The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1869-03-18
The New Cabinet Ministers.

Our readers are more or less familiar
with the standing and public life Of ex
Governor Boutwell,, the new Secretary OF
the Treasury, but Mr. Hamilton Fish has,
to a certain extent, belonged to former
generation, and the public bis, therefore,
less knowledge of him. A New York
paper sketches him as follows:
SECRETARY OF STATE.
The Hon. Hamilton Fish, of New York
who was yesterday nominated for Secre-
tary OF State, in place of Mr.. Washburne,
was born in this city in 1903. His faith
er was Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Fish,
gallant officer in the Revolutionary War.
Fort Fish, one of the small forts built
during the Revolution in the northwes
tern part of what is now Central Park
was named after him. He was q very
intimate and confidential friend of Alex
ander Hamilton and President Washing
ton, and his son was named after the for
mer. The house in which Colonel Fish
lived, and in which Governor Fish was
born, is now standing in Stuyvesant street,
on what was once the Bowerie farm.
The maiden name Of the mother OF
! Governor Fish was Elizabeth. She was
daughter of Petrus Stuyvcsant, the heir
and lineal descendant of the last Dutch
colonial Governor of New York, and the
governor Of large portion of that part OF
the city east of Third avenue and between
Tenth and Twenty third streets. Mr.. Fish
graduated from Columbia College, and,
after pursuing course of legal study,
was admitted to the bar in this city In
1880. His active political life commenced
in 1913, when he was candidate on the
Whig ticket for the Assembly, but was,
! with his associates, defeated. In 1917
he was chosen member of Congress from
the Sixth District Of this city, beating
John Mex con, Democrat. At the close
of his term, in 1874, he returned to his
profession but his friends would not per-
NIT him to remain away from public ser
vice. Without any solicitation on his
part, he was nominated as the candidate
for Lieutenant Governor at the Whig
convention in 1916, on the same ticket
with John Young He was defeated, but
was run again for the same Office in 1917
| W MI lIiO NdCGhCJ SSS6SiOhNN thS y
signation of Lieutenant Governor Gardi
ner. He had over 80, 900 majority. The
following year he received the nomination
of his party for Governor, and was elect
ed by plurality of votes, beating botf
f of the rival Democratic candidates, Johr
j A. Dix and Reuben Ii. Walworth. Ii
the winter of 1872 he was elected Uni
ted States Senator and served his full
term, retiring in 1857. During his Con
, gressional career, Mr.. Fish was identified
!, with all the prominent measures OF this
party, including the old Whig doctrine
of protection" At the close Of hi:
Senatorial term, in 1857, he retired t.
private life, spending some time in travel
ing in Europe.
Mr.. Fish has been at no time promin
ent in the Republican party, though he
has voted with the party and has indors
ed most of it's measures. He is general
ly regarded as a moderate or conserva
tive Republican. He was a number o
the Stewart Committee, organized to pro
mote the election of General Grant.
At present, Governor Fish is Presiden
of the Board of Trustees of Columbi;
College, one Of the Trustees of the Aston
Library, Vice President Of the consolidat
ed railroads from this city to Philadelphia
aud associated in the management of var
ious trust companies and moneyed institu
tioDs.
The new Secretary is man Of much
wealth and high social standing. Hi:
large private fortune has prevented
him from taking that rank in his profes
T sion to which his unquestionable talent:
entitle him. His public and private char
acter is irreproachable, and he brings tC
his new position long experience in pub
lie affairs and marked ability.
SECRETARY OF WAR RAWLINS.
Major General John A. Rawlins is {
native of Illinois, where he was born, il
10. Davies county, on February Is, 1881
His early years were passed on farm
la 1854 be commenced the study of law
and in the following year was admitted tc
the bar and opened an Office in Galena
I Illinois. He was a Democrat in politics
and in 1860 was an elector on the Doug
las ticket, aud stumped the State for that
candidate. lie entered the army early
in the war, and September 10, 1861,
Joined General Grant at Cairo as his As
sistant Adjutant General, with the rank
Of Captain. Since that time he has been
a member Of the military family of the
General, with whom he has been on the
most confidential terms. He was COM
! missioned Maior from the date of the fall