Tar Heel History
By Billy Arthur
The Legacy Of
Nathaniel Macon
In 37 consecutive years of service. North Carolina's first
congressman had a record of integrity that was unsurpassed.
In the light of today's political pat¬
terns and pi actitcs. one may be
astonished that Nathaniel Macon.
North Carolina's first congress¬
man in 1791. managed to serve 37
consecutive years.
Likewise, one may wonder how he
made it there in the first place.
Perhaps it was because Nathaniel
Macon never — repeat, never — sought
a public office, claimed membership in
any party, belonged to any church,
attended a political caucus, "treated”
with drinks at elections, solicited a vote
or campaigned in his district. However,
after elec led. he did attend the lust an¬
nual Court session in eac h county to lis¬
ten to the voters.
Nevertheless, he never — repeat,
never — became obligated or acceded
to populat demands, asked the presi¬
dent to appoint a person to public office,
wanted a cabinet post, or accepted a
public dinner. He said his having been
elected was the "most gratifying proof of
(the people’s) good will and esteem.”
Today, one is awed that he survived
while surely riling many of the electorate
and alienating many of his colleagues
with some unpopular stands on issues.
Macon advocated suffrage based on
maturity of judgment rather than prop¬
erty: public education supported by gen¬
eral taxation: lowering salaries of fed¬
eral offic ials, contending they received
ample pay and would set a good exam¬
ple by "plain and simple living;” toll call
voting, because "no man should be
ashamed to let his neighbors know how
he cast his vote" within the assembly:
stated terms for office holders rather
than during good behavior; annual leg¬
islative sessions maintaining that "fre¬
quent elections and accountability”
were "essential for democratic govern-
ltob>«ulr>>o<NC l>«...» ,J.V.S.w,«W H,U)
inent;” a permanent ban on govern¬
ment pensions or gifts to any person;
congressional districts so small a repre¬
sentative would know his constituents
personally: and a
state's right to seces¬
sion “provided she
pay her proportion
ol the public debt.”
On the other hand.
Macon never collect¬
ed "double pay” foi
travel, to which he
was entitled, but
accepted pay only for
"ac tual mileage." In
fact, between home
and Congress, he
rode horseback and
forsook coach or
buggy. He even
declined authorized
pay and a grant of
land for Revolution¬
ary War service.
Twenty-font of his years in service were
spent in the I louse of Representatives, of
which three times he was speaker. He was
a member of the U.S. Senate for 13 years.
Just who was this person some his¬
torians have sailed "unique" and "eccen¬
tric;." and others have said was a "domi¬
nant" and “powerful” person in the state*
and nation for -10 years?
Thanks to sources such as The
/
ifr of
Nathaniel Maton by William E. Dodd and
to Dictionary of Soil h Carolina Biography
by William S. Powell, we have a picture
of a person both foes and friends
admired for wisdom, good judgment,
fairness and firmness and who was con¬
sistently devoted to duty and “uncom¬
promising as to what is right.”
Maconwasbom December 17. 1758. to
"substantial” parents in the Shocco Creek
The Slate/J
лшагу
1991
12
community of what is now Warren Coun¬
ty. When he was 5. his father died and
willed him 600 acres and three slaves.
largely self-taught, he did attend an old
field school of Charles Pettigrew, later
bishop of the Episcopal Church of North
Carolina. At age 15 his mother sent him
to Princeton University fora few months.
He returned home shortly and began self¬
teaching and farming. Late in life he
atuibulcd his "poor eyes” to having avid¬
ly read “by firelight" loo much.
When the British overran South Car¬
olina and threatened this state. Macon
joined the Warren Omni)' militia. Typi¬
cally. he declined a commission and the
enlistment bonus. While in the army at
age 23. he received word of his election
to the State Senate with¬
out his knowledge.
Believing lie was more
needed in the army, he
did not attend the first
senate session. But on
General Nathanael
Greene's persuasion he
did attend the summer
session, became a lead¬
ing and influential
member and was re¬
elected three more
times.
In 1785. while a state
senator, he was named
to the U.S. Congress but
declined to serve. In
1 791 he did accept elec¬
tion to Congress. Subse¬
quently. he chaired the
foreign relations committees of both
houses of ( Congress, and chaired numer¬
ous select ones while doing duty on both
financial groups.
Macon deplored “excessive taxes.”
government waste, intervention in free
enterprise, debt and “pay-later" policies.
He despised protective tariffs and all
expenittires not necessary to the "hon¬
est fulfillment of the most essential func¬
tions." Macon also opposed the Missouri
Compromise, calling it a "surrender of
the South to the North.” Unafraid to
vote "no." he was said to have cast more
negative votes in his tenure than any
other 10 members put together. One of
his intimate friends said. “If Mr. Macon
should happen to lx* drowned, I would
not look down the current for his body,
but upstream."
Nathaniel Macon