Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-03-01


As a speaker, he is eloquent in the thought con-
ceived elegant in the rhetoric couching the thought
and natural orator. " of gesture and voice impas-
stoned, in the manner of the delivery. On the
hustings, at the bar, and in the FORUM he had pre-
vious to becoming Secretary, acquired considerable
eminence as an orator; and his speech, delivered
before the last Democratic National Convention, will
always be reverted to by those present as one Of
thrilling force and nervous emotion. His. voice,
when he is in good health is sivery, liquid melo-
dious and flexible; not remarkable so much for COM
pass, for dstinctness and clearness Of uterance
he commands it easily in moduating it to the senti-
ment an excellence which is rare, but which must
be possessed to make effective and successful popu
lar addresses. al I'D II tssii - Ike =
As writer, his language is elegant, his rhetoric
and dction dignified and ornate: and at times his
pen is as eloquent as his tongue, but never when
eloquence would be an intrusion upon the argument
and the logic or upon occasions when it would rem
der his style fippant. .t -
As man, he enjoys reputation for the private
and social virtues, challenging admiration, respect
and emulation. Not even the coarse envy nor vul-
gar jealousy of the least conscientious form of par
tzan prejudice and antipathy has dared to question
or attack the unsullied purity and recttude of his
private character. 1t is above suspicion and re.
proach, furnishing Gas hinted) an example to emu.
late and admire.
As representative of his party and his friends,
he has occupied conspicuously and honorably inn
portant stations in the state and national branches
of legislation; and lastly the high place of Secreta
~ of the Navy; upon all of which positions he has
reflected quite as much lustre as they have confer.
red upon him. 49,. Es
In some respects Mr. Dobbn suggests and recalls
some of the finest and most noticeable features in
the making up of the great Mirabeau; especially
to the faculty of pleasing" and the ease with
which he has acquired representative and official
position. There is q speciality of mind which poor
and justly reviled Lord North so much lacked
which strongly marked the discernment of Mirabeau
and which can honestly be attributed to Mr.. Dobbin
though not often attributed to public men namely,
perspicacity or acuteness and promptness in OBJ
tanning insight into things. Both were born ora
tors and eloquent, and yet between their written
documents or state papers, (Mr. DIS annual reports
for instance and Mrabcaus papers before the States
GeneralD there is close parallel of resemblance
What has been said of the written performance of
the one may with equal justice and propriety be said
of the other that there is about them, AN unor-
namented force and massiveness, certain hard an
guar distinctveness, q conviction that wishes to
convince sincerity and insight, strength, and the
modest and almost unconscious but honest of
strength"
Finally, Mr.. Dobbins genius, talents and acquire
ments would illustrate and embelsh, as his private
virtues, his moral purity would exalt and adorn any
higher position to which the approval and choice Of
his countrymen may invite him.
Norfolk, Va, Feb. IA, 1856.
~ feeble inuendo flung by writer for n
York Herald can scarcely be considered serious"
ceptiOn to the universally Of the freedom from al
uded to.
For the Standard.
MEssRs. EDroRs: That part of Philadelphia where
the great body of the negro population reside is in
the southern quarter of the city, extending from
fifth street the east. to eighth street on the west
and bounded on the north and south by Pine and
Shipper streets 1t is true that there other por
films Of he ri ~
found occupied solely by colored people; but the
great body of them reside pretty much within the
above limits.
It must not be understood that the inhabitants of
the above large area are aH colorcd-the TACT OF Its
being chiefly inhabited by them, deters respectable
white families from living there but the necessitous
white poor whose living depends upon their daily
labor, precarious in all large cities, are induced
by the comparatively low rents, to dwell in this
quarter but true to the instincts of their Caucasian
race, they do not mingle on familiar terms with their
African neighbors. None but the most abandoned
and degraded will live in the same house with col
ored families. and it is even rare to find white
family in the same court or alley; and where 1t IS
the case they lose CASTE" and are troubled with
but few visitors from among their acquaintances-
For nearly half century northern fanatics have Ia
bored to amalgamate the poor of both races, but
have labored in vain. The poorest and most Hitter
ate white man in Philadelphia spurns the idea of
meeting the negro upon terms of equality. They
pitfalls and aims house, and separate graveyards; liv
ing and dead the two races separated by as strict
and distinct organization as the most pro-slave
ry man could require. Yet, with all these well
known "fixed facts =" meeting them at every move,
there are few fanatics who still advocate the utopi-
an idea of raising the African to political and
social equality with white American freemen; and
are willing to plunge into civil war, if such be nee
essarv to carry out their nefarious schemes. But
they will fail-signally fail. Their impassioned ap-
peas against slavery and their exaggerated pictures
of its evils however enthusiastically received by
those who have time to attend their meetings, have
but little effect upon the great of the northern
population. The industrial classes have too much
experience among themselves of the free negro sys
tenn to wish to extend it. or increase their numbers
already too numerous, and pressing heavily upon
that sensitive spot the pocket in the shape of taxes
and charitable contributions. So, if few fanatics
and demagogues in high places should drive south
States into defensive measures the agitators will
not be supported by the working classes Of the NORTH
who form the fighting men in every nation, but will
be told in the language of the song
can the world should be at peace,
But if men must show their might; /
Let Aose scho make the quarrel .f... .s
Be the only men 10 fight" ...s ....s..a- .r4.s
To one who has known the negro at home, and
listened to their cheerful choruses they pursued
their light field task and seen their merry dances
round the pineknot fires when their labor was over
the change is striking between the careless content
ed southern negro and the disconnected loaer sneak
ing through the streets looking, or pretending to
look, for employment With few exceptions, white |
laborers and servants are preferred apd though an
able-bodied man may succeed during the summer
months in getting such occasional employment as
enables him to live in winter he is constitutionay
indisposcd to expose himself to cold, and conse-
quently makes little or effort to procure work
The streets OF the locality described above are at
All