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vn , ' t -r j - - 1 1 -v J t 7: p3- ' Tl " "-: y . r--w . , ,., . ,. , , 1J. -j ; k -'-.-4- VOLUME VII. GEEENSBOROUGH, NORTH-CAROLINA, OCTOBER 1 $ 1845. NUMBER 1 r .1 I Pnbltsljc&'lufcklji BY S WAIM &' HERWOOD, OB J2.50, IK l-AIH WITH I 05 MOXTII AFTER. TH K DATE t-f, ,. of HUftsritirTiox. Failure on the jmrt of nny cu.-doiiKT to order a iliwontin, aneo within tho MUhacription year, will be coiiKulcrt'J in dicalive of IiIh wUh to continue the paper. For the Patriot THE WAXOEItlXC JEW. . That is a strange fancy about the Wandering Jew. Thc reader knows the story :--that a cer tain 'Jew, who insulted the Saviour at his crucifix ion, was condemned to tarry on earth until the last day. Condemned to life ' until the consum mation of time, he has been wandering over tne earth for eighteen centuries ;( his sympathies long out-lived, and nil his remorseful memories ever torturing his heart ; generation after generation passing away behind him he sees our ages waste ; and wilt continue to live on and on.through 'the hopeless future, until the last years of, the world have rolled their weary round 5 desiring in Vain the quiet sleep of the forgotten dead; ajoy . less, friendless, solitary sufferer to the end! There can hardly rTmore awful, mysterious, pitiable creation of fancy, than this of the War.; dering Jew. - Professor Hoffman, of Philadelphia, lately de livered a leciure on the subject of the Wander ing Jew. Me gave a chronological detail of this ' -ftinpninr lurfond. WTc. axail ourselves of the fact obtained by his research. There is perhaps no nation now existing with- ou t some notion of the Wandering Je w that is, of ome mysterious personage who had been wan- j dering over the earth for eighteen centuries, con- j demned so to do for some crime. The Professor supposecTtho K'gend wasfoimdcd upon that pas sage in, JohnV Gotpeh where Jesus said oflhe beloved disciple, addressing himself to Peter, " if I "will' that, he tarry till I come, what is that to thee i" n A very absurd foundation, we" think, when the story makes no pretence that the Wan- ? derer wa3 a, disciple of Jesus at all ; but on the contrary condemned for his bitter persecution of Ihe Lord. T We may- ficfe remark the conflict of the whole story with the character of the meek - forgiving Jesus, and the principles of the religion which he taught. 1 . 'The first explicit statement of the appearance of this personage is in the works of Matthew Pa ; fis, written about the year 1213. Ue states that "afa grcat-trortveatknof the-tgnrtaries of the church aV St. AUmuVs, JSngland, a learned and Venerable prelate, who had come from afar, said "he had seen and spoken with Cartaphilus, the Wandering Jew. Cartaphilus' had told hirh that lie-had been an officer in Pontius Pilate's corps was present when Jesus was carrying his heavy , cross to the place of crucifixion that he fiercely jexcJaimedjJvCloJaster Jesus go faster !". whan our Lord replied, " I shall indeed go; but thou ' shall tarry till I come !" The learned prelate aid that the' Jew had once been called Josephus that he liad been baptized into the Christian faith, ; but that baptism had no effect upon him. Car- taphilus had informed hiia that every hundred . years he sunk into a kind of sleep, a Jethargy, from which he arose with his youth renewed. 'We next hear of him in the chronicles of the i lllh century, vvhen he was said to have had an r interview with Cornelius Agrippa, who was much 'devoted to the occult .sciences magic, astrology, T&c. The i lecturer imagines him entering the study ofAgrippa a talt-form, of noble mien ; but with youth and age so strangely blended in j hjs coUnTeTTacrTrdj before- : yielding to the weight of years ; his costume rich, yet inscribed with mystic characters and symbo lic figures ; his face pa)e and care-worn ; his eyes shining with an unnatural lustre. He spoke.f his life and the experience of ages, and had learnt that it Was better to die. He desired to look 'in Agrippa's magic mirror, where might be seen the , far distant and long dead to see Rebecia, only daughter of'rince Ezra. He saw, and was en raptured at tho sight. It was 1450 years since his'daughtcr'died. The alarmed Agrippa asked, lM Who art thbu ?" when the stranger directed bis attention to a fainting in the study, representing the Savior bcarinj the cross, and one who smote him. Agrippa looking at the picture of the mau, and at his living guest,' he saw that the likeness was perfect. Look tis I! 