The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-15
HONORABLE ALBERT GALLATIN.
This distinguished and venerable gent

other and probably the brightest Of the
public men whom the country has in
short time been called on to deplore, the
death OF Mr.. Gallatin was not unexpected,
for his health had become so feeble that at
any time during several years an an
nouncement of his decrease would have
created no establishment. Born in Geneva,
Switzerland, on the 29th of January, 1851,
an orphan from his infancy, he was edu-
Gated by distant relations, and in l779 was
graduated in the law faculty of the distin-
guished university Of his native city. He
was pupil of the celebrated historian
Muller, and companion Of Dumont, the
friend and literary executor Of Jeremy
Bentham. In opposition to the wishes of
his friends, Mr.. Gallatin, at an early
age, emigrated to the United States, and
landed at Boston, July IA, 17S0. Re-
commended to the notice of DIR. Franklin,
by the French moralist, La Rochefoucauld,
he soon found himself in the midst of all
that was good and great in the society of
the country. After brief sojourn, how
ever, in Boston, he proceeded to Maine,
where he served under the orders of Col.
Allan, commander of Fort Machias. Even
thus early in his career, he was enabled to
prove how sincerely he was attached to the
cause of the country, by advances he made
from his private means in season of want
and difficulty.
In 1882 he became Professor of French
at Harvard University, from which, how
ever, he soon removed to Virginia, and at
Richmond was engaged in prosecuting
claims of foreign mercantile house against
that commonwealth. He there acquired
the friendship of Lee, Henry, and other
distinguished men, and for long time
meditated establishing himself there. This
idea he, however, ultimately abandoned,
and fixed himself in Fayette county, Penn
sylvania. In 1889 he was elected mem
Der of the convention to amend the consti-
tuition of the State In 1890 and 81, he
was a member of the Legislature, and
in 1892 member of Congress. In 1893
he was elected Senator of the United
States, but was declared not entitled to a
seat because not eligible under the Con-
stitution he, however, occupied his seat
for two months. In 1894 Mr. Gallatin re-
turned to Fayette county, having during
his absence married the daughter of the
distinguished Commodore Nicholson, of
the navy of the revolution.
About this time the whisky instruction
broke out, and Mr.. Gallatin was ,conspicu-
GUS among that portion of the community
supporting law and order In October,
1895, he was again elected to the State
Legislature, and on the same day October
14) was chosen to Congress from the dis
trict composed of Washington and Ale
ghany counties. He took his seat in De-
cember, 1875, and represented the district
for three consecutive terms. On the inau-
guration OF Mr.. Jefferson as President, Mr.
Gallatin became Secretary of the Treasury.
This was in 1901. The efforts of Mr.. Gal
latin to exhnguish the national debt are
well known and proven by the fact that
between 1901 and 1912, under the system
commenced by him, $50, 400, 900 of the
500, 900, 900 owed were paid. In 1913
he was one of the commissioners to Client,
and while absent from the United States
negotiated the commercial treaty between
the Union and Great Britain.
From 1916 to 1923 he was minister to
France, and in 1917 went on a special
mission to the Netherlands, and in 1918
to England, to which country he became
minister plenipotentiary in 1926. In 1897
he returned to America, and established
himself in New York. From this period
he, though deeply interested in political
matters, never participated openly in pub
lie affairs.
As a writer Mr.. Gallatin was well
known. His essay on the northeastern
boundary, his treatise on Mr.. jays map,
and his works on he currency, commanded
universal attention. Soon after his re-
moval to New York, Mr.. Gallatin became
president of the National Bank of New
York, and was increasingly diligent in his
efforts to promote the interests of the com
mercial community. For some years past
Mr.. Gallatin has contributed much to his
torical and chronological science, and has
finally sunken to the grave with unblem-
lshed reputation as man, and with the
highest position as a statesman, citizen,
and scholar. Alone and unaided, stran-
ger and unknown, he exalted himself to
the highest point the laws of bis adopted
country permitted, and made his career a
brilliant commentary on the perfectness
of American institutions.
FROM the Union Of .8ux L.
GEM OF .DECKNCY."