New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-09
HIS RECORD As SECRETARY OF STATE.
INTERESTING REMI%ISCENCES BY GENERAL
HORACE PORTER OF AN IMPORTANT

PART OF Mr.. FIsH's LIFE.
General Horace Porter when asked yesterday
BY Tribune reporter speak of the character
and career of Hamilton Fish. said:
THE end OF the eventful career Of the Hon.
JIamilton Fish recalls many incidents which oc-
Cured during the Administration Of General Grant
at which time / was brought into very close rela-
lions with Governor Fish, both personally ana Off
ciay He entered the Cabine. of General Grant
soon after his first inauguration. and was the onlF
Cabinet officer who remained fin office throughout
the entire length of the two Admins '.ations. The
day on which General Grant was frs inaugurated
] transferred my offic, from the headquarters Of
the Army to the White House I'm order 10 act as
private secretary 10 the President. ] went with
him to the Executive MarAior Immediately after
the naugura ton ceremonies As soon as we mad
reached the Cabinet room he drew from the inside
pocket OF his coat number Of visiting cards upon
which he had written the names Of persons whom
he intended to make members of his Cabne.. From
these cards | prepared message 10 the Senate
nominating the seven members OF the Capiheu
The first name that Of the Hon r. H. WASH
hurne for Secretary of state The President stated
in handing me the card with this upon II that
he had had a talk with Mr.. Washburne a short
time before and that II was arranged to send
hin, upoo a foreign mission. He had found how
ever he added that IL wcu!d be very gratifying
TO Nj Washburne to be named i'm the mean time
for The first position In the Cabinet, and as his
the position. and IL was desirable to appoint
a Cabinet officer from the Presidents own State,
Illinois he had decided TO send Mr.. Washburnes
name TO the Senate az Secretary OF State ana
afterward appoint him TO "A foreign mission ana
nominate the Hon. Hamilton Fish for the perma-
nent positior. A few days after Governor FISH
was written to upon the subject ne fephed' ex-
pressing the high appreciati ton of the honor ten
dered him. but giving many reasons why ne couiu
not assume the labors of III" Office. As line fresl-
dent had already had to make one cnanse III "'H
Cabinet; for the reason that A. T. stewart was
found MOI q, no e,ible under the law for the posi-
ton OF Secretary of the Treasury, he was ANXIOUS
10 avoid making another change In the names OF
the gentlemen he had selected ana he sen. az
officer Of his personal stan 10 Governor 4 10" ~
urge him to accept the place. even IL ne couiu io'
consent to perform the duties throughout tpe entire
period OF the Administration. The Governor WIN
drew bis affections and fortunately for the Ad-
minIsra ton and for the country he soon af'er ac
cspted the place. 1t was clear case Vi ~" "
flee seeking the man ana not inc man w
nce. From the very day he entered upo" HIS "u"
the labors became exceedingly arduons' ana "
was his fate TO administer the office throughout
one OF the most active and troublesome PERIODS OF
our history viewed from a diplomatic standpoint
As the complexion OF the Administration po""ea"'
had completely changed from that OF 's p'e"
cessor 1t followed naturally that change "ec"i"e
necessary in the prominent foreign missions ana
consushlps. and Governor Fishs hish SENSE VI
duty and large acquaintance with pubic me" au
mirably fitted him Cor giving the President Vai"'
able assistance In selecting creditabie appoih'e"s
TO MI many high positions
"One Of the early acts OF the Administration
was to recommend the acquiring and annexation
Of San Domingo which involved a controversy more
far reaching than could have been anticipated py
any one at the start Alaska had recently been
annexed. Mr. Sumner. chairman OF the senate
Committee on Foreign Relations had taken very
pronounced attitude in favor of annexation. ana
really carried through this measure. Governor
Tiah took particular pains TO discuss the San