The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-03-31
ON THE LITERARY WORLD.

the Federalists, in order to perpetuate
their influence in government, passed a
new judiciary act, creating new courts,
new judges. and new officials. Mr.. Will
son says:
tAll the appointments to the ofhces
thus created were made by Adams just
previous to his retirement from the
Presidency, and were at once confirmed
by Federalist Senate. AS soon as JEFF
ferson and his party came into power
they proceeded to neutralize this work OF
the Federalists by repeating the Judiciary
act The repeal bill was introduced into
the Senate by Breckenridge John Brock
enridge, of Kentucky, grandfather OF
John G.. Breckenridge on January 9Th
1902 and after a most heated discussion
passed by q majority of one vote only
The Senate bill was sent to the House
February 18th, and its discussion con-
tinued with great vehemence from that
time until March Ord. The opponents of
the measure sought to have further con-
sideration postponed until the following
December, but lost their motion by q
strict party vote, and the bill was passed
repeating the act Mr.. Macons most i'm
portant speech in Congress thus far was
made early in the discussion OF the re-
peal measure, and was delivered with
much force and enthusiasm. He ridiculed
the argument which his opponents had
advanced that the repeal was unconsti-
tutional, when they themselves had said
in the debate on the passage OF the Judi
ciary bill that Congress had power to
enact such legislation as might seem
proper in the case at issue He believed
that the repeal was constitutional. The
Constitution of his native State allowed
It's General Assembly to create or abolish
courts as it saw fit. The same power
which could create a law establishing
courts could certainly repeal that law
If il deemed it expedient to do So He
believed the lately established judiciary
was not required by the eXigences Of
the government, and he heartily favor
ed it's abolition. More than that the
General Assembly of North Carolina has
passed resolutions asking for the repeal,
and he felt bound to follow their instruc-
tions. Mr.. Macon also replied to some
of the statements of the opposition with
great sarcasm and vigor. He denounced
as basely false, and as utterly abhorrent
to truly American spirit. the accusation
that this party wished the courts vicious
ly formed. Not less scathing was his
denunciation of the opposition for init
mating that civil war might result from
the repeal of the act.
"ln this speech Mr. Macon also evinced
his admiration for North Carolina, and
his great charity for the opinions even
of those who were disposed to malign him
and his party. In reply to the state
ment of an opposition Congressman from
North Carolina, that in that State it had
been found necessary to have judges to
protect the people from their worst enc
my, themselves Macon observed warmly
that he had thought that we, the people,
formed this government and could be
trusted with it. My colleague (Archibald
Henderson, never could have uttered that
sentence had he not been governed by
that passion which he supposed governs
others 1t is true that we are not a rich
and wealthy State, but it is equally true
that there is no State in the Union more
attached to law and order In closing
his speech he calmly observed that he
would not undertake to say that all who
differed from him, in ouinion were disor-
ganizers and Jacobins.''
Space prevents other quotations. 1t is
to be hoped that monograph will stimu-
late further studv of the life of Macon,
make dive" in politics, but whose
patriotism and worth were SO conspicu-
Gus that he ruled only by appeals to the
intelligence and patriotism of his country
men.