The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-17

OF Major General Robert and Brlgddlel
Matthew w. Ransom, the latter United
States Senator from North Carolina fol
more than twenty years. and also Minister
to Mexico under President Cleveland
Administration
Let me mention here that many of the
leading citizens of Granville and some
other counties, were natives of Virginia
lii Granville before curtailed OF so much
of its territory, there may be mentioned
among its Virginian born citizens such
men of prominence, of distinction, in fact
as Judge John Williams, Judge Richard
Henderson, father OF Chief Justice Hen
derson; Col. Robert Burton. father OF
Governor Hutchings C. Burton, who was
himself native Of Virginia also: Gov
ernor James Turner, and later, Bishop
John Stark Ravenscroft. There were
many admirable descendants and
others not named, among the
citizens of the superb Nutbush
Section, as it was called, as I know from
Rev. Hugh McAden,s DIARY as far
back as 1856. In his Diary he records that
he preached in that year in a Baptist
church on Fishing Creek in Granville
''Nutbu Section where he found Il
people who were educated, refined, hos
pitable and hungry for the Gospel.
Mr.. Macon was sent to the College OF
New Jersey, known as Princeton then.
Twenty years earlier it was called Mas
sau Hail. Macon knew something OF
Latin, and his education was mot broad,
but substantial He wrote with fair ac-
curacy, and fewer ofthogra phical errors
occur in his writings than in a similar
amount GOO letters of jefferson" He
served some in the War of the Revolution.
He was faithful in the army as ne was in
every duty of life that devolved upon him.
Prof. Dodd has some healthful and IL
| structive remarks on the WAR of the
| Regulators in 1771.' but as ! am not
writing a review 7 pass on, saying only
that l share with him in his view. Macon
| served in the General Assembly, in the
the United States House. and in the
Senate. He was influential. attentive,
cautious. of the wise and most judlclous.
In 1885, he was elected to the Continental
Congress, but he declined. He was APP
pointed IN 1877 Lieutenant-Colonelo of the
Warren County Militia. He married Miss
Hannah Plummer on 9th October. 1893.
She died 18th January 1870. He never
married again, and he deeply sorrowed
over bis wife's death. He was but thirty
two years old when that very sad event
occurred. but he never married again.
He had three children. and his only son.
Plummer. died when but six Years old.
I will not undertake to follow him in
his long, faithful, watchful industrious
public life. He was the very soul OF hon
or lie was great believer in the PeO-
pie He was infleXible in his devotion to
the real democratic principles, standing
always unfalteringly by a Government OF
the People and for the People and by the
People-ro quote the notable saying of
Abe Lincoln in his Gettysburg speech,
md which he stole bodily from the New
England Reader published in the thirties.
No man was ever more honest, more reSo-
lutte for the right as he understood it..
more conscientious in the discharge OF all
public duties and responsibilities. He
was indeed model man in many IMPORT
ant particulars-he was a very honest
man, very truthful man. a very true
man. very consistent man in the main,
IL very decided man. very brave, self-re-
liant man. full of 1.-The milk OF human
kindness" and ever watchful for the
best interests of his people who honored
and relied upon him. His record justifies
all this and even more.
Reading Prof Dodd's clear narrative of
events, and the attitude of Mr.. Macon
on all public questions, a candid mind
must be drawn in admiration and conf
dence to the noble citizen and earnest
servant of the people. Not one of the
orr ~ 81 Cor H.
ally, he was indeed one of its soundest.
safest, most intelligent and wlsest lead
ers. was astonished after being so mis-
led by the talk of the Wings when / was
4 lad and in my early manhood. as to-
Mr.. Macon's ability, wisdom and lnflu-
ence, to find from the records in the Con-
gress as given by his careful biographer,
how active, earnest. prompt, determined,
prominent he was in the Congress. He
was Enthusiastically ore of the foremost
members in influence and service. used
to hear ii said that he could not make a
speech, and that he never tried to make a
speech but once during his widely extend
ed public service. He spoke very fire.
quently and almost upon every important
question that came before the particular
body Of which he was member at the
time. His longest speech actually fills
twenty-seven pages in the Appendix" to
Prof Dodd's Life of Macon" 1t was
delivered 23rd February, 1902, sand was on
THE Repeal of the Judiciary Act" You
can form lust estimate of his capabilities
IS a speaker by reading it. 1t is clear,
calm sensible and impressive. 1t is not
a great speech. but a good. thoughtful.
even acute speech made by a thoughtful,
honest reliable man. After reading of
Macon's career in the Federal Congress,
ana seeing how braveiy, defantly, I'M
swervingly he stood by the Constitution
and the People. learned to distrust some
politicians have revered and honored who
1gured in his day. When quite a young
man / thought Henry Clay safe honest.
wise man. If ne were alive. and a candi-
late again fer President. or for any high
oftiee. l would treat him now as I viii
-reat Cleveland. if nominated a@ain. not
iaI or him or vote for him. With study.
reflection. experience and age, | have
earned much Of Ciay's acts and princi
PCS, and they are not those / approve
u or support in 1904, or have held for
,orty-tour wears. since 1850. am genuine