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

posed TO meet the situation, such as
new treaties and the embargo act.
Mr.. Macon was solicitous to pursue a
course which might bring relief and
yet avoid war. He said:
This nation in my opinion, must
take her choice of two alternatives:
to be happy and contented without
war, and without internal taxes, or
to be warlike and glorious, abound
ing with what is called honor and
dignity, or in other words taxes and
blood II it be the first the people
will continue to enjoy that which
they have hitherto enjoyed-more
privileges than have fallen to the lot
of any nation with whose history we
are acquainted, they will, as they
have done, live plentifully on their
farms, and such as choose will carry
on a fair trade, by exchanging our
surplus productions for such foreign
articles as we may want. Ii we take
the other ground we shall, | fear,
pursue the same career, which has
nearly, or quite ruined all the nations
of the globe. Look at the people OF
England, legally free, but half their
time fighting for the honor and dig
nifty Of the crown, and the carrying
trade, and see whether they have
gained anything by all their battles
for the nation except taxes, and these
they have in greatest abundance.
Look also at France before the Revo-
luton and we shall see a people pos
sessing a fertile country and fine eli
mate, having the honor to fight and
be taxed as much as they could bear,
for the glory of the Grand Monarque.
Let US turn from these two great
nations, aud view Switzerland, during
the same period, though not power
ful like the others, we shall see the
people free and happy without wars,
| contented at home, because they have
enough to live comfortably on and
are net over taxed. The history
of these three nations ought to
convince us that public force and
| liberty cannot dwell in the same
country"
| When the interference with onr
commerce became intolerable under
the later British Orders in Council,
and the Berlin and Milan DEGREES OF
Napoleon, he became leader in the
movements for relief. AS chairman
of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
he reported and secured the passage
of a bill through the House, known as
Macon Bill, No. /, which was under
stood to have the approval of the
president and MIR. Gallatin. 1t OK
cluded French and English warships
and merchant vessels from our ports
restricted the importation of French
and English goods to vessels owned
wholly by American citizens and te
such as came directly from England
or France. 1t has been characterized
as the .'only measure short OF wa
which met the requirements OF th'
case.' The ground of Mr.. Macon
support was that lit places restric
tions on those who restrict us an1
not as at present on ourselves" Thi
bill was defeated by coalition 0
Federalists and personal enemies o
Galatin. Macon Bill, No. 2, a milde
measure, was then brought forward
, and passed, but it was not sutficien
to stay the mischief and his wis
efforts to avoid war were defeated.
Mr.. Macon rendered great servic
to the country in his defense of tn
, Constitution. In one speech he said
..There are five Or six different way
found of getting poverty construc
7 ton, by treaty, by implication and S
forth. l am willing to execute th
: Constitution just as it was under
: stood by those who made it and n
r other" and again, 1--WE get powe
t faster than the people get money.
e The biographer of Randolph writes
= "Besides Mr.. Randolph. Nathanie
/ Macon, of North Carolina, and Sper
| Ger Rome, Chief Justice of Virginia
: were the most conspicuous statesme
9 in that time of amalgamation and cor
. fusion of all parties. They were eve
= consistent and uniform in their &C
l herence to the principles of the strie
b construction school, and always III
e gent for those measures OF econom
. and that course of wise and masterl
n inactivity which must ever chara'
. terize party based on such prir
t ciples." 1t is at this point that ME
l. have failed to comprehend Mr.. Macol
( He was not what would then OF no
If be called progressive or constructi'
b statesmen. His idea was that tt
d people who formed the governmer
d were entirely capable Of managing
II and changing it to meet their wish
d when they saw fit; that the COVER
@ ment could not enlarge its prerog
n tive except by encroachment upon II
,r rights of the people; that the office
e of government were the servants
c. the people and could have no autho
of ity except as they saw fit to confer
10 that the true Office of government
h to protect people from interferen
1t that they may work out their ov
is lives in the strength Of their ov
S, manhood. He thought the best inte
IN nal mprovements were boys al
e. girls and that people would contin
IN tc raise them if let alone. The m
I'd was absolutely and deeply SINGER
is When he spoke for the people. he S;
lv before him the neighbors and
I'D friends from whom he had come
IS the: Congress, by whose tresldes
90 had sat, whose hands be had held
or friendly grasp and with whom he W
IS accustomed to exchange the co..
a tesies Of good neighborhood
ks wrote Bartlett Yancey in 1918: .
IL not deceived. speak soberly in
he fear of God, and the love OF the &
IS. stitution; let not love of imPro
ed ment or thirst for glory blind Il
ais sober discretion and sound sense W
,ut which the Lord has blessed y
,re Paul was not more anxious or sine
He concerning Timothy than | am
of YOU. Your error in this, will I'M
be if not destroy our beloved moth
North Caroliha. and all the So
ess country. Add not to the Constr
aal ton nor take therefrom; no inciden
i've power can stand alone, whatever
tv. Stand alone is substantive, not il