The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-14

purchase of Louisiana from Napoleon
Boraparte Great interest was excited in
thu exploring expedition of Captains Lewis
and Clark, who We're sent by the govern
ment to explore the newly acquired
country. and to report upon an overland
route to the Pacific
IL many particulars, the administration
! of Jefferson was in marked contrast to
these of Washington and Adams. He was
| ran of the people, and sought to rep
re sent them in the administration of pub
! lie affairs with all due simplicity and
economy. This was bond of union be-
! tween the Speaker and the President.
Macon had deep regard for the people,
and trusted them implicitly. He felt that
he was directly responsible to them for
all his acts. and that no interest of a
| private nature should interfere with a
proper regard for the public welfare. He
re marked, ''the people loved him. because
he fist loved them He was offered a
seat in the cabinet, and more than once
foreign mission: but he promptly re-
fused them all, through a deep sense OF
his obligation to the people whom he
represented.
He was frequently opposed toy the
measures OF Jefferson's administration
Yet. he was a confidential adviser Of the
President, who offered no uncertain com
mendation of his friend and counsellor
Mr. jefferson said that when Nathaniel
Macon died the last of the Romans of our
reublic would have departed
Nathaniel Macon was the austerest
OF advocates for public economy and SIM
plicity." During the last year of hiss
speakership, Congress voted money for
national road to the west, and contem-
Plated other expenditures Of the surplus
revenue of. the government. 1t was
doubtless his opposition to such measures
that occasioned his defeat for reelection
as Speaker.
He was a warm personal friend and
adviser, likewise, of Presidents Madison
ana Monroe. This notwithstanding tho
fact that he frequently opposed them.
In truth, he held so firmly to his own
views of what constituted the proper
conduct of the government, in accordance
with the opinions Of it's founders, that it
was said of him: "In the nearly forty
years he served in Congress, no ten mem
hers gave as many negative votes
Wheelers History states that a member
once remarked in Congress that if Mr..
Macon should happen to be drowned, he
would not look down the current for his
hody, but up the stream.
During Madison's administration war
was declared against Great Britain; and,
Macon realizing the gravity OF the situa-
ticn, and his consequent deeper respon-
siDility to his constituents, issued Il cir
cular and forwarded a copy to every
postmaster in his district informing them
oi the fact. He was opposed TO the war;
but. upon its being begun, he furthere,!
in every way possible the successful con-
duct of it on the part of the United
States.
Madison's administration was also note
worthy by reason of the effort made by
the President to have inaugurated
system of tariff for protection of Ameri-
can industries. This effort was abortiv',
inasmuch as adequate interest could not
be aroused in Congress.
IN the. year 1915, just as peace was
declared with Great Britain, and a new
era of happiness and prosperity seemed
to be dawning upon the nation, Macon
was elected, without any solicitation on
his part to seat in the United States
Senate. He succeeded the Honorable
Francis Locke of Rowan county dis
tinRuished jurist of his day. He entered
the Senate just as the question of a
pl elective tariff, TO which he was opposed,