Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-03-01
For the Standard.
THE HON. j. G. DOBBIN.

For the Standard.
THE HON. j. G. DOBBIN.
"The lives of remarkable men always worth under
standing instead of misunderstanding. "-CARLYLE
MEssRs. EDIToRs: Some thirty months ago a. WASH
ern Va, spoke under nAuence Of anadmring glow of
certain points of popularity, and an unmistakable
prestige of moral and nellectualstature about Hon
j. G. Dobbin which, even that early, among intelli
gent and informed circles, caused his name to be
mentioned, fatteringy and favorably, in connection
with either one of two more distinguished national
positions than the one at present honored end orna-
mented by his occupancy of it. The Editor
tured briefly to accord with the correspondent and
to add some reasons of his own, sustaining the JUS
tice and appositeness of the communicated tribute.
But there ard then, SO far as that paper and its cor
respondent were concerned the subject dropped;
it being deemed premature, unreasonable and indel-
icate to discuss and press any ones suitability for
the Presidency or Vice Presidency early in the
day.
What was then foreseen by the parties favourable
to and appreciatve of Mr. DObbn, has since, in the
fullness of time quite naturally TRANSFERRED: public
meetings of the people, interested Gas all voters
should be) in the question Of the next Presidency,
have proposed and recommended him to the choice of
the Democratic National Convention to be held in
Cincinnati naming him for the second position, or
Vice Presidency. What scds premature has, in the
chronological sequence of months and events, come
to be appropriate topic the day. Suppose in the
present communication devote my spare hour and
you portion of your columns to few impr0mptu
thoughts and reflections upon the theme. I can
conceive OF nothing just now which would more
agreeably employ and interest the leisure of your
North Carolina readers-nothing which can give
more delight to the leisure and unpublished pen of
your contributor.
1t has become matter of undeniabe record, that
Mr.. Dobbn has made one Of the most popular and
most warmly praised Secretaries of the Navy that
has ever occupied that responsible and arduous
post No gazette has, as yet, so far departed from
candor and fairness, seriously to assa any act of
his, official, political, or PERSONAL l speak within
the limits of truthful propriety and decorum when
make this statement apparently so broadly and un-
Discriminatory eulogistic. The gennneness of the
praise will excite less cavil when it is remembered
that by many presses, opposed to him in politics, he
has been handsomely congratulated upon this uni
versal exemption from both personal and political
ccnsure.
This SO general enviable reputation, enjoyed by
the Secretary, is derived from that activity, efcen
cy and spirit he has infused into the Navy, which is
so manifest to the million, so patent the people. 1t
comes of those improvements and that life and bus
tie in the national ship-yards and fleets which ap-
peal to the nascent observation of all, and which
has resulted in the of the people
at large-so fattering to the Secretary.
But the more limited number, those belonging to
communities in more immediate vicinity of the Ma
vy's operations, or those others Gas naval commit
tees for instanceO who study it, and again, those
who come within the orbit Of its practical influences,
see something more in his administration than is
generally perceptible. In the Secretary they have
discovered one every way competent to cope with
and manage the manifold and frequently perpexing
business details and the varied and complex official
ly administrative duties of the station. They have
discovere in him those apttudes and habitudes
which make up the genuine statesman one whose
ready comprehension and correct judgment appre-
ciate and solve doubt or difficulty with almost
the sublety and facility of an intuition: one Tin
word) who as appellate peer, in the settlement of
intricate or debatabe points, occurring under juris
diction of his department. as well as in deciding
what constitutes efficiency and energy in the mate
rial and responsibility of the Navy, discloses native
genius of superior order and an Unborn sagacity
cultivated and quickened by all the opportunities
and experiences of his public life.
There is no department of government, Except,
perhaps the Sate,) whose ramificatons so null
tiform, or extend over so large a surface of the
globe. From the North pole to the South; from
the Orient to the Occident, co-extensive with the
area dotted over by the white sails of commerce, is
that over which floats, in proud dignity, the stars
and stripes of our navy. Tenacious of national
honor, it often becomes necessarily involved in the
nice and delicate questions of citizenship abroad,
the rights of American vessels, and points of eti-
qwette between national flags. So much from
home. eE rA-- i7 .t+.
AT nome ii! tue thousand ana one details ana
items of the organization of the department-the
construction, equipment commissioning and man
ming and supplying ships; improvement of yards
and docks; contracts expenditures reports and in
structions to and from fleets, dock yards, naval
schools and ships and topographic and photograph.
ic parties; discussion, rejection and adoption Of
plans and drawings Of ships, buildings, 6c.,Lali
these, both at home and abroad, engage the time
and patience of the Secretary; in ali Of which Mr..
Dobbin, with versatility of genius rarely exceed
and . talent of industry and assiduty not often
met with, disposss Of with consummatsl ease and
0cI avs H.sszis8i 40 5ssgsassss sssls zgasess5
But apart from those elsnents and faculties Of !
statesman and able and administrative executive az
cer there are features ID his tout
snseM.5k d pssseas which require to be noticed in
~ Intended sodo him full jnstiess q ildAt