The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-07-17
NATHANIEL MACON,
HIS LIFE, CHARACTER AND PUBLIC SER
VICES


bic Address of Mr.. Thomas M. Pitt
man at the GuiIford Battle Ground
Celebration July 4th-A Valuable
Contribution to North Carolina His
tory of the Period Covered.
News and Observer.
GREENSBORO, n. c.. July 4th.-The
celebration at the Guiford Battle
Ground drew immense numbers Of
visitors today. The speaking was
fine aud the enthusiasm Of the great
audience pronounced.
The Oration of Hon. +. NJ. Pittnlan
on the character and career of Ma
thaniel Macon, was the event of the
'lay. 1t WAS a superb pOrtraiture OF
the great statesmen and historical
summary OF the events with which he
was connected.
One Of the most interesting fca
lures Of the day was the unveiling
Of the monument to the Revolution
airy heroes by the little daughters Of
Van Noppen. The monument was
crowned with floral offerings by the
daughters Of the American RevOlu
ton.
The monument to Macon which
was unveiled today is hammered out
Of solid granite.
The ceremonies we're varied and Of
surprising interest. The day will
long be remem bered by those who
were in attendance upon the exer-
cises.
ADDRESS By MIR. PITTMAN.
Hon. T. Nj. Pitlman spoke as fol
lows:
About us on every hand is peace.
But the occasion. this place, these
monuments speak of war. a war pa
triotic in its beginning, glorious in
its conduct, far-rssching in its con
sequences, which ended the sover-
eighty of the king and ushered in the
sovereignty Of the people. and in
which a loyal colony was transformed
into the free State Of North Carolina
! The privations and dangers of wal
gave way to the cares and perplexi
| ties of civil life under new and un
| tried conditions. The foundations oi
government had been we'll laid il
constitutions for which existed n(
precedents OF form or Interpretation
but the details and policies Of boti
State and National governments were
literally to be spelled out under cir
cumstances demanding almost in
finite patience and courage. 1t wa
inevitable that differences should re
suit in opposing parties. Visions 0
empire, of wealth and position iixe'
the fancy of some on governmen
of power and dignity, which shoul'
be made great by the control and di
rection of the great and wealthy few
TO these constitutions were bu
shackles that impeded the progres
of brilliant policies and to be 90
rid Of as far as possible, if not by re
peal then by broadness OF interpre
tation which should make all thing
possible.
Others saw visions of manhood
self-governing, exalted and dignitieo
To these constitutions were the safe
guards of liberty-as the strong wall
Of city shutting out foes whic
threaten its safety. One saw tn
splendor and luxury of the few, th
other saw the dignity, the safety
! the prosperity of the many. SO niue
being understood an insight is poss
BILE into the life of the man who's
memory we honor today.
Nathaniel Macon was born in Graz
Vile county, now Warren, Decem b'
Il. 1857. His father was Gideo
Macon, a native of Virginia, d.
scended from the Huguenot Gidet
Macon. who settled in that Sta
5 sometime prior to 1852. Martha,
r daughter of this first Gideon, marie
Orlando Jones and was grandmoth
5 OF Martha GUSTS, the wife of Geors
;. Washington. His mother was Pri
ella Jones, daughter of Edmur
|. Jones, of ShOcco. and Abigail Shuga
reputed the first white woman
cross Shocco creek into the II
country.
F., Nathaniel WAS one of the younge
possibly, the Youngest, of eight chill
=. rem. His father died when he W
- about five years old. His moth
subsequently married James Ra
som and from that marriage a
sprung Gen. Robert Ransom and
DISTINGUISHED brother, Matt. w. Ra
som.
At an early age Nathaniel ga
such promise of those strong MOI
! aud intellectual qualities which q
u | l., h,
Notwithstanding the moderate mes
of the family, it was determined
give him a collegiate education. l
few classical schools then in
State were conducted chiefly by Pr
bvterian ministers who were &c
I Gated at Princeton college-then
now an institution Of very high raj
Through the influence of these teat
8 ers it contributed more than any 81
liar institution to higher educat
in North Carolina. The fact t
q Young Macon ives sent TO that
q ieps indicates the influence OF SO
q one OF those teachers. most Ilk
q Rev. Henry Patillo. who taught
81 Orange and later in Granville,
q who was chairman of the Commit
& of Safety of Butte county from its
81 osnization. His reputation as
s. Teacher was excellent and specim
q of his handwriting, now in my
q session, indicate that he was L
8 of culture. | have not been able
81 learn when Mr.. Macon entered
s. lege, but it was probably about Il
8 In 1776, when he was not yet
q wears of age, his studies were in
q rupted for short tour of mIllt
& service on the Delaware, after wi
! he returned TO his studies. The gi
a and patriotic DIR. Witherspoon
E then President Of Princeton and
81 value of his influence upon the lif
n H.. roupr man can not now be m