The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-09-08
a.srrros FISH rs DEAD.
An Early Kepubifesn and President
Grants secretary az State.

An Early Kepubifesn and President
Grants secretary Gf state
NEw YoRK. Sept. T--Hamilton Fish
died this morning at his country home ut
Garrison's. OF heart disease. Death was
entirely unexpected
Hamilton Fish was q son Of the Revo-
iusionary soldier Col Nicholas Fish. the
intimate friend Of Washington and Ham,
ilton. He MAS born IN New YORK city
August ). 1908: was graduated at Ioium-
bia in 1s27: studied law and vas admitted
tn the bar in 1850 In politics he was
Wing. In 1872 he vas elected representa-
tive in congress from the Sixth district of
New York, and served one term In 1916
he was . candidate for iieutenant-gov-
ernor. The Wing candidate for governor.
John Young. was elected. but NJ. Fish.
who had incurred the hostility OF the anti
renters by his warm denanciation of their
principles. was defeated. His successful
competitor, Addison Gardiner, Demo
crat, who had received the support of the
anti-renters, resigned the office In ls4s on be-
coming Judge o. the court OF appeals. and
Mr.. Fish Was elected in his place. In is4s
he was chosen governor BY about 80 600
majority. the opposing candiaates being
John A. DIX and Reuben III. Walworsh.
In 1851 he was elected United States sen
ator IN pIsce of Daniel s. Dickinson. In
the senate he opposed the repeal Of the
Missouri compromise. aud acted with the
Republican party from Its formation 10
the end of his term, though he was hot
especially prominent in the party. When
his senatorial term expired in 1897 he
went to Europe with his family and re-
manned till shortly before the beginning of
the civil war. On his return he took an
active part in the campaign that resulted
in the election OF Abraham Lincoln. In
january 1852. in conjunction with Bishop
AmeS, ne was appointed by Secretary
Stanton commissioner TO visit the United
States soldiers imprisoned at Richmond
and elsewhere. ito relieve their necessities
and provide for their comfort" The Con-
federafe government declined to admit the
commissioners within their lines. but inti-
mated readiness to negotiate for general
exchange OF prisoners. The result was an
agreement for an equal exchange, whlchwas
carried out substantially to the end OF the
war. In 1868 he aided in the election of
Gen. Grant. was appointed secretary Of
state by him in March. 1869, and was re-
appointed at the beginning of his second
term, in March. 1873 He introduced
system of examinations of applicants for
consulates, to test their knowledge of sub
jects connected with their duties. Or
February 9. 1871. the president appointed
him one of the commissioners on the part
of the United States TO negotiate the treaty
of Washington, which was signed by him
OF May of that year. He effected a set
tiement of the long-standing Northwestern
boundary question. giving the island of
San Juan TO the United States, and sue
cessfully resisted an effort by Great Britain
to change this terms of the extradition
treaty by municipal legislation. In the
settlement of the Alabama question he
procured the acceptance of doctrine by
the Geneva tribunal securing the United
States against claims for indirect damages
arising out of Fenian raids or Cuban fill
clustering expeditions. In November.
1873, he negotiated with Admiral Polo.
Spanish minister at Washington City, the
settlement of the Virginius question. He
was for some years president of the New
York Historical Society, and at the time
OF his death was president of the Order Of
the Cincinnati.