current for his body, but up the stream." No plan, however specious, no device however artfully contrived, no scheme however plausible, swerved his steady mind from its firm purpose. Yet this opposition was not ascetic, or his course factious ; his opposition was open, his reasons plain, and his intercourse frank and pleasant. He often spoke in - Congress, always agreeable and amiable, but firm and always opinionated.
He was the Father of a sect of politicians "strict, severe, and stringent," of which Cave Johnson, Henry W. Conner, and James J. Mckay were disciples, and which, " in these pursy times of peace," are so much needed in our public councils. Viewed by the naked eye of truth, their principles will appear the more sound the more they are examined. They have been adopted as the landmarks of our government ; and the more a government is administered upon these principles, the safer will be the honor of the nation and more secure the liberties of the people.
Such was Nathaniel Macon, in Congress. John Randolph declares in his
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will, that "Mr. Macon was the wisest and best man he ever knew ;" and Mr. Jefferson said, that when Nathaniel Macon died, that the "last of the Romans" of our Republic would have departed.
In 1828, he resigned to the General Assembly all his public trusts, then in his seventy-first year ; feeling, like the wise captain of Charles V., that some period should intervene between the active duties of life and the time of leaving it. He resigned, in a short note to the Legislature, his office as Senator in Congress, as Trustee of the University, and as Justice of the Peace for Warren County.
But this did not terminate his public career.
In 1835, a Convention was assembled at Raleigh to amend the Consti- tution, and the people desired the aid of his experience, wisdom, and judgment.
.) Of this respectable 'and talented body, Mr. Macon was chosen President. The Journal of that body, and its debates, show the experience of this distinguished patriot.
. He did not approve of land qualification for voters. In an able, but short speech, he supposed the case of two respectable neighbors, having each a son. One of them had fifty acres of poor land, not worth twenty-five cents an acre ; the other had no land, but was a good blacksmith or shoemaker, and "of equal good character. Why allow one to vote and not the other ?
How truly subsequent political events in our State have proved the wisdom of this, and established free suffrage as a part of our Constitution.
He opposed biennial sessions, and declared "where annual elections end, tyranny begins."
In every one of the "old thirteen States" the Legislatures sit annually.
. On the subject of religious toleration he said, that the article of our Con- stitution (the 32d) prohibiting all but Protestants from serving as members of the Legislature, was a singular idea in any government, and erroneous ; it exceeded the province of the law maker; his province was only to re- gulate between man and man, and not between man and his Maker. If this be not correct, in course of time spiritual courts will be necessary to sit in judgment to rule what is the true belief. No human power had any right to interpose, or prescribe any religious opinions as a test of office. A mix- ture of politics and religion, was the very essence of hypocrisy. Religion is founded on "peace on earth and good will to man." Read the sermon of the Saviour of mankind on the Mount. There is no persecution there. We had as well try to bind the air we breathe, as men's consciences. All religions united in the establishment of our free Government. Roger Williams, the first man to establish toleration in North America, was a Puritan; Charles Carroll was a Catholic; Mr. Macon said that he inclined to the Baptist faith ; but he was far from believing all their doctrines. He did not believe it essen- tial, that a man should attach himself to any church. He who feared God, and loved his brother man, and faithfully discharged to his country every duty, and obeyed the precepts of the Gospel, would not be asked, when he reached heaven, to what church he belonged.
The odious article was altered.
On Saturday, the 11th July, Mr. Easton called up the resolution, which, on the day previous, he had laid on the table. It read thus :-
" Resolved unanimously, That the thanks of this Convention are due, and hereby respectfully and affectionately tendered to the Honorable Nathaniel Macon, their venerable President, for the distinguished ability, dignity, and impartiality, with which he has discharged the duties of his station."
This was passed unanimously ; the members all rising on their feet, on motion of Hon. Samuel P. Carson, of Burke. The venerable Macon was deeply affected, and made a short and appropriate valedictory, and they separated forever .- GASTON-MACON-CARSON-all gone !
But once more did Mr. Macon appear in public. In 1836, he was Elector on the Democratic ticket, which succeeded ; and he presided at the College of
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Electors and gave the vote of North Carolina to the Democratic party. This was his last public act. He had commenced life fighting in actual battle, for the true principles of Government; his last act was in perfect consistency with its long, eventful, and important career. He never appeared again in public, and went rarely from home.
Such were his public services, and such was the system of policy he pur- sued. Let us now go into the retirement of home, and view him in the pri- vate relations of social life, as a husband, father, and master ; neighbor and friend.
The great Roman author,* in his celebrated work on the " Offices of Life," has left for our study the minutest particulars as to our duty and conduct. He has even described the kind of dwelling a man of a magnanimous mind should occupy. Neither too large, yet sufficient for the accommodation of his family and friends, and adapted to his means and their wants.
