The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-11-24
l-MAcON's LIFE.


Nathaniel Macon was born in North
Carolina, in what is now Warren county,
in 1858. His father was native Of Vir-
ginia; his mother, OF North Carolina. The
father dying few years after NathaniePs
birth, the boy was left in the care of
his widowed mother with but very moder-
field school. however, he was regularly
sent, and he also studied much by fire
light at night. On the whole, he gave evil
dences Of such marked ability that ar
rangements we're made for sending him to
Princeton in which college the early days
OF the Revolution found him. Very early
in that struggle he Joined volunteer
company served a term, then returned
to Princeton.
But in 177S British troops threatened
to overrun our Southland, and again Mr..
Macon left his studies for the field. THIS
time he returned to Warren county and,
enlisting as private in a company COM
manded by his brother John, marched to
South Carolina. Pay for his services he
refused to receive and promotion he would
neither precedent nor imitation in his
tory. 1t was time of deep dependency.
Macon was at the fall Of Fort Mouf-
trie, the surrender Of Charleston, the de-
feat at Camden, and then took part in
Greene's famous retreat.
He was still with Greene on that re-
treat and in camp on the Yadkin, Feb
ruary, 1881, when he received from the
Governor of North Carolina. summons
to attend meeting of the General AS
sembly, In which body his countymen had,
without his knowledge, elected him to
represent them. Macon said at once that
he would not obey the summons. Hearing
OF this, General Greene saw him and in
quired the reason for his extraordinary
action. Macon replied by saying that he
had often seen the faces of the British
but intended to stay in the army till he
saw their backs" Greene realized that
men Of thai mOr were needed in the
Legislature. He also realized that pri-
vate who had served through three gloomy
years without pay or promotion and still
chose the hardships of the camp rather
than the comforts of the General Assem-
bly,, would not reconsider his action un-
less he felt that by so doing he could bet
ter serve his country. 1t was to this
very spirit of patriotism, therefore, that
Greene appealed, and he finally convinced
the young soldier that he could be OF more
service to his country in representative
than in individual capacity. Taking tbs
view of the case, Macon decided to obey
the summons; and SO ended his military
career and began his political life. And
all must admit that he was as faithful
over the few things" as a private soldier
as he was faithful to greater trusts as
a statesman.
Though only % years of age, Macon's
ability was soon recognized by his col
leagues in the Legislature, our Colonial
Records showing that he served on
some of the most important committees
The condition of Greene's army was,
naturally, the subject nearest his heart,
and his best work was that in; behalf of
movements looking to the better equip
ment of Greene's forces.
In 1875 Macon's brother John succeeded
him in the General Assembly. and Ma
thaniel seems to have played no further
part in public affairs till after the franz
ing OF the National Constitution in 1877.
Its adoption he opposed bitterly, insist
ing that it gave too much power to the
central government. But it here may be
added, parenthetically, that though he
seems not to have wavered in his belief
that the Constitution could have been
improved, he (1814) declared that: ITO
dissolve the Union and destroy the Con-
stitution would be to throw from us as
great blessing as Providence has be-
slowed upon any people in modern
times"
Macon was elected by the people OF his
district to represent them in the lower
House of the Second Congress, which met
in Philadelphia, October Path, 1871. There
he began that long service in the councils
OF the nation that was to make him ia
nous. The Seventh Congress elected
him (1801) Speaker of the House of Rep
resentatives, which position he held til!
1907 In 1909 he positively declined to
serve longer as Speaker but nevertheless
received forty-fve of the 119 votes cast.
In the House of Representatives ne
served, being constantly reelected, Till
1916 when he was. without his soliclta-
tion transferred to the Senate. There he
remained thirteen years, always a lead
ing member land acting President OF the
Senate after the death Of Senator Gail
lard February, 1920 till May, 1873.
Then, though reelected President pro
TEN, he declined the office, knowing that
within few months he would complete
his SEVENTEEN year, at which age he had
previously decided to retire from public
life. He was in the midst of Senatorial
term but was true to his purpose, and
sent to the Legislature Of North Caro-
lima his resignation as Senator trustee
of the University, and one of the justices
of the peace for Warren county. For
thirty seven years he had been his States
most honored representative in the halls
Of Congress At that time no other man
had been honored by any State by being
chosen to guard it's interests at the ma
tion's capital for so many years con-
secutively. and not until more than half
century later did any State sc
honor any man, the late Senator Nor
rill, of Vermont, being Macons only
rival in this respect.
In 1888 Macon married Miss Hannah
.Plummer, of Warren county. She died
few years later, leaving two daughters
whom he brought up as accomplished
ladies'.
After 1928 he took no part in political
affairs until 1885, when he presided over
the State Constitutional Convention.