The San Francisco call., 1899-12-29
ALBERT GALLATIN.

University In 1884 he settled in Western
Pennsylvania. Here he soon began 10 take
an interest in politics, and in 1857 and 1ISS
as an Federalist, he opposed the
adoption of the constitution. In 1870 he
was elected 10 the Pennsylvania Legisla-
ture and in 1898 he was elected. strange
10 say, by a Federalist Legislature to the
United States Senate. He served in the
Senate two months, and then by a strict
party vote he was declared TO be ineligi-
BILE and was deprived Of his seat on the
ground that at the time Of his election he
had been a citizen of the United States
only eight years, having taken the oath
Of allegiance in October. 1875. II 1894 he
used his tact and ability and his great in
fluence with the people Of Western Penn
sylvania to allay the whisky insurrection.
He was In sympathy with his Scotch-Ir!sh
constituents as remonstrants and protest
ants against the excise and the interfer-
ence OF Government. but he would not
lead them nor follow them as insurrection-
lists.
Gallatin in House Of Representatives.
Gallatin took his seat in Congress in
December, 1895, and thus began his nation
al career. He became follower OF Madi-
son. the floor leader OF the Republican
opposition. He was a keen and compe-
tent critic OF Hamilton's financial policy.
He believed in asserting and maintaining
as the dominant popular branch OF rhe
Government, and IL was at his suggestion
that the Committee OF Ways and Means
was first made a separate committee in
That which most distinguishes Gauatin's
career in the House was his record upon
Jays treaty. He was the leader Of he
opposition 20 that treaty and in the course
of the discussion he charged Jay with
having pusillanimously surrendered the
honor and Interests OF his country. The
ME hfaI, ~
was received when its terms were MADE
known TO the public is well known. This
opposition was ably represented in Con-
gress. There had yet to be established
patton OF the House in the treaty-making
power. The parliamentary struggle be-
gan between the administration and the
popular branch Of Congress on March 2,
i796. when President Washington pro-
claimed he treaty the law Of the land
and communicated IL TO the House in or
der that the necessary appropriations
might be made to carry the treaty Into
effect. Edward Livingston of New York
offered a resolution calling on the Presi-
dent for Jays instructions and other pa
pers relating to the treaty The first OF
the two great debates in the House on the
British treaty" occurred on this resolu-
tion. The discussion had little TO do with
the merits and dement's or the treaty,
but Il dealt with the question whether
the House might rightfully participate IN
giving treaty its effect.
contained provisions known to be in oppo-
sition to the will OF the House. whose in
sertion in the treaty had been recon-
mended by Hamilton with the express de-
sign of making laws by the more cOnven-
lent combination of President and Sen
ate instead of President and Congress-
Gallatin held that the House had a right
to prevent this and under his leadership
his party majority passed the Livingston
resolution. Washington refused 10 sub
NIT the papers called for and the House
fell back upon a resolution that while II
claimed no agency I'm the making OF
treaties. as part Of Congress II did claim
the right CT deliberatiOn and deciding
upon the eXpediency of carrying into ef-
feet a treaty that dealt with subjects
like the regulation Of commerce-given by
the constitution 20 the control OF Con-
gress. A second great debate arose on this
subject a few weeks later on Federalism
resolution that the necessary laws should
he passed to carry the treaty into effect
This discussion touched the merits OF and
eXpediency of the treaty Gallatin's DOW
erful arraignment OF the treaty called out
two days later the great talents OF Fisher
Ames in its defense. Here was a conflict
of great minds In one Of the greatest OF
Congressional debates.
Gallatin as Secretary of the Treasury.
Before Gallatin left the House he had
become the Republican leader OF that