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

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Learning, eloqnence, and action were not his Her-
it's During his nearly forty years Of life in Con-
gress, he hardly ever proposed any measure; but
sincerity, simplicity, moderation, forbeaFance and
integrity gave him titles to respect which make
even his memory influential Artificial aristoc-
racy, by birth wealth, Jefferson deemed mis-
cheVous ingredient in government, whose ascen-
dancy should be prevented. But natural aristoc-
racy, by virtue and talents, he regarded as the
most precious gift of nature for the instruction,
trusts, and government Of society; and that form
of government the best which provides most etftc-
tualy for their pure selection into the offices OF
government. Some think the aTistocracy should
be put in a separate chamber of legislation, where
they may be hindered from doing mischief by CO.
ordinate branches, and be protection to wealth
against the agrarian and plundering enterprises
of majority Of the people. THAT" wrote JEFF
ferson to Adams, " is your opinion while | think
that the American constitution provides better
remedy by leaving the free separation and election
ofthe natural aristocracy from the mass who will
in general, choose the good and the WISE Wealth
will take care of itself Cabals in the Senate Of
the United States furnish many proofs that to give
an elevated class power to prevent mischief, is to
arm them for it." Macons' equality and radical
ism went beyond Jefferson's. But he was an in
active reformer, and merely by the force of exam
pie, as the American republic acts on the rest OF
the world, A planter Of moderate fortune, covet-
ing no more, disiking the labor gained wealth of
professional life, and the chances Of trade, he dis
regarded the vexatious vanities of riches or Office
except that of serving the people as one of many
lawmakers, among whom, too his rule was TO do
as little as possible Alter serving a quarter of a
century in the House of Representatives, what
most would consider promotion to the Senate,
was, perhaps departure from his principles Did
he deem it rotation in office principle Of repub
lican government Of which Macon's twelve re-
elections to the seat in Congress, proved that
he did not consider it applicable to elective places
Men grow insolent says Tacitus in single years
public trust. Doubtless they should, by frequent
recurrence Of popular election, be continually sub
jected 10 that ordeal. But when ccumbents of
elective posts, like Macon, are faithful, they are
not often supplanted without deriment to the con-
stItuency. When one party is vanquished by an
other, it is but just that the principal places should
be filled by the victorious. But the abuse OF this
uuquestionable principle as to others, demorazes
communities by pampering morbid thirst and
Unsuitable yearning for emoIument substitutes
avarice for ambition. Does not Mr.. Macon's sue
cess demonstrate that no American statesman can
be successfully both ambitious and avaricious p
That he can no more prefer himself to the people,
than serve Mammon before God? To be the
arIstoc racy Of the democracy, is common ambition;
but Macons desire was to be the democracy of
the arstocrncv.
Whatever (savs Burke, wiring OF The French
National Assembly, the distinguished few may
have been, men of known rank or shining talents,
it is the substance or mnss of the BODY which con-
stitntes its character, and must finally determine
its direction. In all bodies, those who will lead
must also, in considerable degree, follow. Ma
con was leading follower-not a summit, but
part of the mass Of Congress; not commanding
actor writer, no demagorue, hardly commnn-
ing with his constituents but by the monosyllablrs
of votes, always before them in print but taking
no undue means for soliciting their good will Yet
his popularity never failed, his success tran.
scendent, and the influence of his example is en-
during and increasing. The centraism Of Ham
ilton is almost disappeared. Tho federalism Of
Washington and the cons.itutionaism OF Madison
have been, in measure, supersededhy the repuh-
licnnism of Jefferson. which may be swallowed
up in the radicalsm of Macon. Will that be de-
clining or advancing
The most frequent dispara cement cast by Euro
peans on American republicanism is its tendency
to drgenrratr-n downward tendency, which is to
swallow up learning, wealth, liberty, and refine
ment and establish despotism OF mefe vuIgaritv;
that public life is less sought by rfspectability
than elsewhere or formerly. and that talents avoid
it. Whether this lie so in America, is it more SO
than elsewhere? Great talents are thc creations
Of great conjunctures; and the tranquility of the
United States has been almost sta gnant uuder the
present forms of government In such circum-
stances, commercial, Professional. and other lucra
tive pursuits are more attractive than politics; and
with the growth Of luxury, which has been prodi-
gious since the introduction Of paper money, there
will always be large class prefering fashionable
idleness to political notorety. Nine de Stael says,
in her considerations on the French revolution,
that many of tho old nobility Of Europe dPspised
the Emperor Alexander as an upstart. not 10 bP
received into good society. Social and ancestral
strong desire, more prevalent in Eu-
rope, is not without Acknowledgements in Ameri-
ca Descendants of celebrated Americans are Of
ten chosen into public life, for that reason. Con-
gress and the State Legislatures abound with
members boasting some family merit, such as kim
dred with soldiers of the revolution; and it
is common to meet with Americans who preserve
their ancestors certificates of service in the revo-
luonary army, as if they were patents Of nobility.
Besides the merits OF personal pedigree, Burke
eloquen,ly vindicates those of honorable national
lineage. Yet the country attorneys, village law
yers, notaries, traders, and clowns, whom he emu
merates as the majority of the third estate of the
National Assembly, inferior in his judgment, to
the noblemen and The gentry he extols as heridta-
ry Legislators, enacted laws which reformed tho
crumbling basis Of society, and reconstructed
France so as to render that declining kingdom
not only freer, incomparably happier, richer, and
and greater than it was before the days of what
Burke calls its downfall IF De TocquevIllr's
idea be true, that American democracy is rresisti
bly, swallowing up every thing else American, and
such be the decline which Europe imputes to this
counfrv al nunpfe Great Rritain Eranca 4and