The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-04-08

estimate Is placed on fidelity and oh.d-
fence, you will cause this 10 be read
to them in a body prior to their dis
charge. n assure them that they
have my best wishes for health and
happiness.
Very respectfully.
Your obedient servant.
-. c. DOBRlN. /
Com. T. H. Gregory, Cofnmandant
Navy Yard. Boston"
Here evidently was a high official in
the government who felt as much in
terest in the
was as ready to recognize and ack-
nowledge their worth-as he did in
their officers; and this We may De sure
was fully appreciated by the men.
The most brilliant, as we'll as n
most far-reaching in its results OF all
the acts which signalized Mr.. Dobbin's
administration as Secretary of the
Navy, was the signing of the treaty
with Japan in March 1854, which re-
suited from the expedition Of Com
modore Perry. This expedition. as
we have seen, was planned and pre-
pared during the administration OF
William A. Graham; it now returned
successful from its mission during the
administration of Mr.. Dobbin. Thus.
under the executive supervision of
these two great Carolinians was in
ltIated and contaminated the policy
which has opened Japan to the civili-
zation Of the modern world.
Mr.. DObbin had long been one of
the most popular men in North Caro-
lima. In 1854 the Democratic party
IN this State, having a clear majority
of the Legislature, rendered him the
United States Senatorship to fill the
vacancy which the preceding Legisla-
ture had failed to fill, but he declined
it because the President was unwill-
ing for him to retire from the Cabi-
net. After a few months in national
life his popularity extended over the
entire union. He had a way Of win
ming and retaining h confidence IF
men, and, upon his retirement, the
press Of both parties seemed to vie
with each other in laying their trib-
utes at his feet. Said the New York
+ Times: 1T may be doubtful whether
y any other Secretary of the Navy ever
became 80 popular in the service as
! he, or was followed in his retirement
with such sincere regrets" h pop
ularity was due less to the ability OF
the statesman than to the personality
of the man. The courtesy of hi:
manner, his talents for discerning tn
merits Of persons Or cases that cam
before him, the unfailtng tact in deal
q ing with them. and the sympathetic
interest which he showed in all thing
- IAdl COUCcT lieu the QOuOT anu S1OTy o
It the navy, won for him h confdenc
n respect Of the "h1gil-bred an
sensitive officers" as well as OF tn
te ordinary seamen in the service. A
a an illustration OF his manner with II,
~ officers under him. John II. Wheele
A. relates the following incident:
d. Captain Hollins, who vas abou
IS to sail from New York in comman
is Of a frigate. desired a larger and be-
ter ship. He called on Mr.. Dobbil
ed and represented the case in stron
er terms; that the mission upon whic
k. he was about to sail might produc
re collision; that his ship was old an
oy bin replied that his ship was ready fc
I'D sea, his stores and men were all shiI
ped. and much inconvenience woul
occur in a transfer. Besides he add
wv ed, you have made SO successful
cruise in the Cyane, and so connecte
no that I feel I should do injustice
history to separate Captain Holm
~ from the tCyane.' The officer mac
~ his bow; and afterwards, in narratiI
q. n circumstance to me. he said: "A
ter that compliment. sir, from the Sc
- retary, l would have gone to sea
' the Cyanc II l had known she wou
u. founder within the mex hour"
A similar incident was related
'ur the Philadelphia North America
ne just before Mr.. Dobbin's retiremef
las an honorable example for the er
IRE ulation Of others who may succe,
to the post he now fills with admitt
advantage to the country. Saws 4
IRE North Americana:
Ill 1.-The tour Of service at a stati
To Is by an accepted usage about thr
DO years. Commodore Stewart who h
ito been in command Of the yard at Phil
to delphia, finding that his time "
In about to expire, notified the Secreta
les, OF h Navy that iii wi
.ial the usage he asked the appointing
Of his successor. Mr.. Dobbin at on
IRA replied with generous acknowied
the ment OF the great services of the &;
re- liant veteran. that no ordinary II
the should be applied to him, and it v
ins not only the pleasure but the vi
Of the department, hat he should
leiT tain the position, SO long as it "
dor aaaaDtaIio ond 4bn& ho -a.1l 49,