Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-02-24

In the autumn of 1S4l, Mr.. Gala
her returned to Jefferson, in con-
nection with his favorite Free Press,
and in the spring of 1912, was again
elected to the House of Delegates,
and served two sessions. In 1874 he
was nominated for the Senate by a
Wing convention, and was elected
in the then Democratic district of
Jefferson, Frederick and Clarke, by
a majority of 62 votes, in opposition
to John Bruce, a gentleman of abil-
ity and scholarly attainments. His
predecessor, Robert Y. Conrad, an
eminent lawyer, having declined a
reelection. This district, the same
year, gave Mr.. Polk majority of
one in the Presidential election.
In connection with Mr.. Gallaher's
career as a State Senator, it may not
be out of place to mention that near
the close Of President Tyler's term,
in a. conversation on the subject of
the annexation of Texas, so conf
dent was the President of the success
of that measure, and of the conse-
quent war with Mexico, that he Of
fered Mr.. G. command in the army.
This compliment was respectfully
declined, for two reasons; first, that
his term OF civil service had not ex-
pired, and secondly, that his military
aspirations had been satisfied with
the command of a well-driIled COM
pany of rihemen at Harper's Ferry.
In 1913 Mr.. Gallaher was again
nominated for the Senate, and after
an active canvass, was defeated by
a majority of % votes, the principal
opposition to him being on account
of school bill for the county of JEFF
ferson, matured by him and carried
through both Houses. Jefferson
county having an area about 25 miles
square, is particularly well adapted
to an experiment with free schools !;
and the system, by the aid of the re-
markable John Yates, wealthy
land holder, and the largest tax pay
er in the county, was successfully
put into active operation and resist
ed several attempts to repeal the act.
Mr.. Gallaher, in his retirement, had
the proud satisfaction of seeing q
schools, free for the poor, firmly es-
tab ished and successful until brok-
en- up by the disasterous four years
war, which also destroyed the labors
of forty years of his life.
On the 22nd of October 1879, Mr..
Gallaher was appointed by President
Taylor to succeed that eminent &C
countant Peter Hagner, us Third
Auditor of the Treasury, who had
held the position from it's creation
in 1917, a period of 80 years. Declin-
ing health was the cause of Mr..
Hagner's retirement.
Mr.. Gallaher served as Auditor
through PRECEDENT Taylor and Fill
more's terms, and was removed in
April 1858, by President Pierce, to
make room for Francis Burt, of
South Carolina, a personal friend of
Jefferson Davis, then Secretary of
War. This change was made in OPP
position to the wishes of many
prominent Democratic members of
Congress, who were satisfied with
the incumbent, and strongly protest.
ed against his removal.
Being prevented by the exigencies
of the war from returning to Vir-
ginia, as he desired to do, Mr.. Gal
laher accepted a position in the office
of the Quartermaster General, at
Washington, which position he con-
tihued to hold until "a few monts be.
fore his death, when age AMI disease
rendered him unable to discharge its
duties.
He died at his residence in the
city of Washington on the 4th of
February, 1877 and his remains were
conveyed to the Presbyterian church
in Charlestown and inferred in Edge
Hill cemetery, in sight of his below
ed hills, and beneath the soil of his
native State.
No one took livelier interest in
the Berkeley Centennial Celebra-
ton" than Mr.. Gallaher. 1t seemed
to touch the innermost chords of his
heart, and to wake up, in vivid col
oring, all the "reminiscences of his
early life. He anxiously desired to
be present at the ceremonies of the
day, but circumstances put it out of
his power. For few week proceed
ing the celebration scarcely day
passed that the Chairman of the
Committee on Correspondence did
not receive some communication
from him-referring in that kind and
and genial spirit, so characteristic of
the man-to those old citizens of the
county, whom he had known, loved
and respected in his younger days.
1t is due to him and cannot fail to
interest our readers to make some
extracts from this correspondence
WASHINGTON, ID. c.,
June Is. 1872.
Hon. G. J. Faulkner, Chairman,
Martinsbatrg, W. Va.
Dear Sir:
l am proud of my native county,
and have had frequent occasions to
refer to her honored history.
1t would be egotistical in me to