John Harrison Wilson, The life of Charles Henry Dana

[411] Borie's was received with ill-concealed contempt. He was a most amiable and benevolent person, not even engaged in active business. He was a loyal and, to the extent of very limited abilities, a trustworthy gentleman, who knew absolutely nothing about any department of the government, least of all about the navy. Recognizing this, it was speedily made known that Admiral Porter had been, or would be, detailed as his principal assistant; but, instead of mending matters, this made them worse. Borie accepted the office and entered upon his duties; but when it became generally known that both he and Stewart had been liberal contributors to the fund for the purchase of a house for General Grant, and that the general's acquaintance with them dated from that purely personal transaction, the outcry became so great that Borie was presently forced to resign. His place was filled by George M. Robeson, an inconspicuous citizen of Camden, New Jersey, whose management of the department finally brought serious discredit upon the administration.

Doubtless in ignorance of the fact that the appointment was only temporary, Dana spoke of Washburne for the Department of State with unqualified approval. He characterized him as an experienced legislator “of vigorous, masculine intellect” and “thorough American feeling,” who would surely maintain “the honor and the interests of our country in the momentous debates then pending with Great Britain and other foreign powers.”

With the understanding that Schofield would soon be replaced as Secretary of War by General Rawlins, Dana made haste to say of the latter:

... No better man can be found for that office or any other. Able, original, true, and brave, there are few Americans of higher moral and intellectual worth than he.