The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-08-28

fields at the head of his slaves in the
intervals Of public duty. and did not
cease this labor until advancing age
rendered him unable to stand the hot
sun OF summer-the only season of
the year when Senatorial duties left
him at liberty TO follow the plough OF
handle the hoe. j think il was the
lsummer Of lS11-that was the last
time Che old me- re tried it, and
found the sun too hot for him-then
sixty years of age, a Senator. and the
refuser Of all office. How often |
min of him when | see at Washing
ton rODustious men going through 4
scene Of supplication, tribulation, and
degradation, to obtain office, which
the salvation Of the soul does not inn
pose upon the Vilest sinner. His
hocks and his herds yielded an am
pie supply Of domestic productions.
4 small crop Of tObacco-three hogs
heads when the season was good, two
when bad-purchased the exoties
which comfort and necessity required
and which the farm did not produce.
He was not rich, but rich enough to
dispense hospitality ana charity. to re-
ceiNe all guests in his house. from the
President to the day-Iaborer-no other
title being necessary to enter his
house but that Of an honest man;
rich enough to bring up his family
(tWo daughters) as accomplished Ia
dies, and marry them to accomplished
gertlemen-one to William Martin.
Esq, and the other to William Eaton,
Esq, of Roanoke. my early schoolfeI-
low and friend for more than half q
century; and, above all, he was rich
enough to pay as he went and never
to owe q dollar to any man.
! He was ~SteadfaSt in his friendships
and would stake himself for a friend,
but would Violate no point Of public
duty to please or oblige him. OF this
his relations with Mr.. Randolph
gave a signal instance. He drew a
knife to defend him in the theatre at
Philadelphia, when by some
naval and military officers for words
spoken in debate and deemed offensive
to their professions; yet. when Speak
er of the House of Representatives, he
displaced Mr.. Randolph from the head
Of the Committee OF Ways and Means
because the chairman of that commit
tee should be on terms Of political
friendship with the administration
Which Mr.. Randolph had then ceased
to be With Mr.. Jefferson's. He was
above executive office. even the high
est the President could give; but not
abpVe the lowest the people could
give, taking that of justice of the
peace in his county, and refusing that
of POStmaSter-General at Washington.
He vas opposed to nepotism, and to
oil IudiI IS " Ills 1oIIi1CClIoIl7 vi
the government; and III the course of
his forty years service, with the alb
solIte friendship of many administra-
tiols and the perfect respect of all.
he never had office or contract for
AM of his blood. He refused to be a
candidate for the Nice-PreSidency, but
took the place of Elector on the Van
Buren, ticket in 1886. He was against
paper money and the paper system and
was accustomed to present the strong
argument against both, in the simple
phase that this was q hard-money
government, made by h~ard-money
man. who had seen the evil of paper
money and meant to save their poster
ity from it. He was opposed to Sc
cu'ityships, and held that no man
ought to be ~entangled in the affairs
of another. and tina the interested
parties alone-thOSe who expected to
fin1 their profit in the transaction
sh)uld bear the bad consequences, as
well rs enjoy the good ones, Of thel
own dealings. He never called any one
'fliend' without being 50. and never
expressed faith in the honor and in
te5rity of a man without acting up
TO the declaration when the occasion
reluired it. Thus, in constituting his
friend. Weldon n. Edwards, Esq, his
-testamentarv and sole executor, with
la.ge discretionary powers, he left all
to his honor. and forbade him to ac-
CONT to any court or power for the
m4nner in which he should execute
Ithit trust. This prohibition was SO
characteristic. and so honorable to
boil parties, n has been so we'll jus
titled by the event, that I give it in
his own words. as copied from his
vii, tO-Wit: |
i subjoin the following, in my own
handwriting. as a codicil to his my
las will and testament. and direct that |
il be a part thereof-that is 10 say,
haring full faith in the honor and in
taaity of my executor above named, !
he shall not be held to to any
Icolrt or power whatever for the dis
ch;rge of the trust confided by me
TO him in and by the foregoing will"
md the event hes proved that his
judgment, as always. committed no
lmi!take when it bestowed that con-
Ifdnce. He had his peculiarities-
idiaSyncrasieS. if any one pleases-
Ibui they We're born with him. suited
to him, constituting a part OF his
character, and necessary to its COM
ple.eness. He never subscribed TO
charities, but gave. and freely ac-
colding to his means-the left hand
knowing what the right hand did.
He never subscribed for new books.
Igiyng as a reason to the soliciting
'agat that nobody purchased his to-
baocO until it was Inspected. and he
could buy 10 book until he had ex-
.amned it. He would not attend the
Presidential Caucus of 1894
although it was sure to nominate his
choice (NIr. C~rawford) ana
.Wh.n a reason was wanted, he gave II