MACON COUNTY. 401 



knowledge ; and, reluctant to part with his comrades in arms, 

 he was induced only by the persuasions of his commanding 

 officers to accept the station. After serving in that capacity 

 many years, he was chosen, at the age of thirty-two, a member 

 of Congress, in the House of Representatives, and took his 

 seat at the first session of the second Congress, in 1791, which 

 he filled uninterruptedly, under successive elections, till the 

 winter of 1815, when he was chosen by the Legislature a Se- 

 nator in Congress, without his solicitation, and in one sense 

 against his wish ; for his maxim was, " frequent elections and 

 accountability at short intervals." In January, 1816, being 

 then at Washington in the discharge of his duties as a member 

 of the House of Representatives, he resigned his seat in that 

 body, and assumed his new station as Senator. On that oc- 

 casion he declined and rejected double pay for travelling, al- 

 though abundant precedents entitled him to it. The Legis- 

 lature continued to him his honourable distinction and high 

 trust, until November, 1828, when he was induced, by a "sense 

 of duty," springing out of his advanced age and infirmities, to 

 resign, resigning also at the same time his offices as Justice of 

 the Peace, and Trustee of the University of North Carolina, 

 both of which he filled for many years. During his congres- 

 sional career, he was chosen in 1801, at the first session of 

 the seventh Congress, Speaker of the House of Representatives, 

 and continued to preside over the deliberations of that body, 

 until the tenth Congress. The duties of the chair were dis- 

 charged by him with distinguished abilities, and an impar- 

 tiality which secured the esteem and aflfectiorl of his political 

 friends, and won the confidence and admiration of his politi- 

 cal adversaries. Not being able from severe indisposition to 

 attend at the commencement of the tenth Congress, a new in- 

 cumbent was elected to the chair. He was several times 

 elected President pro tern, of the Senate, and the last time 

 chosen to that station he declined its acceptance. The office 

 of Postmaster-General was twice offered him. But office 

 however hio-h, or emolument however great, had no charm for 

 him. His engagement was always to his constituents, and 

 that he was determined to fulfil to the letter. No lure could 

 tempt him to lay it down. His was the ambition that 



