Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-10-23

andi Madame de Stael. 10 1914, are inter-
ceding with Alexander of Russia to secure
for Mr.. Gallatiu a chance to negotiate
peace between England and the United
States. Lafayette's letter TO W. ii. Craw-
ford, describing his interview at Paris with
Alexander. Is here printed and some por-
tions of il may be cited. II Is dated May
&c, 1914, and in it Lafayette says; II
passed the last evening in company with
the Emperor Alexander. who, however
prepossessed In his favor, has surpassed
my expectations. He is really a great,
good. sensible, noble-minded man, and a
sincere friend to the cause of liberty. We
long convcrsed upon American affairs. He
said he had twice attempted TO bring on
peace. do, sir" said I, make a third
attempt; 1t must succeed. Do not check
yourself In SO noble a course. Your per-
sonal Influence must carry the point, l
am sure your majesty will exert it, Well
said he, 4 promise you will My Journey
ID London affords opportunities, aud viii
do the best can | had. also, other oc-
cssions to speak OF Amerca-one afforded
me by the swedish Marshal Stadinck, who
mentioned my first going over to that coun-
try; another, by a well-inGentioned obser-
walton by Madame de Stael. that she had
received letter from my friend Mr.. Jeiier-
sou, OF whom she spoke with great regard
Alexander was as good as his word and
England saw that Russia was determined
to have peace between her and US. A few
months later Madame de Steal herself
wrote to Gallatin at Ghent: 1T is you
America-who now interests me above all
things. Lord Wellington says that never
see him without preaching about America"
There is also quoted In the amusing ac-
count which Prof, Adams gives OF the ne
got!ations al. .Ghent after they wcre,once set
on loot, letter from the Duke of yelling
ton about the war OF 1872 in America, in
which, an author says, his common-sense
amounted 10 what in other men was gen
ius." The English ministry were then de-
manding from Mr.. Gallatin. Mr.. Adams,
Mr.. Clay. and the other uesotiators OF the
Ghent treaty, "A settlement on the basis of
each nation holding what 1t had acquired
by war. To this Wellington said: al
confess that | think you have no right,
from the state OF the war, To demand any
corcession of territory from America
Considering everything, ii is my opinion
that the war has been a most successful
one. and highly honorable To the British
arms TUT, from particular circumstances,
such AS :he want OF the naval superiority
on the lakes, you have not been able 10
carry 1t into the enemy's territory. not
now undouoted military superiority, and
have not even cleared your own territory
oi the enemy on the point OF attack. II you
had territory, a. hope you soon will have
New Orleans, | should prefer TO insist
upon the cesston .! that province as sep
arate article rather than upon the utl pos
sejsti. a. principal of negotiation" This
was IN November, 1914; but on the Sth OF
January, 1915, as We all know. the dukes
hope that ''you soon will have New Or
leans" was destroyed b. Andrew Jackson
and his Western rtlemcn. In the mean
time the treaty of Client had been signed,
December %, 1874, and the war was at an
end. though neither, Jackson nor the army
he destroyed could know it. Il was this
battle which aiterward made jackson
President. but Gallatin never supported
him.
The candidate Of Jefferson, Madison and
Gallatiu ('.two Nirgiuians and a foreign
er as Josiah Quincy had called them) in
1924 was W. II. Crawford OF Georgia. II
wouid not even compare Jackson or Cal
houu to him, wrot. Gallatiu In that year
the first All honest man. and the idol
OF the wCrshipers OF military habit., and
habitual disregard OF laws and coustitu-
tional provisions, altogether unfit for the
office; and the other smart fellow. one
lax political principles and an inordinate
ambition" or John Quincy Adams he
spoke as being able and honest, but with
out sounduess Of judgment, and of Clay as
having much ability and generous spirit.
The Judgment on Calhoun above expressed
j. different from that since passed upon
him by those who saw the whole course OF
his life, and yet must be accepted as true
TO date. Daniel Webster then thought
better OF Calhoun, and had introduced him
TO Boston rs "A possible presidential caudi-
date little earlier than this. Galiatin
himself was TO have been the candidate for
yice-president on the ticket with Craw-
ford: bat circumstances were against it.
aud Calhoun was elected to serve under
John Quincy Adams and his successor
The rest of Calhoun's career is well
hnown-and the disposal OF him which
Webster made in 1880 and Jackson 10
1928. The latter would very cheeriully
have hanged Calhoun in the nullitication
times. The light cast by Prof. Adams and
BY the GaIlatin correspondence on James
Monroe is very agreeable one-without
being q great man, he appears like an
honorable and useful one, worthy of the
esteem which Jefferson and Madison felt
for him. The estimate usually placed upon
Jefferson is a higher one than New Eng
Idnu writer's u.udIIl give, Out none 100
high-he was the greatest of our Presi-
dents since Washington, unless Lincoln
should contest the second rank with him.
Galla himself was man of much tai
ent-a French nohleman and a Swiss cti-
zen by origin. he became one OF the best of
American citizens; and notwithstanding
his long life in capitals and courts, he had,
like Abraham Lincoln, the air Of a thought
ful and sagacious lumberman from Maine
or woody Wisconsin. His forte was finance
and diplomacy; and he was as indispensa-
bic, il not 50 brilliant, in our national
housekeeping as Alexander Hamilton, of
whose political school he was the anti
podes. Some traces of the family aversion
to Hamilton appear in biography by
great grandson of John Adams but what
is more noticeable is the candor with
which the author speaks of those who took
part ia opposition to his ancestors, as Gal
latin frequently did. The book has much
value as contribution to portion of our
political history not much known or nn-
derstood. and will serve as material for a
better understanding OF Mr.. Bancrott's
new volumes, when they shall appear a.
they ought soon TO begin [Springfeld
Republican.