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[379] esteemed in the great city where he lived; he was pledged by his conservative instincts and associations to a prudent and honorable policy; and one of his position and character seemed at the time needed to counteract certain influences likely to manifest themselves in the Cabinet. He hesitated to accept the President's invitation; and Sumner's expected counsels and co-operation were an important element in his decision. The following is his letter communicating to the senator his acceptance:—

(Confidential.)

New York, March 13, 1869.
My dear Sumner,—Very much against my own wishes, and after a very positive refusal, I am going to Washington to undertake duties for which I have little taste and less fitness. In yielding, I hoped that I could rely upon your friendship and your experience and ability, for your support and aid to supply my manifold deficiencies. My name was sent to the Senate without my knowledge. I had declined by telegraph to a letter tendering the place. This is some way accounted for; when I see you I can state more particulars. I expect to be in Washington on Tuesday morning, but go with a heavy heart, and with unnumbered misgivings, and at the sacrifice of personal ease and comfort, without my family, and without any reasonable prospect of my wife being able to join me. I make this sacrifice on the most earnest appeal ‘not to allow another break,’ etc. I hesitated long to reverse my decision; and if I was wrong in yielding, God knows that I did it reluctantly, and because the reasons presented seemed to me to affect high interests.

I want to see you. I expect to be at the Ebbitt House on Tuesday morning. Possibly I may be expected to be present at a Cabinet meeting on that day. Can you come to see me before it may be necessary to go?

Very faithfully yours,


From that time until the San Domingo controversy the relations of the senator and the secretary were confidential to a remarkable degree, in many respects to an extent without precedent in such intercourse. Sumner was consulted about appointments and all difficult questions which came up in the department. The assistant secretary, Mr. Hunter, long familiar with its practices, in sending, July 8, to Sumner, then in Boston, a copy of a despatch from one of our ministers, took occasion to explain that he had never known such a thing ‘to be done in any other instance, even of a gentleman whose personal, political, and official relations towards the secretary were like yours.’1 At first Mr. Fish found his duties irksome. In the summer he wrote to

1 Mr. Fish quoted this remark of Hunter in a pleasant way in a letter to Sumner.

Cambridge, MA. Press of John Wilson and Son. 1877.

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