'tis I!" and Carta- philus ruslu-J fro4n the house Seven years after, ft is recorded, the Wander- ,ing Jew "appeared in a church at Hamburg, on Easter Sunday an eld man in a tattered dress, and called himself Ahasuerus. He listened to the sermon ; and -conversing whli the students, N told them that he had been a cord wainer, and thnt he was of Arabian origin that he did-join the . -crowd' of Pilate, but that He smote Jesus from ex citement, and begged their prayers for hia death. "Thcn at Strasburg, in 13(53 then at Urabont, jn'-jlStorr'- On 'those occasions he was meanly Jclad, but a man:of marvellous' knowledge under a different name, and speaking German and other '"bribed 'lik" pTfsd'n' andtiravelsVnd showed that ' he had no regnd a wish to die. He was said . jto' have .been neiLseen iirEtansejiytSOl, where a learned clergyman sawitm coming to 'mites.-- A synotai of tlim fcoliire ism t'Tie" riiiladetiirila Satur- day Cvurkr ttpa. I. ; -' . . .. ,. . - He recited tales of the Savior's sufferings, and drew tears from the audience.--. For twenty years France was much disturbed by tlie appearance of this mysterious personage. There are also record ed other appearances, in many cities of Europe, during the 18th century. . The Germans and French had always spoken of the Wandering Jew in a kindly manner but the Spaniards spoke of him with horror. The former always represented him as philosophic, learned, kind and benevolent. In Spain, he was said to appear with a long stigma, in ihe form of a flaming cross upon his forehead, which con sumed his brain, which grew as fast as it was con sumed. This was a fable, in harmony with other fables of that country. Such are the points of Prof. Il.'s curious histo ry of this , legend. Men of fancy have frequently drawn upon this story to enrich their writings. It afTords niatcri als for the imagination in exhaustless abundance It is the foundation of several literary compose sttionsrof various-note and meritT The celebra ted French novelist, Eugene Sue, has written- a work entitled The Wandering Jew, which is now in course of republication in this country; but of its character or merits we know nothing, not hay ing had an opportunity to see it. Mr. Robert Tyler availed himscifof this Jegend Tor the subject of his poem of " Ahasufrus "a work of greater merit, in our humble estimation, than the author's countryrhen hare been willing to acknowledge. It was published in a period of high political excitement, and when public feel ing was peculiarly embittered against his fatlwf consequently the appearance of "Ahasuerus" was met with no little ridicule, as being-but ano ther mark of the vanity of the President's son. But as personal prejudices wear away, more fa vorable judgment may be expected of the literary public ; if the work should have the fortune to be still jremejrtieredampng the multitude of books. The author mentions that he Jays no claims to or iginality in the conception of his poem ; and we may mention that he appears to have written without any well-digested plan. It is rath-era work of fragments. Out there are passages of uncommonly powerful. description, lie not only places his scenes before' you, and delineates their important points with a sensible distinctness, but IiTcewr describes therTTOrkhigr of mastering pas sion in the human soul with a skill to produce thrilling effect. We have marked some passages, by which the reader shall judge whether our opin ion bd correct. We present first some extracts touching the Crucifixion : . " Pale rose the morn o'er Calvary'i fatal mount. A sign of mourning seem'd to fill the sky, Yet rather felt than seen ; a gloom, a cloud, An incubus of night, sat on men's souls." Lo ! bending 'neath the burden of the cross, . Thiough the dark crowd the patient Sullirercomc, The cruel thorns upon, hi gory brow, The foam of thirst upon his whiten'd lip, ' . Swaying from fide to eid with straining ncrvej, Beneath a weight tlat bows him to hc dusl." t Thcy seize him; bind him, '.nail htra to the cross. Fprth from his hands life's ebbing torrent flow ; llii quWcriiig feet arc agonized with pain ; The dews of death start on his dammy brow; And mid the shouts of that mad multitude, While hisses, sncer, and fiendish jests and rries Appall'd the very air that caught the sounds, The Son of Man drinks full his cup of wo." And now the poet introduces the Jew, " Ahas uerus," -with the characteristics- of strong un quejTchabepassion and wicked hardiness of soul, worthy the legend which makes hTrh capab'leof enduringjixistence through so many wasting cen-tariesr-- : . "Behold that Jew in sncerdotal io'jcs: Dark curse dye his livid lips with rage. ' How bold his daring eye! His granite front Looks like a mount o'er which a storm-cloud lowers. Hit brawny arms might lift the city's gates : His firm, full lips speak of audacious thoughts; A udnrioiM thoughts thut owned no moral sense, That sought the eternal secrets of the world, , And finding nought but dust and ashes there (Fr fruit nor flower the eye of sin can see,') He in his heart the chain that bound him cursed, Cursed in his heart his impotence of will, v, Cursed in his heart the virtuct of his race, Cursed in his' heart the God who gave him life, Cursed in his heart the very life he owii'd, A,nd mid llic poisons of his venom soul Nursed thoughts of hate and malice to mankind. 