Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-10-08
NATHANIEL MACON.
(Extract from Hon. c. J. INeERsoLL's forthcom.
ing History Of the War of 18I2-'15)

(Extract from Hon. G. J. INeERsoLL's forthcom
ing History of the War of 18I2-'I5)
Nathaniel Macon was practical apos
tie of sect of politicians radically demo.
cratic, invincibly opposed to that small
majority of the American people who or.
ganized the federal constitution, modified
to Republican institutions on the English
model of regulation Macon was opposed
to it, as by far too monarchical. Hamilton
dreaded anarchy, and deemed the English
government the mildest form Of republican,
ized monarchy. Jefferson dreaded mon.
archy, and thought that the American go,
vernment should be original. Washing
ton, perhaps, doubted the republican expe-
riment; blu: was resolved to make it in
good faith, though, as he said, it cost him
the last drop of his blood. Macon had
full faith in the most democratic institu.
tions, willing to trust the people further,
perhaps, than Jefferson would have ventur-
ed-far beyond Washington-and TO an
extent which Hamilton considered anarch.
ical. Madison, the disciple of Jefferson,
and admirer of Washington, took middle
ground between them all. Washington,
Jefferson, Madison, and Macon all proved
the sincerity of their professions, by prac-
ticing them through life, and to the last,
when beyond life's comp q, lmacteric,
when no selfish Or impk y1Iitio.aa 3 could
induce it, calmly dyir suilabi letyed, en-
urely faithful to then Tx, 70 princi-
PIES Hamilton was cut S~aA untime-
ly death, in thep+rime of killed in a
duel at AZ years of Sge, Sur, on the
same spot and about the fsas time where
and when his eldest sonSwa SO killed in
a duel. He, too, no doubt Cherished to
the last the politics he professed.' Select
ing from the governments Of the Old World,
ranging from the bowstring despotism of
Turkey, to the democratical royalty of a
mother country, the founders of an Ame-
rican constitution chose the latter as a
model, reduced it TO republicanism, con-
federation, and much enlarged suffrage.
Mr. Macon, aTsodier Of the American
revolution, the native Of State where
English tories were most vindictive and
mischievous, and born, as he must have
been, an innate republican, detested En-
glish aristocracy, and never could have
been reconciled TO the turbulence of En-
glish democracy. He was a man Of mid
die stature, between so and so years Q
age, when first knew him, with round
shining, playful countenance, bald anC
gray, always dressed In the same plain bu
not inelegant manner, and so peculiar il
bis ideas and conversation, that one of tht
Jersey members told him, that if he SHOULD
happen to be drowned, he should look fo
Macon's body up the stream, instead 0
floating with the current. OF distin
guished family, brought up TO riches AM
accomplished education, he left Princeton
college in the revolution, not for an epau
lettc and small sword, but the musket ant
knapsack of common soldier; as such
enIistened and re enlisted in the Americal
army, served long in the ranks-at on,
time as a private under the command o
his own brother-never, it is said, desirin!
TO be commissioned as an officer. Les
this strange perversion Of common ambi
tionshouId seem 10 imply any dssolute vul
garity of disposition, it should be adde,
that his habits, tastes, and associations
were all gentlemanly, perfectly temperate
and without the slightest touch of unsocial
or coarse propensity. Elected to tn,
House of Commons Of North Carolina, h
unfurled there his radical banner in thu
same quiet and inofensive way that always
marked his singular career opposing thu
adoption of the federal constitution viii
all his ability. In 1901, chosen to th'
House of Representatives Of the UniteC
States, he remained there fve-and-twenty
years by continued reflections, having
filed the great station, for a time, Of Speak
or of that house. But neither his princi
pies nor his habits fitted him for its indus
trious, onerous, and absolute if not arbi
trary. functions, To rule or govern wa
disagreeabIe to him, or to labor. As
speaker, he practiced the principles he al
\ wavs professed, Of the utmost freedom
Netting the house alone 10 keep itself i
der, without the presiding othcer's inter