The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-03-12
The New Nominations.

The long agony about the Cabinet may now
be regarded as over, that body having been re-
organized Thursday On permanent basis by
the nomination and confirmation of Hamilton
Fish, of New York, for Secretary of State,
George S. Boutwell, of Massachusetts,, as Sec
rotary of the Treasury, and Gen. John A.
Rawlins, Of Gen. Grants staff as Secretary OF
War in place of Gen. Schofeld. This new ar
rangement will be in some respects more sat
isfactory than the first was. BoutwelIs APP
pointment to the Treasury Department VIII
give almost univeral satisfaction, the only
ground of complaint being that Massachusetts
should have two SO important positions as
those of Attorney General and Secretary of
the Treasury filled by her citizens.
Hamilton Fish, the new Secretary of State,
was born in New York city in 1909, graduated
at Columbia College, studied Law and was adj
mitted TO the bar IN 1880. He was elected to
the State Legislature in 1887, was Representa-
tive in Congress from 1913 to 1845. Governor of
New York in 1S49 and Senator in Congress
from 1851 TO 1856. He is a gentleman of great
wealth and liberal culture. He has travelled
IN Europe extensively of late years, and has
consequently been less prominent in politics
than formerly. He was Wing in old times,
when such things were.
George s. Boutwell,, Secretary of the Treas
ury, has been one OF the leading members of
Congress for several years, and his connection
with the impeachment trial as one of its man.
ayers brought him prominently before the
country. He was born in Brookline, Mass. IN
1913. He began life as farmer boy, but after
wards was engaged in mercantile pursuits for
twenty years. Subsequently he was member
of the State Legislature, Bank Commissioner
and Secretary of the Board OF Education. In
1851 and 1852 he was Governor of the State.
In 1861 ard 1862 be was Commissioner of In
tsrnal Revenue. He has been member Of
Congress and very able and active member
Of the Judiciary Committee since 1862. He is
emphaticaly the right man in the right place.
Mr. Boutwell's financial views are of the kind
that are popular in New England and New
York. He believes that the United States
bonds should be paid in gold and that specie
payment should be resumed as soon as posi-
ble His method of reaching resumption is
the one adopted by Secretary McCulloch in
the early days Of his administration,-a grad
ual contraction of the currency until conse-
quent gradual appreciation in the value of
United States notes. 'N
Gen. John A. Rawins, Secretary of War, is
a man of extraordinary ability, united with
singular modesty, unusual prudence and dis
erection. He has been Grants good angel. His
general culture and wide range of information
have been available to Grant as an admirable
supplement to his own narrower but more pro-
found special requirements, Gen. Rawlins
can make speech or write dispatch with
readiness and scholarly finish of which his
chief is incapable. 1t is unfortunate that Gen.
Rawlns, like so many of our prominent pub
lie men, is in very poor health. 1t was said
not long ago that he was dying of consnmp-
ton, but his health has improved within the
past few months ~ sHaA Fl
E. b. Washburnes nomination for Minister
to France has been anticipated. That position
is understood to be more to his liking than the
State Department., and will give him an OPP
portuhity to avail himself of change of eli
mate and the best medical skill of the age for
the improvement of his health. =
Among the other nominations sent to the
Senate Thursday, that of Gen. Longstreet to
be Surveyor of the port of New Orleans will
attract much attention. He is an Rebel as
the country has abundant reason for remem-
bering, but he is thoroughly RECONSTRUCTED"
and perhaps deserves to be rewarded for the
heartiness of his efforts to bring his Southern
compatriots back to loyal and peaceful state
of mind a'p3 aftD 11ttaf