The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-08-23
The Late Alpert aallatin.


left an orphan in his infancy, and was educated
under the maternal care of distant relation and
very dear friend Of his mother. He pursued his
studies in Geneva, and graduated at the University
Of that city in 1879. Among his teacheTs'at that
period was Muller, the celebrated historian, and
among his classmates was DumOnt, the friend of
Mirabeau and the interpreter of Benthan. Con-
trary TO the wishes, but without the opposition, OF
his parents, Mr.. Gailaun emgrated 70 the United
States in the 18th year of his age. He arrived at
Boston on the 18th July, 1880. A letter followed
him to this country from La Roehefoueauld to DR..
Franklin requesting him to take little interest IN
Gallatn and in his companion who embarked with
him. Soon after his arrival in this country, the
Young adventurer proceeded to Maine, and resided
at Machias and Passamaquoddy, where he served
as volunteer under Col John Allan, commander
of the fort Of Machias and also made some adj
vances to support the garrison.
In the spring of 1882, through the interest DR..
Cooper he was chosen instructor Of the FFench
Language in Harvard University, which place,
however, he soon LEFT for the SOUTH In the winter
Of 1884 he was engaged at Richmond in prose-
cutting the claim Of. foreign house, Tor advances
made to the State of Virginia, which brought him
into contact with the public men of that State, and
procured for him the acquaintance and personal
friendship of Patrick Henry. 17S4-'5, he acquired
some large tracts Of land in Western Virginia, on
which with the moderate patrimony which he had
then received, he determined to take up his per-
manent residence, Disturbances among the In
dians, and other circumstances, compelled him to
| abandon the project, and in 1876 he purchased a
| place and settled in Fayette county, Pa. He was
| elected in the fall of 1889 member Of the Con-
venton to amend the Constitution of Pennsyva-
MIA, in which Convention be united himself with
| the democratic party. He there opposed the sys-
TEN of intermediate electors for President and ia
voFed universal suffrage without distinction OF color
| In l79O he was elected member OF the House of
| Representatives of the State, to which post he
/ continued 10 be reelected till he took seat in
| Congress, about two years after. He was chosen
| U. S. Senator in 1888, but was declared not emil
tied to seat because not citizen under the Com
! sttutiOn. He was in the Senate therefore but two
/ months, during which period the deliberations Of
that body were for the first time open to the public.
Mr. Gallatin returned to Fayette county in 1874,
/ after an absence Of eighteen months, during which
period, or Immediately after, he married daughter
Of Com. Nicholson, distinguished officer Of the
revolutionary war
Shortly after his return broke forth the famous
whisky insurrection," which originated in Allie
gheny county, about fifty miles e m his residence,
out of the fOrcibe resistance to- lie serving of wFts
against distillers who had not paid the excise
Forty such Wris had been issued, Of which thirty
four were against distillers in FaYee county, and
had been served without opposition The distilleTs
then met and determined 10 resist In the rebel.
lion which followed, Mr.. Gallatin was active in
resisting the adoption Of warlike and reasonable
resolutions, and gradually procuring for the u, S
Commissioners a favorable reception.
On the 18th Of October, 1895, be was again
GicGl6u9 tlb NU5 uA
Der Of the Legislature, and the same day, and
| without his knowledge, member Of Congress fol
/ the adjacent district of Washington and Allegheny
countless He took his seat in Congress In Deeem
Der. 1885, and was elected by the same distrie
three successive termss and would have been tn
fourth, but for the accession of Thomas Jefferson
70 the Presidency, by whom he was appointe
Secretary Of the Treasury, in 1901.
Mr.. Gallatin addressed himself at once to tn
extinguishment of the public debt, which amount
| 81 Sim fflN ffNl RafVnpr fhp LIST of Anpil
1901, and the lst Of January, 1912, the reimburse
ment on account Of the public debt was $50 400 00C
In 1913 he was appointed one of the Commits
sioners 70 Client, and during his absence negotiate
at London the commercial convention between thi
country and England, which succeeded the wal
The rest Of his public life was passed in the diplC
matte service. lie was Minister to France froI
1916 to 1923, within which period he was depute
in 1877 to the Netherlands, and in 1918 to Eng
land, to which country he was appointed Ministe
PlenipOtentiaTy in 1896 He returned to this conr
try in 1927, and took up his residence in this city
During this period he has constantly kept his ey
upon public affairs, though not taking any publ
! responsibilities.
In 1910 he published his essay on the Nortl
{ eastern boundary question, and more recently
historical dissertation upon the map of Mr.. Jay
which was read before the New York Histories
Society He has, also, since his retirement, pull
lished two elaborate and ingenious pamphlets O
: the currency. To Mr.. Gallatin, as much as to an
one, the public owes the resumption of specie pay
ments by the banks of New York, in Nav 1873
e Soon after his settlement among us, he had accep
e ed the Presidency of the National Bank of tn
; city, and but for his exertions, ably seconded
: those of Mr.. George Newbold, of the Bank
j America, and Cornelius w. Lawrence, of the Ban
n of the State of New York, it may well be doubtt
IS whether that event. SO important to the credit al
( character Of this city, would have taken place
], the timei did.
II During his retirement Mr.. GaIlatin has contrib
Y ted several valuable contributions to the New 70
Historical and chronological Societies, besides tho
a we have referred to-. Of general merits of N
IS Gallatin, as a statesman scholar, and a citize
t, we have no time or space to-day to speak but
e life Will bear scrutiny, and deserves to be
example.