NATHANIEL MACON
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mon man.. His patriotism was of the purest and
most substantial order, and his discretion and good
common sense would have marked him any where
as a great and noble character. His democracy
was as true as the best steel 1t had flaw in it.
1t did not shine, it is true, like that of other men,
who seek to make up by professions what they
lack in deeds; but it was always firm, always re-
liable, always the side of right and justice, and
humanity. One of his last acts of publiciservice
was that of presiding over the Convention which
amended our State Constitution in 1895 We all
remember the plain and modest speech he made
on taking the Chair on that occasion, as well as
the imparlallty with which he conducted the de-
lberations of that most respectable body. On
looking over the debates of the Convention we
have been struck with some remarks of his upon
the subject of Education. He was replying to
Gov. Swain: 'st e# il


"Mr MACON sale, he would go hand in hand
with the gentleman from Buncombe as regarded
Education, but he differed with him in his notions
about Internal improvement He doubted the
capacity of North Carolina to become a great
Commercial Stale She had no good port, and
the lower part of it too sickly. For the same
reasons New-Orleans never could rival New
York But, we could diffuse the blessings Of
Education, and become virIuous, If not great
people. He expressed a wish that The Universe


ty of the State was located at Raleigh, for he did
not believe in that kind Of education which was
obtained in cloisters. The manners of boys
should be attended to as we'll as their minds He
referred to the City of Williamsburg, in Virgin
ia, which was said to have been the most polished
in America, and whose College had turned out
more celebrated men than any other Institution
within his knowledge" 80


Further on in the session he had occasion to
speak on the S2d Article, and what he said, though
in few words, ought to be remembered by those
demagogues who are striving to unite Church
and State and who would deny TO man the liberty
of conscience: MIR. MACON said fears seemed
to be entertained by some gentlemen, that Roman
Catholics would oVerrun the country. They
might do it, but he did not think it half as proba
Bile as that mouse would kill buffaloe. Let
them come when they will, said Mr. Macon, he
would lay wager that the Protestents converted
taco to the Catholics one. AS for himself he was
inclined to the Baptist Church, and he did not
care who knew it," 1t was in the same speech
that he paid that eloquent and striking compliment
to the late Judge Castor. We make ih'se quo
tations in no sectaran spirit, but to show how lib
eral MIR. Macon was on every question that invol-
we'd human rights, and freedom of thought.


We hold up the character of Nathaniel Macon
to the young men of North Carolina In his
public and private life they will find much to re-
feet on, and much more to initiate. Would that
we had among US more men of his unobtrusive
but sterling virtuesf Would that all our states
men were what Nathaniel Macon wasl Would
that the " blessings of Education" which he deem
ed so important 10 s-asia people, were more wide
ly diffused When the history of North Caro-


lima shall be written, (and we rejoice TO see the
efforts of the Historical Society at Chapel Hill to
forward this laudable work. the name of Mr.
Macon will occupy prominent place in its pages