The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-08-07
THE DEATH OF Ex SECRETARY DoBBIN

The death of Mr.. Marcy, the eldest member Of
President Perces cabinet, struck the public sense
with surprise by reason of its suddeness, in the
midst of apparent health and vgor The death after
brief interval of another member of the same cabi-
net, and the youngest, Mr.. Dobbin, although the
ong-expected result of gradually-wasting consump-
tion is not the less to be deplored withdrawing
from the field of usefulness and honor another of the
eminent statesmen of the Union.
Mr.. Dobbin was born at Fayetteville, in the State
of North Carolina, in the year 1874 graduated with
distinction at the University Of that State in 1882
and in due time established himself in the practice of
the law at Fayetteville In the relations of private
life he won at once universal confidence and esteem,
by the amenty of his manners and the sincerity and
amiability of his character. Adding to these quail
tiles finely -attempered, but acute and penetrating
intellect and spirited graceful and impressive
elocuton he could not fail to assume speedily the
highest rank at the bar and in public affairs
After the lapse of few years he was elected a
member Of the Twenth-ninth Congress, the sessions
of which he traversed with signal success and on
his voluntary retirement from which he was repeat
edly elected to serve in the Legislative assemblies Of
his State The place he had now acquired in the coun
ellis of North Carolina one not of admiration and
respect only, but Of devoted attachment; while the
nature of his opinions, and the digniied zeal with
which he maintained them, prepared the whole coun
try to regard him as one of the representative men
of the South
Thus, when President Pierce called Mr.. Dobbin to
his cabinet, and to the charge of the Navy Depart
afr apnpnisa1 fifnaaa in
all general respects. But the public mind had been
quite unconscious of the great and special admins
trative qualities which Mr. Dobbn found to
possess as he proceeded, from year to year,
in the sedulous discharge of the delicate and
arduous duties of Secretary Of the Navy. Mr.
Dobbn was gentleman, as well in the sense
of courtesy of department as in the higher
sense of consderate of the rights and feelings
of others, and in this respect well adapted to be
the administrative head Of body of high-bred and
sensitive officers. But, in addition to this, he
endowed with singular clear hcadedness, as it is ia
miliarly callcdthat is capacity of distinct and clear
perception of things and Of their mutual relation,
including personal character. In this quality of mind
lies the secret Of prompt decision and of skilfnl
adaptation of means to ends-in a word, practical
craftsmanship. This quality Mr.. Dobbin possessed
in a high degree. 1t rendered him safe counsellor
and an able administrator, and enabled him, while at
tentye to matters of routine, to go beyond that and
to devise and execute most important measures for
the augmentation Of the material force and of the
personal efficiency Of the navy.
Mr. Dobbin's strong convictions Of public duty led
him to continue in the Navy Department when his
fellow-citizens of North Carolina would gladly have
transferred him to the Senate of the United States
He persevered in the resolution to the last,
der all the difficulties of declining health, and then
retired to the tranquil shades of his birthplace and
home, to linger few months and to die-premature
w. not for his own fame to be sure but prenaturcly
for the love of his friends, the hopes of his country
men, and the service of the nation. For to know
him was to love him and the remarkable combina-
ton of kindness with force of the gentle heart
with the strong mind, which constituted the dis
tinctive trait of his character marked him out for
the exercise of wider influence and the accomplish
ment Of exalted good, if in the providence of God,
he had been spared for the future service Of his
State and of the Union