The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-05

his home life and greatly endeared him
to his neighbors. by whom he was known
as Mr. Meekins This pronunciation OF
his name was insisted upon by Mr.. Macon
himself but was not so much rellshed
by his grand children. One of these, by
way of protest, offered his grand-fathe
some bacon at dinner on one occasion,
calling it "beekins," and justified him
self by the argument that if Macon
spelled "Meekins." bacon spelled bee
kins." We are not told that the argu-
ment was convincing.
A short time after his wife's death Mr..
Macon entered upon that public service
in which he was to win enduring fame,
and a larger measure of affectionate re-
gard than falls to the lot Of most pub
lie men At the opening of the first ses-
sion of the Second Congress, on October
28 1791. he took his seat as member
from the Warren district. At that time
the Federalsts were in power and al
ready committed to the open door theory
of constitutional interpretations and to
. the doctrine of implied powers. Against
+ these Mr.. Macon was unalterablY set.
The gentle Huguenot blood on the one
side with traditions of kingly falsehood
and oppression; the hardy pioneer strain
on the other, with it's records of hard
ships and dangers overcome, were a
J heritage of preparation for a life cast
in heroic mould In 1854, that portion
, of Granville, in which he lived, had been
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 to the inhabitants of
Granville" Only a little way off, at
I1illsbOrO were the stirring events of
the Regulators. 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 Wither-
; spoon. where enthusiasm was tempered
by knowledge, he returned to join in the
struggle of his kinsmen for liberty in
the county of Butte. where there ''were
no tories. he found at the head of the
Committee of Safety his old preceptor,
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 forest and mountain who
had established homes of virtue and in
Assemblies had proved themselves the
equals of the English governors sent to
rule over them. and who, upon this sa-.
crod ground and a 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 for self, government
Or Of
i the acquisition of power by trckery in
( the Interpretation of the Constitution?
Not Macon, at any rate.
As a member of the minority. Mr.
Macon had little opportunity to promote
any important legislation in Congress-
! but here, as in the State Legislature. he
received early recognition. His course
was marked by sound judgment and in
dustry and by strict adherence to the
| Constitution. His first real opportunity
came in the great political contest of
1799-1S00, which ended in the final de-
feat of the Federalist party Judge
! Story in his notable address on Marshall
gives this account of that struggle:
THE session of Congress in the winter
of 1899 and 1900 will be forever memora-
Bic in our political annals 1t was the
/ moment of the final struggle for power
+, between the two great political parties.
which then divided the country, and end
ed, as is well known. in the overthrow
of the Federal administration Men of
| the highest talents and influence were
there assembled and arrayed in hostility
TO each other and were excited by all
the strongest motives which can rouse
! the human mind, the pride of power, the
hope of victory, the sense of resDonsi-
bility, the devotion to principles deemed
vital and the bonds of long political
attachment and action. Under such cir
cumstances Gas might naturally be. ex-
pected) every important measure of the
| administration was assailed with a bold
and vehement criticism, and was defend
ed with untiring zeal and frmness. Mr..
Marshall took his full share of the de-
bate, and was received with distinction
prcportioned to his merits. Such a dis
! tlnction, in such q body is rare occur
renee; for years of public service and
experience are usually found indispensa-
bic to acquire and Justify the confidence
of the House of Representatives" No
man came out Of this struggle with
greater distinction than Mr.. Macon 1t
left him the recognized leader OF his
party in the House of Representatives,
and Speaker He held this position dur
ing three terms with entire independence,
and yet with satisfaction to all parties
His sickness and absence from place pre-
vented his further election: "A calm and
/ steady virtue, which acts temperately
and wisely and never plunges into indis-
cretion or extravaganza, is but too often
CnT,fC Aa1 l,,JI, -
This has been Mr.. Macons fortune at
home One writer in d late North Car
olina publication speaks of him as
man of mediocre abilities and meagrc
education But he had no such ex-
perience in Congress- His worth was at
once discovered and there was no abatc-
meat of his prestige with the passing
years, but ever increasing respect. Just
before his retirement Randolph wrote:
He richly deserves every sentiment of
respect and yeneration that can be felt
for bis character"
1t is impossible in a short address to
discuss Mr.. Macon S Congressional career
in detail. He was attentive and prompt
in meeting every duty. We may note
few instances of the part he playcd and