'And if, perchance, the spirit of pure love Touch'd with her fairy wing his blasted soul If through his mind once coursed a genllet thought, Imparling joy to tlioic darlrchauilieri'thcrc;' '. If light, and ull the beauties of this world, Sometimes did win a milduess to his eyes, Tie trebly cursed himself with fiendish sneer, And loathed the world that dared to yield him joy. i His mien, his port, proud Satan's hulls might grace ; E'en Beelzebub, in wonder lost, had gazed ; -Erect his form, ctench'd was his sinewy hand, . In which he held n dagger red with blood : lied, too, his hand with saqrilieial life. , . ' .. Ivapine, and blood, and lust, and courage high,. ' That would have warr'd with Qod's pwn thunderbolt, , Cilciun'd in the channels o( his jron face. ' '; AV'hen others felt ernorse, he felt delight; i AVhen others felt despair, he gladness felt; y''ii(riiii beast --v-r: , : Made mad by tliiwf, whoiinuils theifcooling anting : That moUls the galo umid hot desert sands," " He rushos headlong on his vengeful way, - - Nof pausBS then, though thousands' ate hU foe. , ?'eAn i nowrw crowd his facep Y Hit bleeding Lch; where pallld:Dcath hadtracoj That awful seal which marks our mortal clay While Dissolution cuts the thread of life ; Wheti they beheld that agony itself Call'd forth no curse or murmur from his lips, An awe crept o'er the resiles multitude, The tumult still'd, and Fear and Pity tlien Touch'd their stern hearts with a relenting sigh, And many whisper'd, 'This is surely God!' , Not so the Jew : on to the mount he came, On to the cross, with flashing, glowing eye ; , Revenge lay like a serpent on lW lip, And Hate was writhing on bis cruel brow; And or, his forehead bold a frown lay coil'd, Dark as the malice of his cruel heart. Smiling in scorn, he raised on high his hand, And smote the fainting Saviour's ashy cheek, Tbeu spat upon him with a fiendinh ire, .: A flush of agony pass'd o'er Christ's face, And they who nearest stood heard these low words, Ahasuerus, tarry till I come.' " ;: ... Wc hear no niore of "Ahasuerus" in the po et's pares until the last day. In what caves and and mountains he hid himself through what countries, cities and scenes he passed with what various people he conversed in his long, long pil grimageWill is left to the fancy. We subjoin some passages from his description of the decayand-death of nature : : "Gone now was Nature's glory from the world ; Gone now her happy youth her beauty gone! No more sat Joy upon her verdant throne ; No more Light's rosy smile was seen at morn, Playing o'er dewy hill or sparkling stream." ' "Now sickly pale, and now eclipsed in gloom, The huge, round, watery Sun look'd faintly down Through the thick atmosphere, that, low'ring, lay " Stagnant and. stirlcss, without wave or breath. His feeble- rays, .robb'd of all grateful warmth, -CJoWatllmiy-tvoHnthatcrawliii gratss, I'nchcrish'd fell upon the lap of Earth." " "The forest trtcs uprear'd their branchless heads Amid the breathless winds, and nuked stood, Spectral and bleach'd, fast crumbling iut j dust." , .' "Crestless and surgeless the untravell'd seas, No longer moved by tide or lifting breeze, - Slept dark' and stagnant on their unwashM sands. - The thick and inky .element stood still, No more to sing in triumph to tile gale, Np more to bear swift o'er ita briny foam .i.Tha white-wing'il bird, the eagle of the aea ; In the wide basin of jjhe unfathom'd deep -Vavcless aiid black the bitter waters rest." . . "Rivers which roll'd their tides in morning light, Shouting deep joy with a tumultuous song. Or sleeping 'neath the moonbeam's gentle ray, To the soft lullaby of evening's winds ; ' Those pleasant waters are no more, are dead. No more the breezes seek their sedgy banks; Dead are the sources of the rippling wave." AH that could die had long forevprgohe down into the tomb, leaving, no sign; "yet pne sad heart on earth still throbbed with wo." The un willing witness of the hapless end jof Life jand slow decay of .Matter, the