The New York herald., 1869-03-12
HamiIton Fish, of Now York. Secretary Of

Hamilton Fish, Of New York, Secretary Of
After all citizen OF New York has been placed at
the head OF President Grants Cabinet. II Mr. Fish
should hold the ofice 10 which he has been ap-
pointed during the entire term OF the present ad-
ministration New York will nave had the honor Of
controlling, TO no small extent the foreign policy OF
the republic for period OF twelve successive years.
Ex-President Van Buren, was the frat New Yorker
appointed to the ofice Of Secretary OF State. He
held the position under President Jackson from
March, 1929. unul 1881, when he resigned The next
was Hon. William L. Marcy, who held the ONCE
throughout the administration OF Mr. Pierce and the
third was William II. Seward. who served from
March. 1881, until March 4, OF the present year, he
being the only man that has remained At the head
OF the State Department for eight years.
CAREER OF THE NEW SECRETARY.
Mr.. Hamilton Fish Is q son OF the late Colonel
Nicholas Fish, and born In this city during the
year 1909, and Is now about sixty years Of age.
From the maternal side he Is descended from Peter
Stuyvcsant the last Dutch Governor OF New Amster-
dam. 1t will thus be seen that Mr.. Fish descends
from distinguished family and comes OF the
good old KnlckerbocKer stock. HIS education was
obtained at old Columbia College. where he gradua-
ted with distinction After leaving college he
studied law ana In 1880 was admitted to the bar
time, the management OF very large family estate
monopozing the greater part Of his time and atten
ton. Being man Of wealth, he had no occasion TO
work for livelihood. so after brief period.
he abandoned the law altogether. and has never
since resumed It,
n. HIS POLITICAL sRRvICEs
In 1887 the new Secretary drst appeared poll
tician, being then elected by the whig party men,
Der OF the State Legislature, and as such gained
much reputation and popularity among his const-
tuency to whom he had been previously known only
as rich, respectable man. His success a. . local
legislator Influenced tho wings OF this city
to nominate him In 1S42 for representative In Con-
gress from the Sixth district which was then
comprised Of the Eleventh, Twelfth, Fifteenth Six
teenth and Seventeenth wards OF New York.
Although the district had given Van Buren,
majority OF nearly 1000 in ls4o Mr. Fish, after
exciting contest. was elected, the vote standing
Fish twhig,, 5,soa; McKean (democrat. 5.sss.
In 1874. sitter serving with distinction In
Congress, his claims to a reelection were
ignored and Mr.. william w. Campbell, the
native American or Know Nothing candidate,
received the whg vote, excepting some 4S6, which
were cast for Mr. Fish, who an inde-
pendent candidate His political career had not
ended, however. In 1S46 he was nominated for the
once of Lieutenant Governor, but was defeated,
running heavily behind his ticket, although Mr..
Young. the whig nominee for Governor was elected
by q majority Of ,572. In 1s47, however, he had
better luck, being elected Lieutenant Governor by
$4,000 majority. In 1s4s he was the nominee OF
the whig party for Governor, and the same split in
the democratic party which gave the electoral vote
OF the State to President Taylor elected him. In
1851 he was elected Senator in Congress. serving
uotil 1857, when his term expired. Since then he
has held no office. having. IN fact retired from po
litica life about that time.
HIS VIEWS ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
Soon after the formation OF the republican party
Mr.. Fisk allied himself to II ~ u voter and through
out the rebellion aided the government In private
capacity In asserting the integrity OF the Union.
During the contest between x-President Johnson
and Congress he sympathized with the latter. but
took public part against the President Although
decidedly republican in politics is very moder-
ate ana even-mlnded In his views, and not at
all liable to be led away by partisan feelings Mr..
Fish ia q gentleman OF nne abilities and strict in
tegrty OF character. He is exceedingly mild, uroane
aud polished In his manners possesses o fine figure
and Is gifted with powers Of persuasion In high de-
gree. He has travelled considerably in Europe and
other parts OF the world and has carefully studied
the political ideas OF foreign nations, which last
qualification will aid him TO no small extent In per-
forming the delicate duties Of his new ONCE.
George =. Boutwell,, Of Massachusetts, secre.
tary or the Treasury.
Mr. Boutwell, was spoken OF for the position he
now holds some time before the Cabinet was an
nounced. and the absence Of his name from the list
OF ministers and the appointment OF . free trader to
the head Of the Treasury Department was regarded
rs an indication Of President Grants disaste for the
principles OF q protective tariff.
HIS EARLY LIFE AND CAREER.
The new Secretary was born In Brookline, Mass
on the 2sth OF January, 1885, and is now In the y-
second year OF his age His relatives being persous
OF moderate means he was debarred the advantages
OF q collegiate education his studies being confined
TO such instruction as could be obtained at public
school. Even these educational opportunities were
limited by the necessities OF his situation for while
yet boy he was obliged TO aid In the support OF his
famlly by laborng on a farm. Subsequently he
abandoned agricultural pursuits for the purpose of
engaging IN . mercantile business, and for twenty
years trader In the town OF Groton. first as an
apprentice, next q clerk and afterwards as pro-
prietor. During this period OF time the studious
habits OF Mr.. Boutwell, enabled him to overcome the
deficiencies OF his education All the leisure time he
possessed spent In mental labor until he finally
went through thorough q course Of study a. any
graduate OF Yale. Although he had passed through
many OF the best years OF his life when. after care
fully studying the profession OF the law. he was
called 70 the bar, his success lawyer was natter
ing. II not briniant, from the start. He entirely
abandoned commerce and devoted himself with such
assiduity to the law that In few years he won no
obscure position at the bar OF Massachusetts,.
ms LOCAL oAREER AS A POLITICIAN.
We nrst find Mr.. Boutwell, In public political life
during the year ls42 when ne was elected q men,
bcr OF the Massachusetts Legislature. and served
seven successive years, at the end OF which he re-
turned to prvase life, but recalled again fn 1851
70 serve n Governor Of the state. to which high
ONCE he was elected. This position he held two
terms. and in 1858 was . member Of the state Con-
stltutiona Convention In addition to these offlces
we would state that Mr.. Boutwell, was a Bank Com.
missioner for two years. Secretary OF the Board OF
Education eleven years and member OF the Board
Of Overseers Of Harvard College for six years. In
oil OF these local positions Mr. Boutwell, gave salts
faction to the people at large and made quite q
rcpufatlon for ability and energy.