Hamilton Fish

Fish often voted with the Free Soil faction and was strongly against the Kansas-Nebraska Bill. In 1866 U. In May 1856 Senator Charles Sumner was viciously attacked by Preston Brooks in the Senate Chamber.

During his 8 year tenure Fish had to contend with Cuban belligerency the settlement of the Alabama claims Canadian border disputes and the Virginius Incident. In terms of the slavery issue Fish was a moderate; having disapproved of the Kansas Nebraska Act and the expansion of slavery. Secretary of State in 1869.