Last Man "now lived alone in all his quenchless pain :" "On a huge rock that rear'J its hoary cre$l. Chine by the ebbless margin of the tea, Horn by his turse, and weary with old age. Furrow d with care, Ahasuerus stood". Existing thus amid the ruins of nature, rnemo ry of his crime brought fresh and strange anguish to his soul : "he knew himself:" the spirit of prayer came upon him : he sank upon the carthj and raised eagerly his imploring eyes up lo hea ven; "While his clear voice, Full, deep, and thrilling in that solitude, Loud from amid the silence of Earth's grave, v 1 Proclaim'd the justicc,of eternal God." - - -'- "' () thou, great God, who Biltcth in the skies Ahiid the lights ofwift-rcvolyingunvl'':" In liricrlitnoss pvcrlast inir shininir tlirrc ! . jTIiq U..J11 i d Cfc h a u Ues sp'elidoursTiTjrIi en throned1 Above the starry hosts in boundless powers? Thy birth unwitness'd by Eternity ! Thy end unmeasured in Futurity! (J! God Omniscient ! listen to my proy'r; Let my appealing voice rcuch to thy throne. What pain, lvliat lear, what wo, and what despair Ilavepeized my heart tf- pierced my sufVring soul; My aching breast, my wearied brain, my heart, . Wliere throngs thousand woes, my sinking Iramc, Most drear abode of age and misery. In the strong passion ol their sgpny , For mercy beg, with deep and loud acclaim. What tin yon eablc clouds whirl o'er my head,' And wrap the earth in theirdark, sulphury shroud; Whuttlio' yon murky sun groans on his way,. Sad, and tcrrific.lhrough the gloomy fcky ;--What tho' tlw-.se mouldering hills Si stagnant seas Emblem decay through all their lifeless forms; Wiiat are their w oes to mine ? for they are dead. They cannbt Ice I those heartfelt flames that burn And make my breast a rack where Torture lives. Thry cannot feel the talons of Despair Fix on the writhing soul thnt howls with pain. Thry cannot feel the brcuthot hot Remorse ' That fires' ami blasts the corriigated 'brpw. They have no load of damning sin to'bcar: 1 They cannot see hil eye, that flush of pain, That dying'forni .upon the bloody cross; That blow that blow 'tis madness in my brain: O God ! cxlcud thy mercy tqjny soul; Shutout thivc-horrid visions frOm my mind; Within my heait thy aiiger burnest now Like living lightning, and I pray for d'-ath. Consume mb with the thunders of thy WralFf filiiliLMfiLJtodjiibr foot ; l.etountftifltfc . 'J.,.Ciu;gvih'tormeniirig flames around my form ; ..Jlivc mc.bul death ami peace 5 oh give me rent ! "'-. Aesort ages have I euflTer'd pairr, ',.' IXitlPaript everburning will! 1 heir scorching fire; 'O ;ver -i V w a t intr form a bjeet v ii h shame, i " Wave 'following r wave, i'u cruel wrath uncheck'd, Time's hissing surges merciless have dash'd. ' . Jpdn the eariti-1 am, all desolate; ' - Heart-broken, desolate with grief and age; All things, are dead, all things have I outlived ; The passionsof iny soul are burning low. breast, Dread Fear, whose homd forms once fill A my Whose shrieking voice was ever in my car, Chasing my footsteps wfld, I knoiv net now ; And Pain scarce more with barbed shaft assaila My callous limbs, Man has been forgotten long, And all the ties which bound me to my kind : The strength of solid Earth has pass'd aay, And o'er bright Heaven a pall of gloom now Sad Memory on itsalrmcnt hath fed spreads; Its bitter food, until its light is out, Save that which, like unto a lurnactf-fire, It sheds consuming! upon one act, -One deed, one horrid crime of shame and sin Hopo only now- remains, hope in thee. God, Hope in thy mercy infinitely strong. The last man bo'vs submi:-sive to thy 'v ill. And sheds, O Lord ! the penitential tear, And calls aloud on thee for merry now. Gldty to thee and lo thy reign, O Cod ! And to thee too. Redeemer, Saviour, Christ, Who mid bright bands of angels sit on high, Of Cherubim and Seraphim, which sing Continual songs of praises round the throne.' "t'h"n thus the fated spake, in fear, in faith, ' In heartfelt penitence he bow'd his head,1 " And at his feet, upon the thirsty ground, The sacred tear ot sorrow gently fell; And softer then than human '.lioiifjht conceives. Softer and clearer than the sweetest note sang, That spring's light breeze or summer bird e'er Vet swelling like the thunder's volumed tone, Glided a voice into his listening ear ; While universe through all her shining' spheres Ceased her loud music then.it trembling heird. . Hush! 