The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-07-30

that Office by strict party vote, on the
ground that he was ineligible from the
fact that nine years had not elapsed since
he had become naturalized citizen. He
was elected, however, to the House of
Representatives strictly as no party
man, and SO highly distinguished him
self as good speaker and close debater
that he ranked high among the Rupub-
llcan leaders in Che House. He retained
TINS distinction until, early in 1901, Pres
ldent Jefferson appointed him secretary
OF the treasury, which Office he retained
for twelve years.
In March, 1913, Mr.. GaIlatin was an
pointed by President Monroe, with J. o.
Adams and j. A. Bayard, as one of the
ENJOYS extraordinary Of the United States
to negotiate with Great Britain under the
mediation Of Russia. The result was the
treaty of Client, signed on Christmas
day, 1914. In the following year he as
sisted in forming an Ang 10 American
commercial treaty. From 1916 until
1928 he was United States minister in
Paris. and within that period also acted
on extraordinary missions to the Neither
lands and to England. He declined
President Monroe's offer OF the Office of
secretary OF state. In May, 1924, the Re-
Publlcans offered to nominate him for the
vice presidency. He accepted this honor,
but formally declined it five months
later, on the assurance of his party that
his candidacy would be injurious to the
presidential prospects of Mr.. Crawford.
NO one seems to have thought of diff
Guilty that might result from the election
to the vice presidency of foreigner, in
the event Of death-vacancy in the presi-
dency.
In 1S26-27 Mr.. Gallatin was ambassa-
dor to England, in the highly important
crisis caused by the accession of Mr..
Canning and Liberals to the administra-
ton. Returning to this country in De-
cember, 1897, he fixed his abode in New,
York. From 1881 to 1889 he was presi-
dent OF the National bank there, and. on
his resignation in the latter year, was
succeeded by his son James. The re-
mainder of his life be devoted to litera-
ture, occasionally writing on public af
fairs, particularly on the Oregon question,
IN 1916, and the Mexican War, two years
later. He died in August, 1S49.
Albert Gallatin did not belong to the
order OF "selfmade men, modern class
OF citizens whose chief merit appears to
be that they have amassed great wealth.
When minister at Paris, after the Resto-
ration, he successfully conducted with the
great house Of the Earrings the negotia-
ton OF loan for the French government.
Mr.. Alexander Barring Created Lord Ash
burton in 1880 pressed him to take a
part OF this loan, showing how, without
risk and without trouble, he must easily
realize what to him would be an independ-
ent fortune. Gallatin firmly resisted this
tempting offer. saying, ~ cannot accept
1t because the man who had the direction
OF the finances of his country as long as
have had, should not die rich" In one
OF his letters, Mr.. Gallatin states that dur
ing the twelve years he was secretary of
the treasury he asked for only two ap-
polntments, one of which was to a small
office.
1t will be apparent, we think, even
from our rapid sketch of Gallatin, that
his correspondence, here given very full
~, must be of interest and importance
He appears to have had s'troops Of friends''
with whom he held the most confidential
relations. Of all the letters, those of
Thomas Jefferson are the most character
lstic. In January 1907, when president,
he wrote: "The appointment of a woman
to office is an innovation for which the
public is not prepared, nor am To- It is
curious, now, to read letter from Jefer-
son, written in 1915, introducing Mr..
George Tcknor, "a young gentleman OF
Boston" who had brought high recon-
mendations from ex-President John
Adams, and is described as sexcellently
educated, learned, industrious, eager after
knowledge, ''and also "amiablc, modest and
correct in his Department. A little later,
September, 1916, Jefferson wrote that,
Congress in that year, having passed
law ''giving themselves 81, 500 year."
had raised against that body
$50 unanimous an opinion of the people,
and that through every State of the
Union," which would so operate at the
election that "the entire mass will 90 out,
not only those whe supported the law or
voted for it, or who skulked from the
vote, but those who voted against it or
opposed it actively, if they took the
Money; and the examples Of refusals to
take it were very few" He adds: 1.-THE
next Congress, then, Federal as well as
Republican, will be almost wholly of
new members" How far was this pre-
diction fulfilled? 1t is to be regretted
that several letters here, in French, have
not been translated, and the same is to be
said of the copious Gallatin geneelogy,
which is partly in French and partly in
Latin. With this exception, this work is
worthy of the highest commentator, as
a valuable addition to American history.
*Ihe Writings Of Albert Gallatin. Edited by
Henry Adams Three volumes, octave; PIP.
2O36. Published by j. B. Lippincott & Co.,
Philadelphia.
Sense and Nonsense.