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

-a1Scor OF The Llfe OF Nathaniel Macon.
and Richard stanford of North Carolina
his oppo1cnls, though not his enemies,
were John Adams, Hamilton, Samuel
Johnston, archibald Henderson and
Eiohnord Pearson. The end of this first
stage o. lhia work brought his great
friend. JEFFERSON, 10 the presidents char.
and be himself as elected speaker Of
the House Of Representatives.
Six years Macon remained speaker Of
the Houce and many an important piece
q legislation passed because Of his &C
tivity. the most notable OF which were
The reyeal Of the National Judiciary ac
and the twelfth amendment to the IA
Eional constitution. The passage OF the
latter was decided by his vote
At the end OF these SIX years he lost
the speakership because Of serious dis
agreement with President Jefferson ana
has cabinet But Macon was not less
important figure in the House during the
six years Immediately following wheu
questions of foreign commerce, of a pro
tect.ve tariff, OF a national bank aud
finally the second war with England welo
decided During the years OF 18oS-1Sl'
he was perhaps the most powerful man
have more important bills engaged the
attention of congress than the Macon
bills No. l and No. 2.
In 1915 Macon entered the Senate. He
soon became a leader on the conservative
side of that body and his influence grew
more and more potent until 1928, the
date of his retirement. This whole per-
iod of his life was devoted to one long
fight against Henry Clay, who to hun
was the greatest and most dangerous
enemy the country ever had. Again the
tariff, the bank, internal improvements,
and the great slavery question occupied
his attention. His colleagues and asso-
ciates were Thomas H. Benton, FELIX
Grundy of Tennessee, George M. Troup OF
Georgia, Van Buren, of New York anc
John Randolph. 1t was indeed & mighty
struggle and really great men entered
the lists on both sides. But his section
of the country, 1.-The south country as
he used to say, lost on most OF the great
issues up to 1928. His closing years were
somewhat embttered by this; lie looked
into discouraging future. 1t was at this
time that he began to think of secession,
to counsel the southern members OF ron
gress to 'wote solid" on all questions
touching southern interests.
Yet there was a brighter side to the
lstter portion of this period; in 1924 Viii
liam H. Crawford of Georgia, became the
regular" democratic candidate for the
presidency aud Macon was the heartieai
personal friend the candidate. But 4
stroke of paralysA ruined Crawford's
chances of success in Tie summer of thai
year. 1t was at this crisis that Governor
Troup of Georgia made overtures to Macon
to become the democratic candidate 70,
the vice-presidency. What Macon's an,
swer was Professor Dodd has been unable
to learn, but Virginia cast her electorel
vote for Macon for that Office in the
: succeeding election. In 1928 John Quincy
Adams, against whom Calhoun, Clay,
Jackson and Webster were all combining
had his friends make overtures to Macor
to become his running mate, the aim
being to unite New England and the
south and thus carry the country. Whaf
Macon's answer was this time we know
for. Macon had been reconciled to Ar
drew Jackson and he supported Jacksou
and Calhoun in the following campaigv
From 1924 to 1923 there were few mo