'tis the the voice of the Almighty God ! Across the skies a dazzling radiance sweeps, The clouds roll back, and earth is bathed in light, The sea leaps up unchain'd through all hisdepths, And laves his shores with aimiaiitliinc waves; Down fiom their sources rush the voIumsJ tides, And rivers sparkle in thchoavenls beam, And takes reflect the dimpling smiles of morn ; The sod puts forth its turf, the tree its leaf, soil, And flowers spring up from the sweet, fragrant Enamelling the land; and Spi irjg's soft wind ' Dear to the violet the rose'j breath, ) And clouds of perfume fill the amber air. Hush t -'tis the voice of the Almighty God! A ciown of mercy circles his calm brow. And sad Ahasuerus sleeps at last. Upward on wings of penitence, his soul Hath sought the pure realms ot eternal rest ; And with the bow ofglory set on high, With flashing seas and smiling azure skies, With purple mists and gohlen-banncr'd clouds, - Millennium comes, ar.d Earth, harmonious all. Rolls slowly through her silver-beaming sphere, And swells the music of the choral stars!'' NATHANIEL MACON. The following character of " Nathaniel Macon, is given by MrrtngersotHrr hiy new work, the War of 1912: "Nathaniel Macon was a practical apostle of a sect of politicians radically democrats, invincibly opposed to that small majority of the American people who organized the federal constitution, mo dified to republican institutions on the English model of regulation. Mr. Macon was opposed to it, as by far too monarchical. Hamilton dreaded anarchv, and deemed the English eovernment the mildest form of republicanized monarchy. Jefferson dreaded monarchy, and thought thai the American government should be original. Wash ington perhaps.doubted the republican ex perimenl, but was resolved to make it in good faith, though, as he said, it cost him the last drop of his blood. Macon had full faith in the most democratic insti tutions, willing to trust the people further, perhaps than Jefferson would have ventured far beyond Washington and to an extent which Hamilton i-nrmiWrt'annrchial. Madison the disciple of Jefferson and the admirer of Washington,took middle ground ..between lhem Jill. Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Macon all proved the sin cerity of their professions, by practising ihe-ni through life, and to the last, w hen beyond life's common climacteric, when no selfish or improper motive could induce it ; calmly dying as they liv ed, entirely faithful to their respective principles. Hamilton was cut off bv an untimely death. In the prime of life, killed in a duel at 47 years of age, by liurr, on the same ..spot anu about the snmc time where and when his eldest son was al so killed ia a duel. ; He, too, no doubt cherished to the last the politics he professed. Selecting from the government of the Old World, ranging from the bowstring despotism of Turkey, to the democralical royalty of a mother couniry ; the founders of art American constitution chose the latter as a modelr reduced it to republicanism, con federation, and much enlarged suffrage. Mr. Macon, a soldier of the American revolution, the native of a State where English lories were most vindictive and mischievous, and born, as he must have been, nn inriate republican, detested En glish monarch never could have been reconciled to the turbu lence ofEnghsh democracy, lie was a maa of middle stature, between 50 nnd GO years of age ; when I first knew him, with a round, shining playful countenance, bald and gray, always dress ed in the same plain but not inelegant manner, and so peculiar in his ideas and conversation, that one of the Jersey members told him,' that' if he" should happened to be drowned, he would look for Macon's hody lip the stream, instead of float ing with'the Current. Of a distinguished family, brought up to, riches and accomplished 'education,' he' left Princeton college in the revolution, not for an epauleUe and small sword, but the musket and.; knapsack of a common soldier: as such, enlisted and re-en-listed in the "American 'army, served hHfirt;tttwkgBt olio time ttpjjitatf-jujjfei. the command of liTsjpwn .bTotTicT nevlir'ii Is said, desiring to be coitJinissioned as an olficer. . Lest this strange perv,e.rion.pf common ambition should seem'to iniply' any dissojuto vulgarity of disposi tiojii itshplbenddecijthat his habits, tastos.nd. aisodaliwiSr w re -ait ge pe rate, and: without the slightest, touch of unsocial rloomv, or, coarse propensity. Elected to the House of Commons of North Carolina, he unfurl ed there his radical banner in the same quiet and inoflensive way that always marked his singular career. ooiosmir the adoption oi mo leuerai con stitution with allhis ability, In 17U1, chosen to the House of Representatives of the United States, he remained there uve-and-twenty years Dy con tinual re-elections, having filled