New-York tribune., 1869-03-12
SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY,

GEORGE S. BOUTWELL, OF MASSACHUSETTS,
George s. Boutwell, who has been appointed Secre-
tary of the Treasury by President Grant in the place
of Mr. A. T. Stewart, was born at Brookline, Mass,
January 2S 1918. His early years were spent upon q
farm at Lunenburg where he lived with his parents
until his sixteenth year, when he engaged in teach
ing at Shirley Mass. Previously to undertaking the
care of school, he had been for four years in store
at Lunenburg, and in March, 1885, he went to Groton
where he continued for several years as clerk and
partner in mercantile house. and where he still re-
sides At this time he gave most of his leisure to
study and reading and at the age of IS entered his
name in an attorneys office and began the systematic
study of the law. In 1912 he was elected member
of the legislature where he served each successive
year until $780, In the Legislature he soon became
! a prominent and influential member and none sur
passed him in readiness and ability in debate. While
engaged in his active duties legislator he studied
the French language, as he had previously acquired
knowledge of Latin when busy with other pursuits
He was a Democrat in politics at this time, and in
1914 40 and AS he was the candidate
of the Democratic party for Congress In
1850 Mr.. Boutwell, was a candidate for Governor
of Massachusetts, and though defeated that year. he
was elected in 1851 and 1852 He had previously been
a Bank Commissioner Railroad Commissioner and a
Commissioner of Boston HarbOr, and while in the
Legislature had given special attention TO questions
relating to education The legislation in relation 10
Harvard College reform was mainly due to his ef-
forts, and he was an Overseer of that institution
from 1851 TO 1850. In 1858, he became member of
the State Board of Education and during five out of
his ten years service in that body he its Seere
tary. His annual reports as Secretary showed the
marked ability with which he acquitted himself while
his commentary on the school laws of Massachusetts,
and his volume on Educational Topics and Institu-
tons" are valuable works on the subject of which
they treat Mr.. Boutwell, was a member of the Mas
sachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1853 and
won distinction as the successful opponent of Mr..
Choate in the debates of that body In 1854 he left
the Democratic party the Kansas-Nebraska issue,
and was leader in the organization of the Republ-
! can party in Massachusetts,. He was member OF
the Peace Congress in 1861 and was elected to the
National House of Representatives in 1862. In the
! latter year he undertook tho organization of
! the Internal Revenue Department, and served
as Commissioner until February, 1868, when
! he resigned to take his seat in the House He
served in each successive Congress, and was elected
and took his seat as member of the present House.
During his last two terms in Congress, Mr. Boutwell,
was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and he
was one of the Managers on the part of the House in
the impeachment of Andrew johnson before the
Senate As a speaker Mr.. Boutwell, is vigorous and
impressive and he is a man of great sagacity, and is
possessed Of unusual power of mental concentration.
HIS energy and experience, well as his cOmpre-
hensive grasp of intellect and patience with details,
seem TO fit him in peculiar degree for the position
to which he has been appointed. Mr.. Boutwelps
speeches relating to the Rebellion have been col
lected into a volume, and include lectures before
lyceum associations addresses to college societies,
and his speeches in the House.