Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-05-27
TOT VIC EHYuF
NATHANIEL MACON.

or ;. hr IA general called by his %neighbors, Mr.. !Neein.
Residing within some Is miles Of The neighborhood OF the
lar. Mr. Macon, occasionally hear from those who were
acouainted with him some anecdote Illustrative OF hT char'
actpr All will tell you that Mr.. Macon was d good man
all admired who knew hlm-sllhoneh 10 mattGrs oil ltlt
mnnrnr he possessed many peculiarlles. yet his ecccn.
triciurs intertered with the comfort and enjoyment oil none
The man in whom the ~fassitious John Randolph could hnd
no blemishes, must come very near u peflecl chaTacIer. an
eminent pentleman Of b., after q visit 70 Mr. Handolph :,
boosted that he was honored with washing his face IN one OF
AR. Randolph's massive old silver basins, which, though
was nothing else bat a part OF an old pewter service present,
ed nv Mr.. Macon TO Mr.. Randolph, and which Mr.. Il. prlzeo
far 6eyund any Of hia own costly plate. MIR. Macon hd a
Gods Of laws laid down Tor the government Of his estate,
which II violated, met with certain punishment. For in.
stance, # a slave lold him a lie, the penalty was twenty
ashes. He would not lie the culprt Tor punishment ool
made a ring on the ground over which the cuiprlt was not
10 step during The cha sliscment, under penalty OF having Inc
conn, begun anew every time he did 50. he governed oy
rnle and reason, and not by passion, and was oeioVeu Oy
his slaves, who seldom ever violated his laws.
He used 10 relate PECULIARLY, that in his early married days
ne was fond OF a frolIc occasionally with his arqnalh.
,ances and friends Of Il more rOwdy and obstroperous lhan
refined anL dignifed nature. On these occasions ne would
Indulge rather freely IN whIskey, particularly ABOUT ulsc'ion
lime and sometimes even go 80 ilr as 10 dance and sing
with the most boistcrUus. His vile wished 10 reform himr
and rearrted to the ladies' usual plan, curtain lectures, to dn
so-hut az this plan fails with others, i. also failed with MI
Macon. which his amiable lady at last found out. Oh Nat
thought that sie had discovered the iutility oil her plan al
last. us she had gradually ceased her lectures, but, 10 test the
matter, he one evening came home from a fuinpns rahler Inc
better for liquor, and alter committing a lew eSlraVagahcrs
without exciting n sturm, bundled, boots and all, INTO otd. =
Mrs. Macon bore il all philosophically. "WrlL," said old
Nat, "she has broken herself from scolding, and now VII
break myself from annoying her longer with my iollrsi
and he kept his word.
II was fashion In Mr.. Macon's time las il ia now tor the
Young people of Virginia. who were under age, ana "hose
natenls or guardians were opposed TO their marriage, 10
make q Gre,na Green trip 10 n. Carolina, where any Squire
would no the knot which binds Two willing ones. Many
are the races recorded in The memory OF The old ones nhou'
the Roanoke border, Of the moonlight fitling OF young ones
and frequent pu insult OF the old in these expeditions OF love
Near Mr.. Macon resided a Squire Jones, whose house was
f4yorite resort of the fngltivrs, where, II pursuit was appre
heuded, the fatal, fond knot was most expeditously tied; out
If time permitted, the jolly old Squire delighted in summon
inp a few sav0rite friends, such as R. K. 3. and old Nat
when he would give the couple a fine dinner Or supper an'
send them on their way rejoicing.
On one occasion a rather verdant couple came post has!'
on horseback TO be married, and The solenInily was hastily
dispatched.
But a. great repugnance 10 the match had been manifest
ed by The girls father, the other half was rather afraid L" re
turn 10 old Virginia 10 answer before the Courts Tor running
away with a minor. Mr.. Macon. who was present, suggest
I'd the r;ode OF proceeding 10 The entire satisfaction OF al
concerned. The girl was 10 get on the saddle and take ne
lord behind her, which evaded the good old Virginia law 10
her eli, lIrous legislators have rrvrr made il penal for a NO
man Ia run away with q man.
Eur lmIner iliu- tration of the character Of the good ma
and pure patriot. l refer you, readers, 10 the life oil Dir. Ma
con by Edward K Cotton. "A.