New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-01-25
sent to me- thought right to do something Tor
Sherman aud went there"
No ppESpNT cJyFR.


Here the late Secretary. who had been talking IN M
easy way. smoking slowly, turned with one OF those
looks which dart with moro strength 'han nun
self. though he does 1t but seldom ana sad lou
must understand that L never supscrioeu ioi
any testimonial whatever TO General Grant
In my whole experience with hn' ias"Hs
now more than years. never gave him pu one
Lit, thing and that was cigar lighter and ash-holder
which cost 81 or SO in gold. saw one OF those thhgS'
shaped like ancient lamp, and 1t struck me as'er9
pretty so out with my list OF articles 10 DC I'M
ported and ordered three of those cigar lamps Iha'
was the only thing ever gave General Grant ne"'
ton it because his presents have been much written
about"
HOW Mr.. FISH WENT INTO THE CABINET.
"How much money raised for sherman
The Subscription turned out remarkably well. IL
was abont Sis 900 / was made one Of commtte" OF
three to present the Sherman testimonial Inc! oouGh'
the house with its furniture aud everything COM
plete that General Grant had occupied, and pnt
the remainder about $4,000. into the best
class OF United States bonds. AS went
on TO Washington Oh this mixed errand-to NUM- III!
promise to Mrs Grant aud present the Sherman nndi
met A. T. Stewart aud others. Mr. Stewart, am pretty
sure was aware that he would be in the Cabinet He
was ouite knowing and confidential. and said to me:
Fish yoa get OF the best missions. lou don't
want the English Mission; go 10 France France IL the
place for your told Mr. Stewart when he was done
that had spent good while in Europe and had
Legations and that had taste for any such place,
or for any other political favor, and would not
have anything. When ] arrived in Washington
the Grant family insisted upon ms coming 10
their house. | the Inauguration and came Oack
home. few days passed. when received letter from
Pres lent Grant 1t mailed in the regular way ana
offered me the position of Secretary OF State. and
pressed me take IT, and desired me to respond by
telegraph as it important TO his plans sat down
at and wrote letter. telling the General mat IL
was absolutely out of the question: that could not leave
NewYork and my interests and had ceased TO have the
ambition and the methods OF "A public man. In those
days We did not have Tom James for Postmaster, and
had often noticed that If you mailed letter at one OF the
uptown o'clock in the afternoon, it
seldom got INTO evening mail for Washington. Ny
wife sick and had not been out OF her room Tor som"
time / therefore sent for her coupe winch had proba-
bly, never been far down town as the Post ONCE be-
FORE there drove stopping the way at the Ever
cit House to send Geographic dispatch. waited at
the Everett House until had notification that my dis
patch had been received in Washington. said: Your
proposition cannot be accepted 1t Is absolutely out OF
the question. then continued TO the Post Office ana
mailed the letter"
"When returned toward uptown" continued Gov
ernor Fish, my mind seemed 10 want lite rest at
such a disturbance of my mode of life and pusaton'
and told the driver to go the Park and keep until
arrested hun. remember taking Grants letter III my
hand and saying to m,sf: AT any rate this Is some
thing keep. Perhaps my children or grandchildren.
reading il day among my papers. may not think
that was such a stupid old fellow, when was chosen
TO be the head Of The State Department under the
great General OF the war In "reminiscences, political
legal and otherwise, [ was driven almost TO High
Bridge returned my house in time to dine at half
past 3. Waking up 10 my wiies room, found her
in an excited condition. She said: Here is dispatch
announcing that you have been nominated aud con-
hrned cIeay OF State at Washington! She was about
coming down stairs at hearing me enter. We went
bac into her and talked the matter over there,
and both agreed that under no circumstances was the
place to be accepted ! was then sixty years OF age
and had received far than my share Of public
Offices The fire, Of AMBITION If they ever burned high
in me, were disspated. Not the feeling of duty
called on me TO accept this place Ny wife said, There
are half Geographic dispatches down stairs for
you' / went down stairs, and found that General
Grant had tclcSraphed me, Don't say to anybody that
YOU decline the Office. Await private letter, which
VIII send you by messenger dispatch Of the same
nur,ort came from Wa.hburn. said then, VIII wait
until Grant gets my letter aud knows my feelings and
views. aud until ne does l will not open my mouth
about ih!s Office
THE CALL OF DUTY.
Mt Fish related his in quiet. genial way, aud after
a pause resumed.
.Th. world" he said, wOrshps a rising think
had more flends tnat night than | have ever had
since. The news WAS in the evening papers and my
door-hel began 10 ring before O'Clock and We had
these rooms pretty wei fled with callers. heard all
the congratulations, laughngly or gravely, and SAID
nothing one way the other about taking the office.
e. Tie next day General Dtbcock arrived here with
letter from the Pesdn opened the letter III this
room bibcock aud read it through and sand
10 iin: General, This is ont of the question and
lave made uD my nd upon it,! Babcock began al ar
gumcnt. and finally said to me: Mr. Fish, the Pres
dont has empowered M 90 give YOU private reason
why ne want you take that office and greatly relieve
IL. aat, x-ga,h
Iuivaie matter. what II WIS, at any rate. made me
serious I'll awakened the instinct o! duty. up 10 that
time latent. sand TO him: L viii cOnsu!t one before
whom l always lay all things OF Importance
before acdng-my wife 1 went upstairs and
asked Mrs Fish to 90 down with me.
Size sat whore Won are sitting now and in my place,
and General Babcock here, the other side OF the
fire. asked Mrs Fin to give General BabcOck her
views in her own way. She SAID that could not
cent the place. We COnld not live IN Washington City.
That she and had talked il fully and were vOiun
taIv Of the Opnlsn. thea told General BabcocB
to releat 10 Mrs. Fish The private argument which he
had given me. accusing my ideas OF duty. and l
then left tho case to my wife; she said TO me:
You must take it, Going TO Washington was
breaking up my plans and routine, and firmly defer
mined 10 stay there but few weeks and relieve Grant
and help to strlghien his affairs, and then TO go home
had 10 house in Washington. bat IN a little while
thought would gave the appearance OF stability to my
tenure Dy taking one took Governor MOrgaus house,
and thought myself Ny successor viii take II from
me anyway and relieve me of the rent. told General
Grant that at toe latest | would only stay with
him until the Autumn But In little while
the designations and removals from that Cabinet
were So Numerous that said TO self 1t would not
be honor be TO. me away from Grant too. This
Administration presents 10 spectators perhaps, failure
ON le TIRES l3id There have been two Secretaries of
state two Secretaries Of the Navy two Of the Treasury
seven or eight designations within quarter. II this
state OF things goes on the Govern nent Will give and
get pauc' then rcsOlv we'd 10 stay with Grant at leas,
,,,,tl yXrr moving WIFI Cunht fence. And