the great station, for a time, of Sneaker of that house. Hut neither his principles nor his habits fitted him for its in dustrious, onerous,, und absolute if not. arbitrary, functions. Id rule or govern was .disagreeable to him, or to labor. As a speaker, he practised the principles he always professed, of the utmost freedom ; lettiitg the house ulone to kwep itself in order, without the presiding officer's interposition a principle, in theory, so true, that seldom does a newly-elected Speaker return thanlis for that honor without reminding his suffragans of the house that he is but their reflecled image, and thai Unless they keep lhemselve3 in order, it will be vain for him to attempt it. "In 181G, Macon was translated to the Senate as a Representative of North Carolina in that bo dy. In IS'-W, he volun'.arily retired from public life, and spent the rest of his days at home a plan ter and sportsman ; to the last, fond of his game of whist, the chase, and other recreations. Belov ed by his family, neighbors, and slaves, in charity with all mankind, at peace with himself, he died at a good old age, with much more veneration and influence than fall to the lot of many more con spicuous personages. His system of government was, to govern as little as possible. Extensive dissension, and little legislation, he held to be the policy and duty of Congress. Let aloue, was his policy for nations, for parlies, and for individuals ; his strong preference in this respect being proba bly strengthened Dy plantation life and property, which beget intractable independence, and embol den proprietors to claim a sort of Polish veto a gaiflSLviatpvercrosses their homestead, or requires their submission. Six years service for a Sena tor, were, in his opinion, five too manyand j?ne enuugh for a representative in Congress. Tyran ny begins where annual elections end, was one of his maxim3. ' Nothing is more miserable man a splendid and expensive government, was another, lie was a constant advocnte cf frequent elections, that all offices should be elective, and for short terms of otlice not as the oniy democratic, but likewise as the most durable tenure. High sala ries he considered mere baits for irregular and ungovernable ambition. I have often heard him triumphantly argue, that the annual, and even semi-annual judicial elections in parts of New England, were the best guarantee for faithful and permanent service; and he would mention fami lies kept in office from generation to generation by such elections, as irrefutable proof of his opinion. Armies, navies, cities and oil coercive authority, in eluding taxes he opposed, as well as the good-behavior tenure, and political authority of the judi ciary. Unbounded confidence in popular virtue was the religion of his politics. As during most of his life British power and influence weje the monsters of republican aversion, he was in'varia by set against those Jefferson called AnglomenV looked with contempt upon all the imported ape ries, and what many consider refinements of fash ionable life, and with a stronger feeling than con tempt on that American idolatry of England, which predominated till the war of 1912, and which is not yet extinct. Jefferson, a free-thinker, would level up to the doctrines of Franklin, Penn, Locke, and Milton, and extirpate aristo cratic and regal encroachments, which have u- surped the place of aboriginal liberty and equali ty. Macon, not so den in thought, literature, ir science, as Jefferson, ould have outstripped him in actual reform. But he was a passive, not ac tive, radical, except by example. Negation, was his ward and arm. 11 is economy ot the public money was the severest, sharpest, most stringent and constant refusal of nlu.o; i any grant thaV could be proposed. Every one with legislative expe rience knows that many, if not most, public dona tions, bounties, indemnities, and nl'owancc are unjust, often unconstitutional, to individuals, com monwealths, corporations, or companies. It re quires courage, however, and fortitude, to vote a gainst pensions, compensation? for alleged wrongs and the various other demaiids on congressional charily. Mr. Macon had no such charity, dis TStaiTtltfd it altogetler;'-and-kept-the -fwbtic--purac-much more stingily than his own. With him not only was optimum veclial panimania --parsi-mony the best subsidy, but wu'ewwi the only one. No device or contrivance could seduce his vote for such objects, which are the common con trivances for local popularity of most members of Congress, but were with him repudiated to the great gratification of .1 North Carolina constituen cy, not rich, and sharing few national favors of the kind, in the nearly forty years he served in Congressr'nO ten members gave so many nega tive votes. He was in opposition throughout much of the eight years of Washington's, and all the four years of John Adams's administration ; did not Coincide with all of Jefferson's, and part of Madison's; preferred restrictions and measures of passive suffering that be thought - might, prevent war, which he considered dangerous to republi can institutions, though he voted for it as a neces sary evil, and then against most of the strong acts proposed to carry it on. 