One of the members asked to be excused from going with the House to the President, but Gallatin showed that, as there was no power to compel attendance, no formal excuse was necessary.

When the motion was put as to whether they should go in a body as usual to present their answer, Mr.Gallatin voted in the negative.

He nevertheless accompanied the members, who were received pleasantly by President Adams and "treated to cake and wine." Harper was made the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

Though of high talents and a fine speaker, Gallatin found him a "great bungler" in the business of the House, a large share of which fell upon his own shoulders as well as the direction of the Republicans, of whom, notwithstanding the jealousy of Giles, he now was the acknowledged leader.

As a member for Pennsylvania, Mr.Gallatin presented a memorial from the Quakers with regard to the arrest of fugitive slaves on her soil; the law of Pennsylvania declaring all men to be free who set foot in that State except only servants of members of Congress.