The North-Carolina standard., 1845-09-24

probably strengthened by plantation life ana prop,
erty which beget intractable independence, ana
embolden proprietors to claim sort OF Poilsh ye
to against whatever crosses their Homestead or re-
ouires their submission. Six years service for
senator, were, in his opinion, five too many, ana
one enough for representative in Congress
Tyranny begins where annual elections end was
one of his maximS Nothing is more miserable
than a splendid and expensive government, was
another He was constant advocate of frequent
elections, that all Offices should be elective, and
for short terms of ofice-not as the only demo-
cratic but likewise the most durable tenure. High
salaries he considered as mere bats for irregular
and ungovernable ambition. / have often heard
him triumphantly argue, that the annual, and
even semi-annual judicial elections in parts of
New Eng Land, were the best guarantee for faith
ful and permanent service; and he would mention
families kept in Office from generation to genera
ton by such elections irrefutable proof of his
opinion. Armies, nayies, cities, and all coereive
authority, including taxes he opposed. as we'll as
the good behavior tenure, and political authority
ofthe judiciary. Unbounded confidence in popu-
lar virtue was the religion of his politics AS dur
ing most of his life British power and influence
were the monsters of republican aversion, he was
invaribly set against those Jefferson ca lied Anglo
men, looked with contempt upon all the imported
aperies, and what many consider refnements Of
fashionable life, and with a stronger feeling than
which predominated ill the war of 1912, and
which is not yet extinct. Jefferson, freethinker,
would level up 10 the doctrines of F rankin, Penn,
Locke, and Milton, and extirpate aristocratic and
regal encroachments, which have usurped the
place of aboriginal liberty and equality. Macon,
not so deep in thought, literature or science as
Jefferson, would have outstripped him in actual
reform. But he was passive, not active, radl-
CAL except by example. Negation was his ward
opd orno HE oconouv nf tho nuhlic money was
the severes sharpest, most stringent and constant
refusal of almost any grant that could be proposed.
Every one with legislative experience knows that
many, if moi most public donations, bounties, in
IDENTITIES, and allowances unjust, often uncon-
stitutional to individuals, commonwealth, corpo-
ralions, or companies 1t requires courage, how
ever, and forttude to vote against pensions, COM
pensations for alleged wrongs and the various
other demands on congressional charity. MIR.
Macon had such charity, disclaimed 1t altogeth-
er, and kept the public purse much more stingily
than his own. With him, not only was Opt'mum
rectigaL neutrality-suspicious. the best subsidy
but unieum-thc only one. No device or con-
trvance could seduce his vote for such Objects
which are the common contrivancrs for local pop
ularity of most members of Congress, but were
with him repudiated to the great qualification Of
North Carolina constituency, not rich, and shar-
ing few national favors of the kind. In the nearly
forty years he served in Congress, no ten mem
bers gave so many negative votes He was IN
opposition throughout much of the eight years of
Washington's, and all the four of John Adams
administration did not coincide with all of JEFF
ferson's and part of Madison's; preferred restric
tions and measures of passive suffering, that he
thought might prevent war, which he considered
dangerous to republican Institutions though he
voted for it necessary evil. and then against
most the strong acts proposed to carry it on
Though supporting the war with all his heart,
according to his own peculiar politics: when Mr..
Monroe as Secretary of War. called on Congress
for conscri ption 10 raise an army, and Dallas as
Secretary Of the Treasury required all the taxes
TO be much increased, and others superadded, Ma
con voted against nll these measures 1t was al
legged, however, by others besides him, eminent
supporters ofIhe war; that some of these measures,
especially conscriplion, were Of rigor beyond the
law. When Mr.. Epprs, son-n au OF Mr.. Jcffer-
son. Chairman of the Committee Of Ways and
Means during the war, had constitutional scru-
piles as TO some of these measures, Monroe said
we should look to the constitution after the war
but that, with the capital sacked, and the enemy
threatening US at all points, from Pattsburg to
New Orleans we must put forth the whole force
Of the nation, without too scrupulous regard to
what was constitutional. When, in patriotic effort
Dallas poured out food Of paper in treasury notes.
one of Macon's maxims was, that paper money
was never beat Without losing the confidence
of his party no member of II so often voted against
them. Tenacious and infexible, remonstrance
availcd nothing with him. He never quarreled
about his frequent nays, but never abandoned or
reduced them. Not taciturn or austere, he was a
frequent speaker, always good -humored and jocu-
lar, but always selfopinionated. Macon had an
ingram preference for the advantages of rural over
CITY life to form the faculte es, both mental and
bodily, for Distinction for courage eloquence, en-
durance, and every kind Of emnence. No man
should live, he said, where he hear his neigh
boris dog bark. Some times, when city member
addressed the house to his satisfaction he would
loosely say, | like that: what pity you were
born and brought up in town but for that you
might have come to something. Towns he
thought unfavorabe to the fervor and fortitude
which stimulate excellence Frivolous occupa-
tions take place of earnest contemplation and enter
prise. Reading is not of the right Sort if There
be not even too much of it. Rural life is less stag
nant, more racy, more thoughtful, and selEdepen-
dent When it is not only rural, but border life,
full of exposure, adventure, and exploit it obvi-
ously conduceS to great strength of character
Some savogeism may become mixed with it. which
does not detract from the strength, howeverit NAV
occasouly tarnish the civilization. Not one of
the great Presidents of the United States laid the
basis of his elevation in a city. Washington, Ma
poleon, Jackson, were sylvan born to effort and
endurance. / believe Macon never held any of
fee by other than popular election. Indeed. he
was too fond of ease for the laborious responsibility
of executive place He is an iIIustrious example
of the cmnence and celebrity attainable by faith
= ~