The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-12-16
GREsHAms PREDECESSORS.
Men Who Have Occupied the Office
- of Secretary of stnte.

wen VINO Have Occupied the Office
of Secretary of State.
In view of the fact that Secretary
Gresham has been criticised for his re-
commentators in the Hawaiian matter
and that it has been charged that he has
not had sufficient experience in national
affairs to satisfactorily ill the position of
secretary of state, it may be interesting
to review the records of his predecessors
in that Office. Thirty men have occupied
the place which Mr.. Gresham now fills.
many of whom had been members of the
Senate or House or both. or who had
served their country abroad either as
TO foreign courts.
Going back to the beginning of the gov
eminent under the constitution the first
secretary of state, Jefferson, had served
Ia term IN the continental congress and
had also been minister to France. Ran
dOlph, who succeeded him, had been four
years in the. continent congress. and was
thoroughly familiar with international at
fa1rS- Pickering, who had held the po-
sttlon both under Washington and Adams
had held numerous important offices and
his ability was 80 highly recognized that
he had been elected by congress as a
member of the continental board of war
Marshall. who filed the position for a
had been member of congress before his
selection and thus become familiar with
the duties of the position.
Madison was secretary of state under
Jefferson. He had been ten years in the
House and his work as one of the trainers
OF the constitution is well known Mon
roe, who held the Office under Madison
had served four years in the Senate AND
had been many years abroad as minister
John Quincy Adams, who held the office
under President Monroe had practically
the same experience as to his service in
the Senate and in diplomatic duties
abroad Clay. who was secretary of state
under John Quincy Adams, had been more
than fourteen years in congress prior to
his acceptance Of the office. Van Buren,
had been eight in the Senate before he
became secretary.
Livingston, who held the position IN
der jackson, had been thirteen Years i'm
the house and six years in the senate
Mclane, who was also secretary of state
under jackson for short period mad
peen ten years IN the house, two years in
the senate and two years minister to
England Forsyth had been seven years
IN the house and eight years in the SEN
ate. Webster. who was William Henry
six years in the house and six wears in
the senate when appointed by Harrison.
and when reappointed by Fillmore nine
years later had added to his experience
six more years of congressional life The
acting secretary under Tyler for two and
a half months was Legare, who had two
years service in congress and a few
months as secretary of war before his
selection. Calhoun. who held the position
under Tyler, had been six years in the
house, four years in the senate and six
years vice president.
President Folks secretary of state was
Buchanan, who had been ten years in
the house and nine years in the senate.
Clayton, who was President Taylors sec
rotary of state had been ten years IN
the. senate. Edward Everett, held the
position during a part of Filmore's term
He had been ten years in the House and
four years minister TO England Marcy
had had service in the senate as well
as other important positions Case had
been six years in the senate and three
years minister TO France.
Seward had been twelve years in the
senate when appointed Washburn. who
held the position for short time. had
had equal length of service in the house;
Fish, who followed him, six years in the
senate. Evarts had had a Valuable ex
perience. at attorney general and as rep
resentative of the United States before
the Geneva tribunal. Frelinghuysen had
been eleven years and Bayard twelve
years in the senate, and Foster had had
a long experience as minister to Spain,
Mexico, Russia and as special commits
sioner to frame reciprocity treaties.-New
York Advertiser.