The Portland daily press., 1872-02-28
Albert Gallatin as Secretary Of the Treas.


Albert Gallatin was born in Geneva in
1761. After receiving liberal education, at
the age of eighteen he came to America,
thoroughly imbuea with the progressive spir-
itof our political institutions land fouryears af-
ter his arrival, depending upon the business
of teacher for support, he became tutor in
Harvard College. Carrying out his original
idea of an active life, he finally settled in
Philadelphia, then the national capital, be-
came acquainted with the leading statesmen,
and rose so rapidly in public estimation that
he was, in the year 1880, elected to Congress,
and was shortly after transferred to the Sem
ate. In this prominent field OF nationallegis-
ports on matters of finance, attracted univer-
sal attention. Characteristic of the political
bitterness of the era, and illustrating how
great men rise above its influence, we quote
Mr.. Gallatin's statements regarding his in
PRODUCTION to the responsibilities of his Office.
He relates that Mr.. Jefferson, upon hand
ing him his commission, said: "Your most i'm
portant duty, Mr.. Gallatin, will be to exam
inc the accounts and all the records of your
department, in order to discover the blunders
and frauds of, Hamilton, and to ascertain
what changes win be required in the system.
This is a most important duty, and will re-
quire all your industry and acuteness. To do
it thoroughly, you may employ whatever ex-
ira service you may require" u
Gallatiu was at heart with the President,
and as strong partisan as possible, else, with
all his abilities, he probably would not have
been selected for the important position he
held. He admits that he undertook his as
signed task with good appetite, and that he
performed the searching work assigned to
him with great thoroughness. All the ac-
counts and correspondence were examined
with the minutest attention. What was at
first to be work of fault-fnding criticism,
and hunt for defects, soon became to Mr.
Gallatin labor of love. Gradually Hamil-
toms perfect system developed itself, and
when Mr.. Gallatin mastered the details COM
pletely, he was Fl He'd with admiration. In
the honest enthusiasm of truly great mind,
he finally went to Mr.. Jefferson and said,
''Mr. President, / have, as you directed made
a thorough examination of the books, ac-
counts, and correspondence Of my department
from its commencement Il have found'
said the conscientious Secretary, ''the most
perfect system ever formed. Any change un-
der it would injure it. Hamilton made no
blunders, committed no frauds: he did moth
ing wrong"
distinguished by series of reports regarding
the best method Of cancelng the national
debt, the proper policy of disposing fthe pub
lie lands, and the legality and necessity OF es-
tablishing national bank.
The purchase OF Louisiana required fifteen
millions Of dollars, in addition to the current
expenses, yet the Treasury met al demands
with promptness, mainly owing to the activi-
| ty of our foreign commerce, our shipping, in
the general war then raging in Europe, being
preferred carriers on the seas. The war also
created great demand for our agricultural
products, and thereby encouraged the settle
ment of the then great wilderness of the
West."-Colonel T. B. THORPE, in Harper's
Magazine for March.