New-York tribune., 1879-04-22
GENERAL DIXS CAREER.

To live nearly eight y-One years and be in the pub
lc service forty years has fallen TO the lot Of few
men in American history. There have at times been
those whose work was more prominent whose
names were sounded further and whose fame VIII
live longer than John A. Dix's but il would not be
easy to find men whose public careers covered a
longer period of time or whose work was done more
faithfully and eectually than his. Born as he was
before the last century closed, he entered into tho
peoples service ere he fifteen years OF age and
among the public places he filled were United
States Senator, Secretary of the Treasury, Minister
to France and Governor of New-York. He retained
his vigor of mind and body until his last days. and
among tie recent events OF his life the accept
ance of nomination for Mayor of this city at tho
hands of the Republican party. To any American
wishing to study the progress Of politics in his own
country during the past fifty years this career VIII
furnish much of interest.
The father OF General Dix was a soldier Of tho
Revolution and he afterward commanded in the
War of 1912. He was an ardent patriot and
| great admirer of John Adams, after whom he
nan.ed the child that was born to him on July "a,
| 179s in the Town of Boscawen n. II. AT an early
age young John A. Dix was sent TO the academy at
Salisbury and afterward to that at Exeter, where
he was under the care of the well-known DR..
Abbott In 1911, when only thirteen years of age,
4
direction of the fathers of the Supcisn Order. He
there pursued his studies diligently until tho
breaking out of hostilities with Great Britain.
when ho found it necessary to return home. His
father was placed IN command at Baltimore and
after a short stay at Boston the sou appointed
a cadet in the United States Army and joined his
fathers command. His duties were those of au
assistant clerk. and his leisure hours he devoted
to study in st. MaTy's College, He had already at
tanned amarked proficiency IN the Spanish, Greek
and Latin languages. At st. Mary's he completed his
school days, but he did not wholly give up his
studies aftcrward, for his fondness for them was
always keen. In history, literature and the Lam
guages he found much employment in later years.
He made a translation Of the Dies lr9," which
many Latin scholars consider the best of the many
that have been made. Among his schcolfellows
who were afterward distinguished were Jared
Sparks. John G. Palfrey and the Peabodys.
In March, 1913, the Secretary of War, John ARM
strong of New-York, author OF the celebrated
"Newburg Letters and who had just assumed the
Office under an appointment from President MadI-
son. offered young DIX without solicitation the
choice Of scholarship at WestPoint or an eusicncy
in the Army. He chose the latter, aud entered the
14th Infantry, Of which h, father was lieutenant
colonel, and Immediately went with him to
Sackett's Harbor. He was now the youngest officer
in the Army. In 1913 he was appointed an adintant
in an independent battalion, with which he de-
scended the ST. Lawrence River and shared with
his comrades in the perils and disasters of that
unsuccessful expedition. In the same year HIS
father died. leaving eight other children and the
mother living. Adjutant Dix obtained leave OF
absence from his post and devoted his time TO tha
settlement of the estate, which had become en-
barrassed during the fathers absence Returning
afterward to military duty, he was transferred to
the corps of artillery under Colonel Walbach, and
remained with him several years In 1919
he was attached a. an aide TO the stan or
General Brown, and gave his leisure time TO the
study of law General Brown was then stationed
at Washington, and young DIX soon acquired dis
tnction at the Capital for his classical knowledge
and literary attainments. While Calhoun was Q
candidate for the Presidency, he, in common with
most men in the Army, was his Jealous friend and
supporter. Not long after the election Of Mr. Adams
nc married the daughter of wealthy and promi-
nont citizen Of New-York, and came TO the city To
reside. Soon after this he gave his support to the
party then in power, and continued ever after to
follow its fortunes until the breaking out of tho
War of the Rebellion. In 1928 his health becoming
impaired he sought recovery in visit to Cuba and
Europe.
THURLOw wFED.
When, in the Republican State Convention OF
1872 much difficulty found in the selection OK
n candidate for Governor, Thurlow Weed then an
old man nearing his eightieth year. opportuney APP
peared in the lobbos with the name of General
Dix, and before the convention adjourned he was
| nominated. This circumstance viewed in the light
of long train of events which preceded il, affords
singular commentary on the vicisstudes of poli-
| ties and the strange transformations which time
and events make III the political friendships of men.
That series of events forms an important part Of
| the history of the Empire State The caro-
with which Mr.. Dix had continued his
school studies and the fondness he manifested
for the law had indicated degree of dissatisfaction
with his military life which his return from Eu-
rope induced hlm to abandon 1t altogether. He ac-
cordingly took up his residence at Cooperstown as