'I'hough supporting the war with ail his heart, according to his own pecu liar politics, when Moijroe, as Secretary of 'ar, cajledjon Congress lor conscription to raise an ar my, and Dallas, as Secretary oCTTie Treasu1;y,"Te-"' quired ull the taxes to be much increased, and others superadded, Mncon voted ugninst all these measures., It was alleged, however, by others besides bun, eminent'supporteVs of the war, tint some of these measures, especially conscription, wereofrior beyond law. When Mr. Eppes, the son-in-fuw of "Jefferson, chairman of the Com mittee of Ways and Means, during the war, had constitutional scruples as to some of these irneas- ures.jMonroe said that we should look to the con-J Slitution ufter war; but that, with. Hie cupr.al sac ked, and the enemy threatening "us on, all points from Plattsburg to New Orleans, we 'must put fortluhe whole f.rce of the' nation, without too scrupulous regard fjr what vns. constitutional. When, in palriotic.eirort Dallas poured out a flood 01 ues tin tieu'iuiy nines, uni; ot wh - ims was, that paper money was never beali ....... , . . . j ...'. Without ever, losing thi' CpnliJence ot Jus party, no member ol 11 so olten voP?d against mem. .ie naciius and inflexible, remonstrance nvailed noth . . . . w 1 . 1 nr ing with him, He never quarrelled about bis frenueiVt nays, but never abandoned ned or reduced . -' them. Not taciturn df austere, he" was a frequent speaker, always good-humorei and jocular, but always self-opinionated. Macon hadingrain pre ference for the advantages of rural over citv life to form the, faculties, both mental and bodily, for distinction, for courage, eloquence, endurance, and every kind of eminence. No man should live, he said, where he can hear his neighbor's dog bark. Sometimes, when a city member fed' dressed the house to his satisfaction, he would jo cosely say, I liked that ; what a pity you wer born and brought up in town, but for that, you" might nave come t something. towns h thought unfavorable to the fervor and fortitude' which stimulate excellence, Frivolous occupa tions take phice of earnest contemplation and en---terpnse. Heading is not of the right sort, if theft? ' be not even loo much of it. Rural life is less stagnant, more racy, more thoughtful, and self-de" ".' pendent. When it is not only rural, but ' border life, full of exposure, adventure, and exploit, it . obviously conduces lo greater strength of cha'ra'c' (er. Some savagism may become mixed with i( ' which does not detract from the strength, howevel " it may occasionally tarnish the civilization. Not .. one of the greatest Presidents of the United State laid the basis ol his elevation in acilv. Washing - ton, Napoleon, Jackson, were sylvar. born boiri ;'-" to effort and endurance. 1 believe Macon never ' held any office by other than popular election.' , -Indeed, he was too fond of ease for the laborious responsibility of executive place." He is an ill Us tnous example of the eminence and celebrity al- . tainable by laithful service in Congress, with mo derate abilities, constant integrity, and no ulterior ' or untoward ambition. ; ' Few public speakers, secretaries, ministers, or 1 judges, uspiranuor incumbents of place by exee-i uwv iiiuh,?, mi wuu posterity, so large a place in public esteem as Nathaniel Macon, or exercised as much influence while in any office. Born and educated among what Jefferson calls natural aristoc : rucy, the aristocracy pi jirtueaod talents, Macon's distinction is thai lie loved the people. Learn ing elo-tt1 quence&' action were not his merits. During bi ivearly 40 ye-ua of iila-iii Congress, he hardly ve nl proposed uriy measure; but Mnceriiy, simplicity moderation, forbearance, and integrity, gave him "titles to respect which make even his memory in t flueniial. Artificial aristocracy, by birth or wealth " Jefferson deemed a mischievous ingredient in go vernment, whose ascendancy should be prevent ed. Hut natural aristocracy, bv virue-andta lents, he regarded as the most precious gift of na " lure