New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-08
A USEFUL LIFE ENDED.
THE CAREER OF HAMILTON FISH.


NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AND Ex-
TRADITION oTHER AcTIvI.
TIES OF LONG AND
BUSY LIFE.
Hamilton Fish LII. D., formerly Governor OF New
~..r United States Senator and Secretary OF State
.rnr the eight years OF President Grants Admins
sr,,Ion. was bonn in this city August D. 1908. Tho
r,.h family is of German origin and the proper spell
80 of the name is Fysche. But by the time the
s,,v representatives of the family in this country
IA removed from Cape Cod TO Ncwtown, l.. l., the
..me had become plain Fish. Hamilton FIsh's father,
co,one Nicholas Fish, also native of this city, was
distinguished officer of the Revolutionary Army
r.,onc Fish after graduating from Princeton. aban
1oned the study of law TO take arms in defence OF
~. Colonies. He served throughout the war, partic
,r.ted In both battles of saratoga commanded corps
- usht infantry at the battle of Monmouth, was
r,,h LAFAYETTE in 1850 and in the following year
~as active with his regiment I'm the operations which
rrsulted in the surrender of Lord CORVALLIS lie
ras Adjutant. General of the State of Newlork from
,-ss until 1889. and In 1894 appointed by Wash
,neton to the office of Supervisor of Revenue From
,sOs 10 1917 he served Alderman OF this city He
r.s leading member of the Society of the Cincinnati,
.,s was active In religious and charitable affairs.
ua lived in a house recently standing in Stuyvesant
:, nm what was then called the Bowere Farm. His
~iAa a daughter OF Peter StuyNesant, was inc
ascendant and heir Of the last Dutch Colonial Gov
amor OF New York. and she became The owner of
large tract of land east OF Thirdave between Tenth
and Twenty-thrd SITS
When Colonel Fish was fifty years Of age a son was
bor, 10 him. who was named Hamilton from Alex
,nder Hamilton. who four years previously had been
killed. In duel by Aaron Burr. Favored by all the
privileges of wealth and social position, Hamilton
Fish enjoyed the best educational advantages lie
g- a.
age of nineteen Entering at once upon the study VI
Law he was admitted TO the bar in 1880. But nat
ura inclination for politics showed itself in early life
His first essays were unsuccessful lie was mem
Der OF the Wing party in a strongly Democratic dis
trct and although several times nominated by his
marty as candidate for the state Legislature, he was
defeated, owing to the large Democratic majority In
his district 1s42 he elected Representative
IN Congress from the With Congressional District,
New.York City. In 1s46 he the Whig candidate
for Lieuenani- Govefnor the ticket with the Hon.
John Young for Governor. Mr.. Young was elected,
but Mr. Fish was defeated for Northumberland.
owing 10 the opposition of the AniRen'ers, whose
hostility he had incurred account Of his dcnuncia
tons of their principles. Addison Gardner. Dem
ocst who was elected in his place through the votes
Of the Anti.Renters. subsequently, became Judge Of
the Court of Appeals and on his resignng the office
NJ Lieutenant Governor TO take his seat upon THO
bench Mr.. Fish elected In his place. In 1S4a
Hamilton Fish, John A. Dix and Reuben Walworfh
were before the people as Gubernaorai candidates
MI Fish was elected by plurality of 95,ss', the
vote being as follows: Fish, 21S,776 Dix. 122. $50.
Walworth 1851 GOodell 1888. He was chosen
limited states senator in 1851 TO succeed Daniel s.
Dickinson. As member of the Senate he opposed
the repeal OF the Missouri Compromise and was iden
tfed with the Republican party from It's formation
At the close Of his term in 1857 he went with his
family to Europe and remained abroad until just
voffh e y Mar
he participated in the campaign which resulted In the
election OF Mr.. Lincoln. In April, 1861, he became
especially prominent champion of the pieser
yation of the Union. lie was one OF the COM
mttee raised the maSs.meeng in Union square Tor
the purpose of aiding the Government To him
President Lincoln often applied for advice. and he
contributed literally I'm money to the Union cause.
In 1862 he was appointed by Secretary of War SIAN
ton, in conjunction with Bishop Ames, comrniS-
sioner TO visit the Union sold imprisoned al Rich
mond and elsewhere for the purpose of relieving their
necessities and providing for their comfort But the
Confederate Government declined to receive the com
mssioncrs within its lines although Willingness was
expressed to enter into negotiations for general ex
change of prisoners. This suggestion was approved
By the commissioners. and after It's Endorsement by
the authorities at Washington equal exchange was
eventually carried out At the close of the War Ham,
ilton Fish reassumed the role OF private citizen.
Asa conservative member of the Republican party he
duty of every good citizen. but he never promi-
nent Al public meetings in the newspapers. and
took no part in public discussions during ME- john
sons Presidency. Inheriting large fortune, which
his care had increased. he was known through his
social and domestic life rather than as political
leader In 1865 he member OF the stewart
Committee, organized to promote the election OF Gen
eral Grant but with the exception of this and one or
two other instances his influence was exerted quietly
and indirectly But the time his temperance in
National politics close at hand.
SECRETARY OF STATE
in 1869 Elihu b. wsshburne desired 10 resign the
Office of Secretary of state in President Grants Cabi
net in order 10 accept the appointment of Minister 10
France, and Hamilton Fish was chosen as his sue
cessor. During the eight years OF President Grants
Administrations while Mr. Fish held the portfolio OF
State there arose of the most delicate and com
picated diplomatic questions which have ever been
set before an American secretary. For the duties be-
fore him he was fortified by legal education, wide
knowledge of men and affairs. judgment ripened by
experience and by the advantages of the possessions
Of inherited wealth. superior culture and an enVabe
social standing. His intimate knowledge of the eff
fects of English neutrality upon American commerce
made him at valuable instrument in settling
questions which had arisen with England Cautions
but STRAIGHTFORWARD and candid, he never dealt In
diplomatic jugglereS nor illnesses for overieschlng
those with whom he dealt In the manage
ment OF foreign affairs. He was thoroughly versed
In constitutional history, and familiar with con-
temporary history and the great public questions OF
our own and foreign countries perfect command
OF the French language among his minor qualif
cations The importance Of the duties which Mr.
Fisk wa, called upon perform cannot be exaggerated
lie encouraged the idea Of the Joint High Commission
between England and America, and was one OF the
commissioners TO negotiate the Treaty Of Washington
an he negotiated with the Spanish Minister the
settlement of the Virginius question.
Almost Immediately after his appointment IN
March 1869 Mr. Fish took up his residence in Wash
ington where his home soon became a centre OF re-
fined and generous hospitality
On January IA, 1869 two months before Mr. Fish
became Secretary of State, there was concluded the
treaty between the American Government ana the
United States Of Colombia. empowering the National