The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-22


gerous issues came up, and though Macon
had retired finally and was living quietly
at his plantation, Buck Spring, these new
issues brought the aged leader again into
the warfare of the parties. From 1882
to 1886 the great bank question was de-
bated almost continuously. Macon took
his stand again and championed the cause
of the rising democratic party. Van
Buren, became Jackson's candidate for the
presidency in 1886. Macon came out from
his retirement and carried North Caro-
lima for Van Buren, and the democrats
though the Wings had control of the
State government.
In these latter years the Sage of tue
Roanoke" took particular interest in the
fierce controversy between the east and
the west in the matter of new State
constitution. Macon presided over the
constitutional convention of 1886 and
otherwise exercised great influence in
shaping the fundamental law of the
land.
After the democratic victory of 1886
there remained to Macron but a few
short months. He died at his home in
1887, and was buried on rocky knoll
near his dwelling. According to his order
the remains of his wife, who had died
when he was but "a, and of his only son
who had died in infancy were removed
from their former resting place and pu.
beside him. A huge pile of flint rock was
then made over the graves and this con-
stitutes today the only monument in the
State that tells of Nathaniel Macon.
There is, however In Virginia q lasting
memorial to his fame Randolph-Macon
College, one of the foremost OF Southern
educational institutions.
This is in brief the outline OF Prof
fessor Dodd's book, and all the topics
touched upon here, and many others
deserving Of attention, are discussed fully
by the author. The work is made up OF
nineteen chapters with a photography, a
carefully prepared index and an appendix
containing Macon's most important speech
in congress, the one delivered on the bill
to repeal the Federal Judiciary act. This
speech Is of itself worth much to the
student of North Carolina history.
| There is peculiar fitness in the fact
that North Carolina student. now pro-
fessor in Randolph-Macon College, should
be the author of the Life Of Nathaniel
Macon. His study of the life OF Macon
has occupied DR.. Dodd several years. An
| North Cardinals most eminent son, his
feeling that the people of his own state
OILY partially appreciated the extent of
his power and usefulness, his belief in
the funds mental principles chamrioned by
Macon, and his zealous interest in North
Carolina history all conspired to fix his
determination 20 write tie hIe OF Macon.
! O him 1t has been 3 labor Of love and
4 r. h~s ~ AT
-hat his admiration for Macon grew os
-e piogfs seed with the work his sketch
Il ows with The feeling OF pride in TINS
.oJie son OF Nor,h Caroline who kept
.ae IUuder True 10 Democratic prlnci-
.es through long ana useful public
calec-. 30 man has lived in North Caro-
hn3 who eAerted so powerful ana sa!u-
Sary an influence upon public thought as
Mr. Macon tcaled Meeilins by his
friends in Butte county.) For thirty years
lis word was law In the political party
Of which he was the leader. This was
so, not because Mr.. Macon exercised
| any Of the arts of the political boss, but
| 1ecause his practical wisdom and sincere
devotion to Jeffersonian principles caused
| those who were disciple. of Jefferson &c
| call upon him for advice and counsel.
| His advice was always given IN the sense
| OF desiring only to advance the principles
be believed TO be essential for the wise
government OF the Republic. He was nc
blind follower Of jefferson, Madison ard
Randolph, the three men he most admired
after Washington. He followed them when
| he thought they stood for the verlties
Of political wisdom; not otherwise
| "Why is it that Macon has not been
more honored IN North Carohna?" asked
| 4 mddle-aged man recently. Il heard lit
| lie about him in my youth and somehow
gathered the impression that he did not
rank with Iredel, Badger and Graham
| t.atterly l begin to think he towers above
all our great men. Why has so little
been said about him."
The answer is plain After the wal
Cor independence had been won. most o.
| he learned men of North Carolina
| Davie, 1redell Johnson and others-bc
| came Federalists. AS a young man Ma
con sided with Willie Jones, Bloodgood
| Spencer, Caldwell and others who fol
lowed Jefferson rather than Hamilton
| The Jeffersonians were all powerful IL
| to near the close of Monroes admins
| tration from the first election Of Jeffer'
son. Then Wing sentiment grew in NORTH
Carolina. 1t largely controlled in tbs
press, in the pulpit. in the schools and
colleges. Naturally a class of strong an6
able young men, embracing The Badgers
Gratams, Moreheads and Manlys grew II
| in North Carolina. They were hostlir
| to the Jeffersonian creed. Their teach
ers instructed them that Washington
was Americas greatest man and Hamil-
ton was a greater genius than Washing
ton. No man could imbibe the Hamil
ton doctrine in those days without vic
lent antagonism to Jefferson and tt
| Democrats doctrine Of which he was
the chief apostle. Macon, all powerful
with the people, was a disciple of Jeffer
| son. If he was right, the Jeffersonia1
| Democracy was right. First the Federal
| lists and then the Wings for politica
purposes moderated Macon's ability and
influence and about the only thing tina
was taught about him by Wing teach
ars were stories of his simple and plair
life as evidence of his lack of greatneS'
| md his supposed inconsistency in votin'
FOR the war with England end theT
voting against any appropriation for car
rying it on DR.. Dodd clears up that ap-