Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-08-15

The DEATH OF Ex-SECRETARY DOBBIN.-The death
of Mr. Marcy the eldest member of President Pierces
cabinet struck the public sense with surprise by
reason of its suddenness, in the midst of apparent
health and vigor The death after brief interval of
another member of the same cabinet and the young.
est Mr.. Dobbin, although the long expected result
of gradually wasting consumption, is not the less to
be deplored Withdrawing from the field of useful
ness 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 1914 graduated with
distinction at the University of that State in 1882
and in due time established himself in the practice
of the law Fayetteville. In the relations of private
life he won at once universal confidence and esteem,
by the amenity of his manners and the sincerity and
arniablity 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 speedily the
highest rank at the bar and in public affairs.
After the lapse of few years he was elected
member of the Twenty 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
bis State The place he had now acquired in the
councils of North Carolina one, not of admira-
ton and respect only, but of devoted attachment;
while the nature of bis opinions, and the digni6ed
zeal with which he maintained them, prepared the
whole country to regard him as one of the rcpresen.
tative men of the South
Thus, when President Pierce called Mr. Dobbin
to his cabinet, and to the charge of the Navy De-
partment the selection of recognised fitness
in all general respects. But the public mind had
been quite unconscious of the great and special ad
illustrative qualities which Mr.. Dobbin was found
to possess, as he proceeded, from year to year,
in the seduous discharge of the delicate and arduous
duties of Secretary of the Navy. Mr.. Dobbin WAS
gentleman, as well in the sense of courtesy of de-
pertinent as in the higher sense of considerae
of the rights and feelings of Others and in this re-
spect we'll adapted to be the administrative head Of
body of high bred and sensitive officers. But in
addition to this he endowed with singular clear
Medicines, as it is familiarity caledthat is capac-
ty of distinct and clear perception of things and of
their mutual relations including personal character.
In this quality ofmnd lies the secret of prompt decs-
ion and of skilful adaptation Of means to ends-in
word, practical craftsmanship. This quality Mr..
Dobbn possessed in a high degree. 1t rendered him
safe counsellor and able administrator, and en-.
abled him, while attentive to matters of routine, to
60 beyond that and to devise and execute most i'm.
portant measures for the augmentation of the mato.
rial 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 to the
last under all the difficulties of declining health and
he then retired the tranquil shades his
and home, to linger = few months and to die-pre.
maturely not for his own fame to be sure but pro
maturely for the love of his friends the hopes of his
country-meD, and the service Of the nation. For ID
| know him was to love him; and the remarkable
combination of kindness with force Of the gentle
heart with the strong mind, which constituted the
distinctive trait Of his character marked him out for
the exercise Of wider influence and the accomplish
ment Of exalted good, it. in the providence of God
and the Union. Washington Union.
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