The minute detail of Mr. Macon, by a neighbor, has not permitted us to be at a loss in this respect.
" He occupied a neat little single storied frame house sixteen feet square, with an upstairs and a cellar, furnished in the plainest style for his own dwell- ing, with a sufficient number of outhouses to accommodate comfortably his visitors.t
" The dwellings of his slaves, instead of the smoky hovels of dirt, and gloom, and discontent, were about the same size of his own house, furnished with all the common necessaries of convenient living."
He had not the felicity of enjoying the condition of married life but for a few years, but his union with Miss Plummer was as
"One long summer day of innocence and joy."
Educated and raised in the same sphere of life, their thoughts, feelings, asso- ciations, tastes, and hopes were the same, and how could their union be but happy and contented ? It was the will of Heaven. to take early from him this most valued of all earthly blessings. He bore this severe calamity with that calm resignation to the hand of Providence that "does not willingly afflict the children of men," but whose reasons, if inscrutable now, will all be made known hereafter. She left him two daughters ; in these pledges of the love of his departed wife "he garnered up all the richest affections of his heart." They were taught both by the precept and example of their father, the value of truth and the importance of sincerity.
" Sincerity !
Thou first of virtues ! Let no mortal leave Thy onward path! although the earth should gape, And from the gulf of hell, destruction cry, To take dissimulation's winding way."
He inculcated upon them habits of industry and rigid frugality. No tawdry ornament, no French frippery ever was seen on their persons. . Like Portia of Rome, they were fit to be the daughters of our Cato. On the mar- riage of the eldest daughter, Mr. Macon divided his estate into three parts. One to each, and one he retained to do with as he pleased hereafter. His con- duct here deserves the imitation of all parents. The rules of English primo- geniture are not only unjust, but often renders a fool of the one, while it makes knaves of the rest. He regarded the claims of his children as alike and equal. The affection of a parent should be equal, his duty equal, and their equal wants demanded his equal care.
As a neighbor, master, and friend, Mr. Macon's conduct was guided by the same rules of philanthropy and justice. He was ever ready to oblige and aid; he was exact in his duty, and required the same of others. One
* Cicero de Officiis.
t Life of Nathaniel Macon, by Edward R. Colton.
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anecdote left of him exemplifies this: one of his neighbors borrowed his cart and oxen; and promised, of his own accord, to return them by a certain specified time. The time came and passed, but they were not returned. When they were returned (some time afterwards), Macon said nothing of the blunder in the neighbor's calculation of time.
The same neighbor came subsequently, and had occasion to use the cart and oxen again, which he requested the loan of. He was told by Mr. Macon that "he could not have them ; that he could have his wagon and horses, but never the cart and oxen again, as he had told him one falsehood about the return of them, and he did not wish him to have it in his power to re- peat it."
This anecdote is obtained from the person who is the subject of it, and he said that he had rather borrow of Mr. Macon than any man he ever saw, for the request was granted or refused without hesitation.
While he treated all with justice and kindness, he required the same of them. His invariable rule was to rise early when at home, see his stock fed himself, and his people at their work before he ate his breakfast. He had a rule for everything, and had that rule well digested, well understood by all, and faithfully carried out. One of his rules was that nothing about him was allowed to suffer for food. His negroes were well fed. His horses, and even his dogs came within this benevolent plan. He was inflexible in the enforcing of his orders. His habit was to attend to his own farm. When in Congress he had to employ an agent or overseer, as it is termed. His practice was to write down his instructions, which were not to be de- viated from under any circumstances. An anecdote is narrated of the rigid fidelity of one of his overseers.
. Mr. Macon had left the order in writing that his flock of sheep should be kept in a certain enclosure, and there to remain until his return from Con- gress the ensuing spring. Mr. Eaton, his son-in-law, happened during the winter to be passing by, and told Mr. Shearen, the overseer, that the sheep were dying for want of better pasturage, and suggested to him to turn them out in the woods. The sturdy old man said "No! Mr. Macon directed the sheep to remain in that place, and there they must remain ; he had rather lose every sheep than disobey Mr. Macon." The sheep nearly all died.
When Macon returned home Mr. Eaton told at dinner-table the tale to him, and he seemed pleased, and replied that "he was more delighted with the fidelity of his old friend Lewis Shearen, than to own a hundred flocks of sheep ; that he never knew him to disobey him, tell him a lie, or guilty of any dishonesty. If he had disobeyed and saved the sheep this time, he might disobey him at another time, and lose him five times as much more."
His rule was to understand well what he ordered, and see that order faith- fully obeyed.
The same principle guided an equally successful man in his line of life. It is recorded of Stephen Girard, that he ordered the captain of one of his ships loaded with grain, to go to a certain island of the West Indies, and dispose of the cargo. The Captain, when he arrived at this island, found the market glutted with grain ; and sailed to another island, where he made a most advantageous sale. IIe took memorandums of the price at the island he was ordered to, and an account of the prices obtained, which he faith- fully delivered to Mr. Girard.
