So much has already been said of this memorable session that it would
utterly exhaust the patience of readers to give any completer sketch of
Mr. Gallatin's activity in legislation on other subjects. His share in
measures of finance and in opposition to the abrogation of the French
treaties, as well as to the other war measures, may be passed over; but
one word must be said on another point.
In March of this year, 1798, a bill for the erection of a government in
the Mississippi Territory being before the House, Mr. Thacher, of
Massachusetts, moved an amendment that would have excluded slavery
forever from all the then existing territory west of Georgia. This
amendment was strongly supported by Mr. Gallatin, on the ground that, if
it were rejected, Congress really established slavery in that country
for all time, but he found only ten members in the House to support Mr.
Thacher and himself.
The session of 1798 closed on the 16th July, and Mr. Gallatin returned
with his wife to New Geneva. Hard as his position was in public life, it
was becoming yet more alarming in his private affairs. The joint-stock
company which he had formed, and in which all his available capital was
invested, had been obliged to act independently, owing to his long
absences, and had been largely controlled by a Genevese named
Bourdillon, a man of ability, but more fond of speculation than Mr.
Gallatin ever could have been. He had adopted a system of buying and
selling on credit, which he carried further than Mr. Gallatin approved,
and the company had also entered into the manufacture of glass, an
undertaking which promised well, but which required a considerable
expenditure of borrowed money at the outset. Meanwhile, the country was
still suffering from the collapse of speculation. Robert Morris was
quite bankrupt, and Gallatin could recover neither land nor money. Among
the Gallatin papers is an autograph which tells its own story in this
relation:
* * * * *
DEAR SIR,--Asking you to come here is not inviting you as I wish to a
pleasant place, but, as I want an opportunity of conversing with you a
few minutes, I hope you will give me a call as soon as your convenience
will permit.
I am your obedient servant,
ROBERT MORRIS.
Monday morning, 10th Dec., 1798. Hon'ble ALBERT GALLATIN.
* * * * *
This note is endorsed in Mr. Gallatin's hand, "Written from city gaol."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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