New-York tribune., 1905-02-28


George sewan Boutwell, Ex-Governor Of Massa-
chusetcs. ex-senator and exSecretary of the Treas
ury, was native Of the Bay State. having been
born at Brookline on January IS. 1919.
Al two years Of age. he taken by his father,
sewau Boutwell,. TO LunenbUrg, FitcEburg.
Mass where the latter took farm The son. as
he grew up. helped his father on the farm, until
he was thirteen years old, and then accepted a
clerkship IN a country store at Groton Centre.
where he remained for twenty years clerk and
partner. BY a course of hard study he made UP
for limited early education and fitted himself for
the legal profession, being admitted to the bar
in 1912. In politics he was a Democrat and he
popular that IN 1872 though in Whg
district, he was elected 10 the State legislature by
handsome majority. He was only twenty-four
years old but he took the lead at once and became
the foremost man in his party in the House. in
which he served seven terms. In 1s49 he was
nominated for Governor by The Democrats. He
was renominated in 1850 and again in 1851. and he
was elected his third nomination. Though his
opponents termed him a country trader Harvard
College vindicated him by comforting on him the
degree of Ii. D. He renoninated and re-
elected Governor by increased majority. In 1855
this young man, who had obtained his education by
the light Of tallow candle after business hours. in
a country store. was appointed secretary OF the
State Board of Education to succeed Horace
Mann and Barnas Sears He held this position
for six years, and won the admiration of the best
Leaving his Democratic associates he aided in
the formation of the Republican party; In 1886
Fremont for the Presidency. and in 1860 voted for
convention. He a member OF the Peace Con-
gress which met in Washington IN 1851. In June.
1852, President Lincoln appointed him member of
the commission to adjust the claims against the
government arising out of the operations of Cen
United States House Of RePgesentatives in 1852 and
reelected in 1864, 1866 and 1868 He spoke for the
impeachment of Andrew Johnson: being the chair
of the committee TO draft the articles of i'm
ayers TO conduct the proceedings. He was also a
member OF the committee of fifteen that reported
fna Trr1a1 10 CTrSt of
the United States and he himself drafted and re-
the debate in the House.
General Grant offered the place Of Secretary of
the Interior in his first Cabinet Governor Bout
well, but he declined it, preferring to remain in
Congress, whereupon the President rendered him
also declined President Grant. however. sent his
frmed Governor Boutwell, resigned his seat in Con
gress and accepted the place He early early drafted ;
his reeonmeHdatioa IN his annual report Con &GGngTsss
Upon Henry Wilson becoming Vice-President OF the
elected succeed him in the United States Senate
resigning his post, Of Secretary OF the Treasury.
and M BOOK ms sea IN siad se 4efG him IN is IN
to revise the of the United States and in
fore the FTeneh az ana ~ ALifglcan ~ IT tb @ oonlssio4
dar Pon the H qsh S Ppednt Arthur teHdered tb place
to Mr.. Boutwell,. but he declined the honor.
ferrnE to continue the practice Of law in washing
until the disabilities OF 9gS compelled his retire.
the Ant-Imperiast League. In 1902 Tufts College.
whose charter he had signed as Governor fifty
before bestowed the degree or Doctor Of Laws on
him. In that he published his "reminiscences.
in two volumes. entitled Sixty Years in Public
Affairs" He also the author Of Speeches on
the Rebellion" Why Am a Republican" The
LAWYER, the Statesman and the Soldier The
Crisis OF the Republic and other works. His
career has Like that of Henry Wilson been pointed
to as the result of great industry, integrity and
ABILITY without adventtious aids. and both
regarded as examples Of self-Eade self-reared and
self-instructed men who reached high positions
from humble beginnings.
Ex-Governor BOutWels wife whose maiden
was Thayer and whom he married In 1871 died in
March 1893 at the age of eighty-nine. They had
two children. Francis Marion Boutwell, and Miss
Georgianua Boutwell,