Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-03-12
THE NEW SECRETARIES.

The following brief sketches OF the lives Of
the new incumbents Of the Stats, Treasury,
and War Departments will NO doubt be OF in
terest 10 our readers.
Hon. Hamilton Fish. of New York, the ne "
Secretary OF state, is now sixty years Of aga,
having been born in the city OF New York in
1so9. His early training and after experience
added 10 a well balanced mind. vigorous in.
tellect, and remarkably cool Judgment have
made him peculiarly adapted for the position
OF Secretary OF State. After graduating from
Columbia College, in his native city. aud pur.
suing s course OF law, he was admitted TO the
bar In 1880. In 1857 he was elected to the STATE
Legislature. where he particularly distiu.
guished himself. From 1913 TO 1915 be occu.
pied seat IN congress, where his course was
81 satisfactory that the Wings elected him Gov.
ernor OF the State in 1913. Oa the expiration of
ms GuoernatOrial term in 1851, he was chosen
United States Senator, and served with mar ked
aoihty Tor SIX years. In 1857 he retired from
public life. He has, however, maintained his
interest In public affairs, ard devoted much
attention 10 the Consideration of the important
questions which have arisen Governor Fish
was one of the earliest to espouse the Rapub-
hcan cause, and was a great friend of Mr.. Lam
coin be Is one OF the Peabody fund TT usters.
and Is also President OF the Society of ClncIu-
matt
HoA. George s Boutwell, of Massachusetts,,
who was yesterday nominated and confirmed
as Secretary of the Treasury, is essentially
self-made ran. He was born in BroOkllue,
Massachusetts, January 20, 1873. His father
was a farmer, and up TO the age of thirteen
George renamed at home with his parents.
He learned TO read az a very early age, stand
ing at his mothers knee while she read the
large family Bible. He went to public school
SIX OF seven very brief summer terms, and az
tended winter schools until his sixteenth birth
day. The next winter he taught a school in
Shirley. AT twenty one he was elected mem
Der of the school committee Of Groton. In 1910
he entered the political contest in favor of Mr.
N1n Do VIA a m ar NJ fh.aI yasvi Sia
ture IN Ioi2 - IL and 47-io-i9-5O. Between
1912 and le5O he was railway commissioner,
bank commissioner, commissioner on Boston
bar Dor, &c. In 1851 he was elected Governor
Of Massachusetts, and in the State constitu-
ticnal convention of 1853 be was the ackaowl-
edged l.ader The same year he became
a member OF the I" State Board of Edu-
cation" He left the Democratic party upon
the repeal of the Missouri compromise in I95i,
his last vote with that party being in 1853. He
was leader III the organization of the Republi-
can party in Massachusetts, and was a delegate
TO the Baltimore Convention in 1864, was
member OF the Peace Congress In 1861, organ.
lied the Bureau Of Internal Revenue, aud
served as Commissioner until Obliged to resign
TO take Lis seat IN Congress. He served on the
judiciary Committee in the Thirty Ninth and
Eoriieth Congresses was one OF the man ayers
In the Impeachment case aud was rejected a
member of the Forty-Eirst Congress. MIR.
Boutwell, is not polite an but a statesman.
General John a. Rawlins, yesterday nomi-
mated and confirmed Secretary of the Depart
uent OF W ar. was born In Gdlena, Ill, and
is now about thIrty.eight wears Of age. He re-
ceINed an ordinary education, and when nearly
arrived at the age of manhood he took up the
study of law. Pursuing his studies with his
characteristic force and energy, he was In d ue
time admitted To the mar. When the tocsin of
war sounded through the land, Mr. Rswlins
was at Galena. and ny his voice aud efforts
aided materially IN filing up the ranks OF COM
panies organizing Ia that section. HIS init
mate personal friend. now the Chief Mtgis.
trate of our country, had entered he service
and one of his first acts on his promotion to a
bTIgadIer generalshIp, IN the summer Of IS6 g,
was the appoIntrs ent of Mr.. RawIins to a Do
sItion on bis stall; and when, after the sur
render of Fort Donald on, he was m AIDE major
general of volunteers, and placed In commin d
II tn military district of West Tennessee, he
selectd Mr.. RfwlIns as his chief of staff In
March. 1-64. when Gen. Grant was appointed
Lieutenant General, be gave Mr. Ra WINS the
position Of chief of his new staff and a. the
close OF the great rebellion. when appointed
General OF the armies of the United States,
repeated The compliment. In the nomination
OF Gen Rawlins for the Responsible position
OF Secretary OF War, Gen. Grant paws an
other 'l-merIted compliment &c an OH com
race IN arms, fully conscious that him he
has secured an executive officer eminently
qualified for the Office and che who will De
acceI table 10 be country.