Author: William Edward Dodd

Publisher: Theclassics.Us

Published: 2013-09

Total Pages: 130

ISBN-13: 9781230400990

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 edition. Excerpt: ... Chapter XIX. MACON S LAST YEARS. The last years of Macon's life, with the exception of his activity in the Convention of 1835 and his share in the election of Van Buren, were spent in a quiet and peaceful retirement at his plantation near the Roanoke, Buck Spring. Like Washington and Jefferson, he thought the most fitting close to a long political career was on a plantation far removed from the centres of life and turmoil. His postoffice was twelve miles distant, and he did not get his mail oftener than once a week, and many times two weeks passed without his receiving a word from the outside world. Of the manner of this life on the Roanoke, not much is to be said, because we know so little of the man except where he touched the public life of his State and Nation. He had divided his property into three equal shares soon after the marriage of his youngest daughter in 1807, giving each child a third of his estate and reserving for himself a third. This, he said, was the just and true policy of a father, since it would give help to the younger generation at the time it was most needed. Before 1830 Macon's share had grown again to considerable proportions. His estate embraced two thousand acres of land, well improved and cultivated by about seventy negroes.1 For his pastime and pleasure he kept ten thoroughbred horses, though not so many were ready for the saddle at any one time, since he raised his own stock. His extraordinary love for thoroughbreds is manifested in his keeping the 1 Macon's will in Warren County Records. record of their births on the fly-leaf of the family Bible.1 The fox chase, in which he engaged up to the very last year of his life, was one of his special delights, and many a time Congressmen going to and from the...