for the instruction, trusts, and gcvernmentof , society; and that form of government the best, which provides most effectually for their pure se leclioQ into the, offices of government., , Some think that the aristocracy should be put in a sep erate chamber of legislation, where tfisy may b .'"" " hindered from doing mischief by coordinate branch-. ' cs, and be a protection to wealth against the a-. ', grarian and plundering enterprises of a inajoi ity. : of the people. : That," wrote Jefferson to Adams," ' is your opinion; while I think tbat.the American constitution provides a better remedy, by leaving the free separation and election of tho natural aristocracy irom the mass, - whowill, - in- general, choose the good and the wise. ; Wealtli." will take care of itself. Cabals in the Senate ' of the United States furnish - many proofs that; lo give an elevated class power to prevent mischief,. is to .arm them for it." Macon's e-: equality and radicalism went beyond Jefferson's.; But he was an inactive reformer, and merely by the force of example, as the American republic acts on the rest of the world. A planter of mod erate fortune, coveting no more, disliking the la- bor-gained wealth of professional life, and tba chances of trade, he disregarded the vexatious . vanities of riches or office, except that of serving :-.' the people as one of many law-makers, amoug " whom, too, his rule was to do as little as possible. -, After serving a quarter of a century in the J louse of Representatives, wh.it most would consider promotion to the Senute, was, perhaps, departure s- . from bis principles. Did he deem it rotation in-z office ; a principle of republican government of ; which Macon's twelve re-elections to the samS seat in Congress, proved that he did not consider it applicable to elective (places. Men grow insor lent, said Tacitus, ia a single year's public trusU' Doubtless they should, by frequent recurrence of popular election, be continually subjected to that ordeal. But when uicumbtnts of eKctive posts, ; .4keJacont:.aw f4hrtuU-thy..r9. not.joften suj! planted without .detriment lo the constituency.- - ,' Wheir one-party-vanqtiislies anotherrkis1! jiist lliaLlhtf principal places should e-filled-by-Hhe-----victorious. But abuse of tins unquestionable Principle as to others, demoralizes: communities y pampering morbid thirst nnd insatiable; yearn-, mg for emoluinenl, substitutes avarice for ambi- lion. Does not Macon's success demonstrate that no American stntesriiau can be successfully both 1 ambitious nnd avaricious ? '1 hat he can no more- , J prefer himself to the people, than serve Mammon Jt before God T To be of the aristocracy of the de; , mocracy, is commona.mbition ; but Macon's dei sire was to be of the democracy, of the aristocracy. Whatever (says Burke, writing tothe French , National Assembly) the distinguifchedJew may have been, men of known rank or shining talents, it is the substance or mass ol the body which constitutes its character and most finally determine ; its direction.' In all bodies, those who will lead must also, in a considerable degree, follow. Ma- ": con was, a leading follower not a summit, but , part of tlieiinass of Conressnot a cotfnnanding ' ' actor or writer, no demagogue, Itardjly commun-, ', ing-Arith hicotisttt'uriitsbtit4y:the inonosy liable of votes, always before liem in print, but taking . t-. no undue means for soliciting their good will. , Yet his popularity never failed, bis success was v transcendent, nnd the influence of K13 example is . still enduring nnd increasing. The centralism of ; Hamilton has almost disaipeared. The federal-' ism of Washington , and the constitutionalism of , Madison have been, in a measure, superseded by the republicanism of Jefferson, which may be .. ' .1 i 1' r , -'. " i;:n swallowed up in me rauicansm oi niacoiu w that tit?' declining or advancing 1 v i .' The most frequent disparagement (cast by Eu- ropeans on American rejiubhcanism is its alleged! tendency to degeneratedownward tendency . . wbicb'is to swallow up learning .wealthr4beriy:. . ... and refinement, and establish nletputitmof mere?' ni'ctabilitv thiin t tsewhere or foTtnerlWaTir- llukni3avpiuju . . , . ... . ....i..-.i.t'- -t. ;.. a m...' is ii moro so than elsewhere 0 real talents are the icfeaiions of great conjunctures nnd the tran qudivyLof ibe" U nanl uiide the. present forms of government, in - ."n:? - ,:t - ', .'-'''"' :;: "rf--.v. -. :' .,' ';V "'--'' -.V?
The Greensboro Patriot (Greensboro, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 18, 1845, edition 1
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