Girard looked over the accounts, and drew the check for the surplus, which he presented to his captain, and told him that he could not longer serve him ; " Obey orders if you break owners," is the rule of sailors.
Macon was passionately fond of agriculture. An able writer has said that there appears to be a congeniality between all good and great minds and the pursuits of agriculture. We do not pretend to divine the cause or the philosophy of it, but it is proved in the history of our Washington, Jef- ferson, Jackson, Macon, and others. We do not know why it is that patriot- ism exists with more elevation and fervent devotion in the retirement of a farm, than in the busy throng of crowded cities. Whether the fact be so or
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not, certain it is, that many of the noblest instances of sterling patriotism that have' ever figured on the drama of human actions, have been found among those devoted to agricultural pursuits. Far removed from the vice of towns and the intrigue of courts ; far removed from the dark catalogue of frailty and misdeeds so usual in crowded communities, the good and great of every age have delighted in agriculture.
"God made the country, man makes the town."
This Mr. Macon felt, believed, and practiced. Towns he thought unfavor- able to the free exercise of mind or body. He said once jocosely to a, city member of Congress (C. J. Ingersoll, of Philadelphia), " I like youv views. What a pity you were born and brought up in town. But for that, you might have come to something." Even a crowded neighborhood he disliked .. He often has been heard to say that "no man ought to live so near another as to hear his neighbor's dog bark."
His hospitality was most open and unobtrusive. His manners were so frank and easy, that all felt at home under his roof. The taste, talents and pursuits of his guests seemed to be intuitively discovered by him, and to this point his conversation was directed. He was particularly fond of the society of the young, and they were equally fond of him. In this county (Warren), the young persons of the neighborhood used often to visit him, and it was really a spectacle worth a day's ride to see the kind welcome 'and cordial reception that he gave them. In company he was not remarkable for loqua- city, seldom, if ever, considered himself the orator of the company he was in. He seemed to think that he was only entitled to a common share of the conversation, and preferred to be entertained by others than talking himself. The writer of this sketch was for five years at school within a mile of Mr. Macon; and he took peculiar pleasure in listening, and carefully treasured up his lessons of practical wisdom, and the remarks on the principles of govern- ment that fell from his honored lips.
Mr. Macon rarely indulged in wit; but when he did, it was of that shrewd, dry kind, that gave no offence to any, and always produced mirth.
I well recollect the last time that I ever saw him. It was in November, 1836. The electoral college had adjourned, and met in Governor Spaight's office, who had asked me to aid in casting up the scrolls of each county. Hon. Abraham W. Venable was there. All who enjoy the honor of this gentleman's acquaintance know that where he is there is some talking.
The topic was the cause of the success of the democratic ticket, which was rather unexpected ; since Governor Dudley had been elected only the August before, by a handsome majority. Some gave one reason, and some gave others. The venerable Macon listened for awhile, as well as his years and deafness would allow ; at length he said, with a smile playing on his venera- ble, round, and amiable face, "Gentlemen, I will tell you the real reason why the Whig ticket did not carry in the State," and then he paused : every one listened for something worthy of remembrance. "The real reason why the Whig ticket was not elected, it did not get votes enough." This was the truth, as for the causes they were not easily analyzed.
He was as free from the sordid love of wealth as he was deaf to the allure- ments of unhallowed ambition.
In contemplating his character either as a soldier or as a statesman, as a husband, father, or neighbor, it is worthy of our highest admiration, con- stant study, and imitation. In the purity of his morals, scandal was deprived of its venom ; and by the sincerity of his patriotism, party spirit was awed into respect and veneration.
His course was run. The "silver cord was now loosened, and the golden bowl was broken." Full of years and full of honors, our aged statesman sinks to the tomb. He had been subject to spasms in the stomach and chest. On the morning of 29th June, 1837, he rose at the usual early hour, dressed, shaved, and changed his clothes ; was cheerful as usual, when, about ten o'clock, he was seized with a spasm, and carried to his bed, where in a short . time he expired without a struggle or groan. He exchanged "a world of
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gloom for an eternity of glory." His fame belongs to North Carolina. She is proud of his reputation, and has inscribed his name on the mountain tops of one of her beautiful, counties. Long may his character and name be cherished as a source of pride and emulation.
His daughters, whom he survived, one had married William Martin, Esq., of Granville ; the other, William Eaton, Esq., of Warren, a son of whom was a member of the House in 1838, '40, and '50, and is now the Attorney-General of the State.
He appointed as his Executor Hon. Weldon N. Edwards, and to leave him as little trouble as possible, when satisfied that his disease was beyond all medical skill, and was so informed by his physicians, he inquired for their bills, and ascertained their amounts, and paid them.
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