Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-03-07

ALBERT GALLATIN AS SECRETARY OF
THE TREAsURY.-Albert Gallatin was
born in Geneva in 116l After receiv ing
a liberal education, at the aye of eig hteen
he came to America, thoroughly imbued
with the progressive spirit of our politi-
cal institutions and four years after his
arrival, depending upon the business of a
! teacher for support, he became a tutor in
Harvard College. Carrying out his orig.
inal idea Of an active life, he finally settled
! IA Philadelphia then the national capital,
became acquainted with the leading states
men, and rose 50 rapidly in public estima-
ton that he was, in The year 1890 elected
to congress, and was shortly after trans
ferred to the Senate. In this prominent
field Of national legislation his surprising
abilities, especially his reports on mat
tiers OF finance attracted universal atten-
ton Characteristic of the political bit
terness of the era and illustrating how
great men rise above its influence, we
| quote Mr. Gallaiin' ) statements regarding
his introduction to the responsibilities of
his office
He relates t!at Mr.. Jefferson upon
handing him his commission, said y our
most important duty, Mr. Gallatin, will
be to examine the accounts and all
the records of your department, in order
to discover the blunders and frauds OF
| Hamilton and to ascertain what changes
will be required in the system. This is a
most important duty. and will require all
your industry and acuteness To do it
thoroughly, you may employ whatever
extra service you may require"
Gallatin was at heart with the Presi-
dent, and as strong partisan as possible
else, with all his abilities, he probaly
would not have been selected for the i'm
portant position he held He admits that
| ho undertook his assigned task with a
good appetite, and that he performed the
searching work assigned to him with
great thoroughness. All the accounts and
correspondence were examined with the
minutest attention. What was at first to
be IA work of fault finding, criticism, and
a hunt for defects, soon became to Mr.
Gallatin labor oflove. Gradually Ham
ilton's perfect system developed itself, and
when Mr.. Gtllatin mastered the details
completely, lie was filled with admiration
In the honest enthusiasm of truly great
mind, he finally wentto Mr. Jefferson and
said Mr. President, have as you directed
made thorough examination of the books
accounts, and correspondence OF my de
partment from ltS commencement. nave
found" said the conscientious Secretary
'the most perfect system ever formed
Any change under it would injure it
Hamilton made no blunders. committed
no frauds he did nothing wrong"
The administration OF Albert Gallatir
was distinguished by a series of reports
regarding the best method of canceling
the national debt, the proper policy Of
disposing ofthe public lands and the le'
gality and necessity of establishing a ma
tional bank.
The purchase of Louisiana required fif
teen millions of dollars, in addition tc
the current expenses, yet the Treasury
met all demands with promptness, mainly
owing to the activity of our foreign com
merce, our shipping, in the general wal
, then raging in Europe, being preferred
carriers, on the seas. The war also crea
ted great demand for our agriculture
: products, and thereby encouraged the set
tlement of the then great wilderness O
the West.-Colonel t. B. THORPE, il
Hdfper's Magazine for March.