Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-03-25
The New Secretary of state.

From the New York World.
In one of the newlselections, the recon-
structed Cabinet is a great and manifest
improvement. Hamilton Fish, the Sec
retary of State, may, not be very great,
or very brilliant statesman; but he is,
beyond all controversy, one of the most
estimable, most judicious, most upright,
and most respected citizens of this State
or in this country. A gentleman who
ishas enjoyed the advantages of his her
editary wealth; of superior culture in
the full vigor of ripe faculties of varied
official experience; great social consid-
Grafton; an example of all private vir-
/ tues-he has long possessed, what is
better than the fame of great statesman,
in life so unblemished, a department so
quiet and ostentatious, a weight and
credit in the management of educational,
religious and charitable institutions
which so commend him to general
esteem, as to place him by universal con-
sent in the very first rank OF good citi-
Zens, Christian gentlemen, and eXem-
| plars of the kindly domestic virtues
Returning to public life with a character
which disarms criticism and extOrts the
| respectful homage of those who differ
| from him in politics, and with an eX-
haustless fund of good will to draw upon,
| is ever likely to need in position which
he has not sought, and for which he pos
sesses some qualifications of a very high
order.
First in the list of these, we unhesi-
tatingly place the moral elevation which
| lifts him above the danger of that men
tai distortion which would seek, or sub
NIT to, anything but justice in our
transactions with foreign nations.-
There will be no over-reaching diplO-
macy or crooked politics in Mr.. Fish's
management of foreign affairs; and the
spirit of candor and justice which he
will bring into all his duties will proba-
bly, save him from embarrassing entan-
clements requiring any cunning and
dexterity to unite. He has never dis
played any surprising fetehes of ingenu-
ity, because man of his character never
has any occasion for them; nor will the
nation have any occasion fer them, if he
is permitted to have his own way in the
management of our foreign intercourse.
Next in the list of Mr.. Fish's qualifica-
tions, we should place singular sound
ness and rectitude of judgment, and
long established habits of caution and
circumspection. Probably there could
not be safer adviser, except in emer-
gencies requiring great boldness; kind
of emergencies not likely to arise in
time of peace. Mr.. Fish is perfectly
familiar with the cotemporary history
and the merits, pro and con, of the chief
public questions both of our own and
of the chief foreign countries ; and
among the minor but necessary qualifi-
cations for his new office, he has fluent
command of the French and one or two
other Continental tongues. For the
social duties of position in which So
cial influence counts for so much, no
man is better qualified than Mr.. Fish.
THE Financial Chronicle, which re-
fleets the opinions of the solid business
men of New York city, thus speaks of
Hon. George s. Boutwell,, the new Sec
retary of the Treasury: "Now in Mr..
Boutwell, We have an officer whose pub
lie record and private character are
equally without reproach. He is too
honest to use the vast powers of the
Treasury to disturb financial affairs,
either from caprice, or with view to
make money for himself or his friends.
He is too wise to recommend or adopt
any timid, halting or narrow policy. At
critical junctures of the money market
every fibre of the body polite thrills in
response to the doings of the Secretary
of the Treasury, and it is because of Mr..
BoutwelPs proved fitness for the special
task intrusted to him that his appoint
ment is hailed with such general salts
faction and confidence.