Changes

In 1808 Gallatin proposed a dramatic $20 million program of internal improvements -- that is roads and canals along the Atlantic seacoast and across the Appalachian mountain barrier to be financed by the federal government. It was rejected by the "Old Republican" faction of his party that deeply distrusted the national government, and anyway there was no money to pay for it. Most of Gallatin's proposals were eventually carried out, but this was done not by the concerted federal action he proposed, but by local governmental and private action. Though often wasteful, this method enlisted local and private energies in large enterprises.<ref>Carter Goodrich, "The Gallatin Plan after One Hundred and Fifty Years." ''Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society'' 1958 102(5): 436-441. </ref> While not a pacifist, he strongly opposed building up a navy and endorsed Jefferson's scheme of using small gunboats to protect major ports. (The plan failed in the War of 1812 as the British landed behind the harbors unhindered.)

In 1808 Gallatin proposed a dramatic $20 million program of internal improvements -- that is roads and canals along the Atlantic seacoast and across the Appalachian mountain barrier to be financed by the federal government. It was rejected by the "Old Republican" faction of his party that deeply distrusted the national government, and anyway there was no money to pay for it. Most of Gallatin's proposals were eventually carried out, but this was done not by the concerted federal action he proposed, but by local governmental and private action. Though often wasteful, this method enlisted local and private energies in large enterprises.<ref>Carter Goodrich, "The Gallatin Plan after One Hundred and Fifty Years." ''Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society'' 1958 102(5): 436-441. </ref> While not a pacifist, he strongly opposed building up a navy and endorsed Jefferson's scheme of using small gunboats to protect major ports. (The plan failed in the War of 1812 as the British landed behind the harbors unhindered.)

Gallatin reluctantly supported Jefferson's embargo of 1807-1808, which tried to use economic coercion to change British policies, and failed to do so.<ref>Richard Mannix, "Gallatin, Jefferson, and the Embargo of 1808," ''Diplomatic History'' (1979) 3:151-72</ref> The national bank had been allowed to expire over his objections, and New England financiers refused to loan money for the war effort, so Gallatin resorted to innovative methods to finance the war. In March 1813, he initiated the public bidding system that was to characterize subsequent government borrowings. A financial syndicate subscribed for 57% of the $16,000,000 loan, of which $5,720,000 came from from New York City, $6,858,000 from Philadelphia, and $75,000 from Boston.

Gallatin reluctantly supported Jefferson's [[Embargo of 1807|embargo of 1807-1808]], which tried to use economic coercion to change British policies, and failed to do so.<ref>Richard Mannix, "Gallatin, Jefferson, and the Embargo of 1808," ''Diplomatic History'' (1979) 3:151-72</ref> The national bank had been allowed to expire over his objections, and New England financiers refused to loan money for the war effort, so Gallatin resorted to innovative methods to finance the war. In March 1813, he initiated the public bidding system that was to characterize subsequent government borrowings. A financial syndicate subscribed for 57% of the $16,000,000 loan, of which $5,720,000 came from from New York City, $6,858,000 from Philadelphia, and $75,000 from Boston.

In 1813, with Congress turned hostile, Gallatin began a long career as a diplomat by becoming minister to Russia. He was a key negotiator who secured the [[Treaty of Ghent]] on Christmas Eve, 1814, ending the war of 1812 with Britain. His patience and skill in dealing not only with the British but also with his fellow members of the American commission, including [[Henry Clay]] and [[John Quincy Adams]], made the Treaty "the special and

In 1813, with Congress turned hostile, Gallatin began a long career as a diplomat by becoming minister to Russia. He was a key negotiator who secured the [[Treaty of Ghent]] on Christmas Eve, 1814, ending the war of 1812 with Britain. His patience and skill in dealing not only with the British but also with his fellow members of the American commission, including [[Henry Clay]] and [[John Quincy Adams]], made the Treaty "the special and