Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1804-10-25
Fran tie NArIowAL INrsLLIoEwcsR
TO THE PEOPLE.
THE DEFENCE-No. III.

A LBERT GALLATIN wa, named Sccrc.
4 h tary OF the Treasury. The dutie, Of this
Ration arc in iome refpetts fcarcey ieconday,
While IN Others they are iupetor 10 ,hoie attach
Cd 60 the Department OF state. BY the lava
chabli!h,ng ,he Office, the Secretary is required
not only TO iuperintend the collection aud dii-
bor!ement oi the revenue, but likewife 10 pre-
Tent iuch nsw, or alterations in exiting plans,
AZ the pub.s good requiSes. IL will be pcrce,v-
Cd that this requires a comparative know
ledge of the reiources of the country, united
with habio of clole application; aud in addi-
t'on 20 ths rare vnifon ot qualities, a &ern in
'cgrity. In a government Whole chief reiource
depends upon trade, which itielf depends upon
ror relative ti,uation with the European world,
&! is elieniisl thar the Secretary ihonld fupersdd
- theie attain nment,, infiicient knoSleige Of
ioieisn powers, TO anticipate the arrsn sements
likely TO be adopted by them and their eifett,
upon the United States. For the diichargc of
sheie high and complicated duiie, the PreiiIent
named Albert GaIlstiu.
Tais gentleman IL is well known was born
IN foreign land But it il like wife known that
the AR he there inhaled was thar of liberty.
The republic, in Whole boiom ne was educated,
bad, for ages. been no ief, diainguiihed by the
joNice Of its laws, than the equality of IL, cit.
xens. Uncontsminared by The Avsrcious psdions
ot trade, The powers OF the human mind fought
the proud dihinttions OF fciencc and re6acd art.
Hence this little ipot NOT only rivallcd, tut iur.
pshed the fame OF Ihoie in,all States, which, AMI
mated by a Creeian ipiri,, achieved thole pro-
eigies OF valor which were deemed by furround.
ing nations miraculous. There was, however,
thisdiference between them. While the State, OF
Greece exhsuted th;ir energies 10 invading the
rights Of others. the Swiis Canton, exer,ed lhciu
"a defending their own. The one therefore,
marathon of the void.
Tbs wac the fchool in which Galla,iu was
bred. Ii was here, that his earlisit impre ou: in-
fpircd him wiih love OF liberty, initrueted him
in the iubordioatc efination in which virfu-
oos mind ibooid hold wealth, and taught him
the value OF induitrious habits, az the only
gaardisns of independence and true greatness.
Thefe were the inarueiions that prepared the
yoEtb for uieiuine!s. At an early period, he
was animated by the feelings aud views of the
n1g.--I hete, at The sge OF nineteen. before he
had formed any political or nteIeited afocia-
tions, offered TO him the new world as nobler
fphcrc tor thoie intellectual power,, Of which
ne could not have been entirely unconicious.
Perhs!es With prophetic fagacity, he pierced the
dark cloud that hung over bis country, aud tore
aw its libssty and happinefs prey to foreign
violence. Bethis az IL may, the irf ACT Of hi,
manhood was an exchange Of his native coun-
try for the United States. Here, he was the
plain. lsborious, and unofendye citizen. He
iucceGvely inttrueted youth, bore arms, and cul.
tivated the ioil. No man impeachcd the Icgu-
laIisy OF his life, hi, honeRy or his morals. He
did not live ilTangcr among ~. lie inmedi-
ately became q citizen, took the oath Of ale
glance, and married an American wife. At this
period Of his lite, il docs not appear that any
AMBITIOUS views sgitated his bofom. Like ihof;
around him, he enjoyed with conten,ment,
peace, liberty aud happinef,.
His talents, however, could not be con-
cealcd. His neighbon marked them and In the
year 80 or 90, he was fent by his fellow. citi.
zens TO the Conven,ion that for med new Con-
ffiution for the State Of Pennfy ylvsnia. IL would
appear, from his modcay and fience 10 this bo-
dy, that public aation had been little in his
thoughts, elfe he would have courted difinc.
ton by more active participation Of its duties.
But neither in the records Of that body, or CO.
tempo,sncous recollection, are any traces TO be
touod OF ditchsSge OF more than the ordinary
duties of member. His advice may have en-
ligh,ened its deliberations, bat il 70, il was i'm.
parted in privacy and flence, and miniftered TO
fwell the tame OF fome lefs unoftentatious legif-
lator.
In the next, and for fcveral fuccceding
years. he occupied feat 10 the Legislature of
PENNY fylvania. The period was troubled with
the form, Of parry and no man, not even him
felf, had efcsped iu rage. He entered the Legif-
l,ture. the predcained victim of an intoeranr
majority. II was impiouny fworn, that IL he
dared to diRurb the view, of the dominaot fac
ton, he mould be hombled and fuch wa, the
barbarou, fury OF the times, that one member.
10 LEI, diinguifhed for his iederalifn than his
private immorslitie' & pugiliaic powers, DOOM
ed him TO an early vengeance.
He took hi, feat, apparently regardless Of
the hofiility that forounded him. His princi-
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