The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-02-08

refusal, to take the place of Secretary OF
State
- was not in the 81 iginal Cabinet, = said
MIR. Fish. - The circumstance You refer Ia
took place few days subsequent. You
remember that Washburn held that Office 4
little while, and then Grant nom mated me.
not only declined tho place, but both my
self and my wife had fully made up our
minds not To take 1t. | made Grants &C.
quaintancc near the close Of the war.-
Ills public services and military abilities
brought him universal admiration, and
was warmly for the Union cause. After
had met HIM once OF twice, | recoilect be-
ing in Philadelphia, in 1860. taking break
fast al the Continental Hotel and seeing
him At another table. | went oveI and shook
hands with him, and he said: Mr.. Fish.
wish you would come in and see me this
evening | went there that night, and met
in the room Bishop McElvainc, of Ohio, an
old friend of mine, and a man of the high
est character and soundest iud sment. Gsu.
Grant talks his hes: when there are but
Two or three with him. That night his
conversation was SO clear and covered sd
many different subjects. that was struck
with him. When we left the room that
evening and walked down the corridor.
Bishop McElvaiue said to me, That is a
such source. coinciding with my own.
strengthened the impression had. While
in Philadelphia spent another hour or
two with Grant, and think then our friend
ship began. What impressed me at first
was his modesty and quiet demeanor. Mill
taGy men with his success might be ex-
pecled II show confidence aud gayety and
lead the conversation. Grant was modest
Is boy, but when any person asked him
any thing he was seen to be so full Of infor
nation and ready with 1t that thought To
myself: He has a reserve power aud will
wear good while
When was the ii rst suggestion made to
you about the Cabinet? ~
Grant made none at all. He came to
West Point soon after the war and stopped
at the Post Hotel. Ny country house was
on the opposite side of the river, aud hav
ing been acquainted with Grant pretty well
| asked him To come over nth his family
his sou Fred was among those who knew
my boys-aud make his quarters with me
We gave him a carriage and let him go
where he liked. remember saying 1"
Mrs. Giant on enc occasion: You will
have a big house yet. They will make you
the mistress of the White House III n few
years. Mrs. Grant is very good woman
So perfectly sincere that she is not promp,
At ineIe Iepartee. She said To me: Then
If | ever get there, shall expect you TO
come to the Inauguration | said i'll a
laughing way that | would do so. When
Grant was elected. Mrs. Grant reminded
me of my promise.
Were there any intimations that You
were going to the Cabinet from any
source
Il will come to that in moment. !
had another object, said Mr. Fish. .'Jusi
before Grants Inauguration a movcmen,
was started 10y \. +. Stewart and others Ia
raise 4 sum Of money for a homestead and
present it to General Sherman. A meeting
was called and notice sent to me.
though; it was right to do something for
sherman and went there
No PRESENT uIvER.
Here the late Secretary. who had been
talking III au easy way. smoking slowly
turned with one Of those looks which none
can dart with more strength than himself
though he does il but seldom, and said:
- gu mIst understand that | never sub
scribed for any testimonial whatever Ia
General Grant. In my whole experience
with him, lasting now more than fourteen
years, | never gave him but one little thing,
aud that was cigar lighter and ash, holder,
which cost - or s. in gold saw one of
these things, shaped like an ancient lamp.
and IT struck me as very pretty; so sen,
ont with my list Of articles to be imported
and ordered three of the cigar lamps. That
WAS the only thing ever gave General
Grant. mention it because his presents
have been much written about
HOW MIR. FISH WENT INTO THE CABINET.
- How much money was raised for Sher-
man."
:. The subscription turned our remark
ably well. 1t WAS about SllS. 600. was
made one of a committee of three to pre-
seut the Sherman testimonial. They
bought the house with its furniture and
everything complete that General Grant
had occupied, and put the remainder
about go, 900, into the best class of Uniled
States bonds. As went on to Washing
ton on this mixed erraud-to fulfill nv
promise to Mrs. Grant AID present the
Sherman fund met A. L. Stewart and
others. Mr.. Stewart, am pretty sure, was
aware that lac would bs in the Cabinet
He was quite knowing and confidential.
aud said to me: Fish, you must get one
of the best missions. You don't want the
English Mission; go to France. France is
the place for YOU told Mr.. Stewar,
when lie was done that had spent a good
while in Europe, and had pretty intimate
knowledge of life around the American
Legations, and that had no taste for any
such place, or for any other political favor,
and would not have anything. When ar
rived in Washington the Grant family in
sisted upon my coming to their house |
saw the Inauguration aud came back home
\ few days passed, when | received let
ter FROM President Grant. 1t was mailed
in the regular way, and Offered me the
position Of Secretary of State and pressed
me to take it. and desired me to respond
by telegraph, as it was important to his
plans. ! sat down at once and wrote a
letter, telling the General that it was alb
solutely out Of the question, that could
not leave New York and my interests. and
bad ceased to have the ambition and the
methods of public man. In those days
VIC did not have Tom James for Postmas
ter. and had often noticed that II you
mailed A letter at one of the uutoyn hayes