Death Of Gen. Dix

The sudden death of a man who has filled so large a spare in the military and political history of our country as Gen. John A. Dix, is deserving of more than a mere mention. He was a man of many sterling qualities which commanded the respect of both friends and enemies, and all unite in paying tribute to his memory. Gen. Dix was bom in Boscawen, New Hampshire, July 24, 1798, the son of Captain Timothy Dix of the war of the revolution. He enlisted in the army during the war of 1812, and served on the frontier with the rank of ensign, and as adjutant of a battalion. He left the army in 1825, having meanwhile reached the rank of Captain ; and, af ter studying law, entered upon its practice in 1828. He became an active politician, identifying himself with the Democratie party, and filled the offices successiyely of adjutant general, setirtitary of state, and state superintendent of common schools. In 1842 he was elected to the legislatura, and in 1845 chosen to lili a vacancy in the United States Senate, caused by the election of Silas Wright as governor. During his term in the Senate the slavery question became a vital one, and he was a prominent leader of the free-soil section of the Democrat party which supported VanBuren for President in 1848. On December 10, 1800, when the secession movement began to take form, Howell Cobb of Georgia resigned his post as Secretary of the Treasury, and Mr. Dix was appointed in his place. It was during his brief tenure of this office that Gen. Dix, in an official order, uttered a phrase which became one of the watchwords of the Union army during the war. New Orleans was at that time in virtual possession of the secessionists. ïwo revenue cutters were there, and the, new secretary 01dered them to Hew York. The captain of one of them refused to obey. Secretpry Dix thereupon telegraphed to the, lieutenant to arrest the cap tain and to treat him as a mutineer in case he offeied any resistance; concluding his dispatch with the now faïnous words : "If any one attempts to haul down the American ilag, shoot him on the spot." When the rebellion broke out Gen. Dix was first appointed Major General of the JiewYork militia, and very soon afterwards, Major General of United States volunteers. He was placed in command of the department of Maryland, and in 1882 was transferred to Fortress Monroe. In 186: he was stationed in New York, where he was military commander during the riots which ensued upon President Lincoln's order for the draft. In September, 1866, he was appointed minister of France by President Johnson, which place he resigned in 1808 and retumed to Xew York. In 1872 he was nominated for gevernor by the Republicana of his state, and was elected. He was a candidate for re-election in 1814, but was defeated.