The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-08
OBITUARY Of THE HON JOHN DICKSON

When the wise and virtuous are called to
die, it is fit that the living should lay it to
heQrt; for to commemorate their virtues is to
PEI betuate them, and to make earth the de-
pository of their immortal remembrance
Hon. JOHN Dickson died at West Bloom
field, N. Y, FEB 22d, 1852, aged 6s years.
Born in New Hampshire, Of respectable
though not wealthy family, he early began to
experience something of that necessity, which
in rousing energies and developing resources,
has been instrumental in producing in the
world so many able, efficient, and valuable
citizens
Mr.. Dickson from earliest childhood, was
worker. He did not attain emnence by unde-
fined chance, or fortune; but by toll, devotion,
diligence, and perseverance,, he earned success
lie neither knew nor desired any other mode
Of attaining it,
He graduated at Middlebury College in 1903,
with honor to himself and 10 the Initiation
that gave such n scholar to the world for Mr.
Dickson was emphatcally u scholar Knowl-
edge was to him an object Of importance-of
real worth for which he strove as for pos
session of priceless value His requirements
were more solid than snowy, more useful than
ornamental; yet in the latter he was not def
cient. Very few Of his contemporaries equalled
him in really useful learning nor did many
excel him in the ornamental and polite branches
Of literature. Indeed so enthusiastic was his
devotion to those authors which have taken
rank rs the best English classics, that modern
writers could scarcely receive due measure
| of his attention. Addison Steel Johnson, and
their contemporaries, realized, as far az possible
in our language, his ideal of beauty and ex-
cellencc and he thought it needless to look
beyond them.
He read law with an eminent counsellor at
Saratoga, and was admitted to practice in our
State Courts in 1872 AT that time the prac-
tice of law differed essentially from what it is
now. To be lawyer then, was no easy task
The Bench and the Bar retained much of the
insignia Of the English Courts and the Profess
SION much of the worth and dignity Of q supe-
rior rank. While Kent Livingston and
Spencer, wore the ermne; and Williams,
Van Buren,, Emmett, and Stewart were at
the zenith Of their fame, it was no childs play
for young man to present himself as can
didate for some one of their falling NANTES
Yet atsuch time Mr. d. entered the probs-
sion Of the law, and having passed all prel mi
nary 0rdeals with honor, he soon rose to ellF-
nence in his profession, which he maintained
with dignity, by the side of jurists like How
ell, Greig, and Matthews, to the end of his
career.
"lfo said the cynical Junius, there be any
instances upon record, rs some undoubtedly
there are, of genius and morality united in q
lawyer, they are distinguished by their sngu-
larity, and they operate as exceptions"
We're this saying true it would but add TO
the lustre Of Mr. Dickson's character. He
was marked exception to the supposed rule;
he was both able and honest Indeed, so
proverbial was he for this trait, that few courts
would long retain their own convictions of law,
when opposed by him. What he had read
was remembered, and his word always uttered
the real convictions Of his Judgments With
him, subtilty was never resorted to for wisdom,
nor deceit and intrigue for truth and argu-
ment and his honest fidelity soon earned him
name which not only expressed fact, but
comprised thousand virtues in word; for he
was everywhere known as Honest John Dick
SON" This popularity characterized him as a
politician also. Deemlng his political relations
as important MS any sustained by intelligent
beings, he could see no difference between
dishonest politician and dishonest man. His
political creed was a conviction of his judg-
ment, TO which he adhered rs he would to any
other deduction of so high an authority never
dccming the honors and emoluments of Of
fee worth the sacrifice of the least mental or
moral independence. Hence his political rise,
though tardy was the more honorable, both
to himself and to bis constituents when it
came.
In 1928 he was elected to our State Legisla-
ture, as no was also in 1929 Ind in 1880 to
seat in the National Congress, which, during
two terms, he held with honor to those that
elected him, and to the body to which he con-
tributed so much to dignity and enighten.
His views were worthy Of statesman of tho
old Regime and his department such rs won
for him the esteem of the most eminent men
Of that day. 1t may be mentioned, that John
Quincy Adams deemed the acquaintance and
friendship Of Mr.. d., contracted while he was
in Congress- an honor which he ever cherished
with the liveliest qualification.
Of his course while in Congress II viii prob
ably be unnecessary to say much. His position
was well defined deliberately taken, and main
tanned 10 the satisfaction Of those whom no
represented. He went there as the representa-
tive of a party, but not to the neglect OF tho
claims of truth or duty and no one now be-
lieyes that he would have deliberately sacrifc-
ed right of the least citizen, for the utmost
success Of mere party views. His most eminent
effort before our National Legislature happily
illustrates this position Something perhaps
had been said, incidentally, in previous sessions