The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-07-17

rellshed by his grandchlldren. One
of these, by way of protest, offered |
his grandfather some bacon at dinner
on one occasion. calling it "beekins,"
and justified himself by the argument
that if Macon spelled ''Meekins,"
bacon spelled "beekins." We are
not told that the argument was con-
vincing.
A short time after his wife's death |
MIR. Macon entered upon that public |
service in which he was to win endur-
ing fame, and larger measure of af-
fectionate regard than falls to the lot |
of most public men. At the opening
of the first session of the Second Con- /
gress, on October %, 1871, he took
his seat as member from the War
rem district. At that time the FEEDER
alists were in power and already com
mitted to the open door theory OF
constitutional interpretations and to
the doctrine of implied powers.
Against these Mr.. Macon was email
terably set. The gentle Huguanot
blood on the one side with traditions
Of kingly falsehood and oppression;
the hardy pioneer strain on the other,
with it's records of hardships and dan
gers overcome, were heritage of
preparation for life cast in heroic
mould. In 1864 that portion OF
Granville in which he lived had bsen
cut off and erected into the county of
Butte. Here his boyhood witnessed
the agitation which preceded the
| revolution. Almost from his very
door went the .'Serious address tc the
inha bitants of Granville" Only
little way off at Hillsboro were the
| stirring events Of the Regulation.
From his own, Butte, by the hand of
Thomas Person, went the petition Of
his kinsmen and neighbors. When,
after years at the feet of Witherspoon,
where enthusiasm was tempered by
knowledge, he returned to join in
the struggle of his kinsmen for liber-
ty, in the county of Butte, where there
s.were no Tories," he found at the
head of the Committee OF Safety his
old precsptor, Patillo, and associated
with him the men OF his own family
Ransom, Aston, Hawkins, Green.
Seawell, Johnston and Jones. About
him were men who had conquered
stream and mountain and for
est, who had established homes OF
virtue and industry and thrift, who,
in the Colonial Assemblies, had
proved themselves the equals of the
English governors sent to rule over
them, and who, upon this sacred
ground and hundred other battle
fields had shown their manhood in
the face of the best soldiers of Europe.
Could man born and reared under
such circumstances and among such
men doubt their capacity fer self
government or look with any degree
of patience upon the acquisition OF
power by trickery in the interpreta-
ton of the Constitution? Not Macon,
at any rate.
AS member of the minority, Mr..
Macon had little opportunity to pro
mote any important legislation in
, Congress, but here, as in the State
Legislature, he received early recog'
nition His course was marked by
sound judgment and industry, and
by a strict adherence to the Constitu'
5 ton. His first real opportunity came
: in the great political contest of 1879
e 1900, which ended in the final defeat
= of the Federalist party. Judge Story
r in his notable address on Marshall
|, gives this account OF that struggle
{ ::The session of Congress in the win
: ter of 1899 and 1900 will be forever
!. memorable in our political annals. II
E was the moment of the final struggle
: for power between the two great po
e litical parties, which then divided
t the country, and ended, as is vel
f known, in the overthrow Of the Fed
r eral administration. Men OF tn
: highest talents and influence wsr
e there assembled and arrayed in hos
g tility to each other; and were excitst
S by all the strongest motives whicl
It can rouse the human mind, the prid
O of power, the hope of victory, tn
sense of responsibility, the devotio
y to principles deemed vital, and tn
It bonds of long political attachmen
,e and action. Under such circum
/. stances (as might naturally be q
h pected) every important measure
the administration was assailed wit
J. a bold and vehement criticism, an
ID was defended with untiring zeal an
.r firmness. Mr.. Marshall took his fu
share of the debate and was receive
n with a distinction proportioned
n his merits. Such distinction,
re- such a body is rare occurrence; fe
ID wears Of public service and experiene
~ are usually found indispensable to a
e. quire and justify the confidence
ID the House Of Representatives" n
D. man came out of this struggle wit
ct more distinction than MIR. Macon.
e. left him the recognized leader of h
IL party in the House of Representative
er and Speaker. He held this positic
lv during three terms with entire ind
he pendenoe, and yet with satisfactie
fe to all parties. His sickness al
re absence from place prevented b
ed further election. "A calm and steao
"a virtue, which acts tsmperately al
en- wisely, and never plunges into lndl
I erection Or extravaganza, is but t
in often confouuded with dullnsss
y. frigidity." This has been Mr.. Macor
IN fortune at home. One writer in
rst late North Carolina publication spea
%. cf him as IMAM Of mediocre abb
he ties and meagre education But
ell had no such experience in Congre:
ok His worth was at once discover
is and there was no abatement OF
prestige with the passing years, b
80. ever increasing respect. just befo
A. his retirement Randolph wrote: -.
of richly deserves every sentiment
is. respect and veneration that can
old felt for his character.
ng. 1t is impossible in short addr'
mt to discuss Mr.. Macon's Congressiol
md career in detail. He was attent
II and prompt in meeting every du
all We NAV note few instances OF
dly part he played and the views he
ned pressed:
en- The depredations upon our CO
ch. merce, growing out OF the war