Whether he pressed them upon Mr.Madison or not is uncertain.

Meanwhile Mr.Gallatin suffered the odium of opposition to the will of Congress, and Mr.Madison's power was broken before he took his seat.

A few Republican senators inaugurated an opposition to their chief after the fashion of modern days, and Mr.
Madison was given to understand that Mr.Gallatin would not be confirmed if nominated as secretary of state.

Mr.Madison yielded to this dictation, and from that day forward was, as he deserved to be, perplexed and harassed by a petty oligarchy.

Mr.John Quincy Adams, in a note on this affair, says that, "had Mr.Gallatin been appointed secretary of state, it is highly probable war with Great Britain would not have taken place." But it is improbable that any step in foreign intercourse was taken without Mr.Gallatin's knowledge and approbation.
Such are the traditions of the triumvirate.
The first term of Madison's administration was not eventful.