The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-10

forces was assigned to the Fifteenth corps, the.
commanded by General W. T. Sherman. While
under the command of that brilliant officer General
Blair had charge OF the First brigade OF General
Steeles division at the attack upon the defences in
the rear Of vicksburg the 10Th of December 1862
During the assaults upon the works General Blair
greatly distinguished himself for his bravery, being
| the last to leave the heights. although the main
\ army had been severely reputsed. General BJsil
S,Ma. ' ~'- Ar'esdstn GENERAL shsr9au's Wing
" Mcoiernand's army during Tie :. --'
~p'ure Oh Fort Hindman, on the Arkansas river -
the 10th ana 18th 6 January 1853 For the gallantry
he displayed at these last mentioned contests he
was promoted to be major general OF volunteers,
with commission dating from November 80 1892
During the month Of April $685. Major General Blair
was placed In command Of . division of Shermsn's
corps, formerly commanded by General David Stuart,
who, IN consequence OF his appointments not having
been confirmed by the Senate had resigned the SER
vice. At the head Of this division he took part tn
all the operations IN the vicinity OF vicksbnrg and
in the siege. and further established his character
for bravery.
During the remainder Of the war General Blair
took an active and conspicuous part In nearly all the
great battles OF the West. Hs division gained dstinc
ton In the attack on and capture OF Jackson, Miss,
and on the I'd Of October. 1862 General Sherman
appointed him TO the command OF the corps formerly
commanded by himself. In his new capacity he
again exhibited many nigh traits Of general
ship, and from the advance of the army
from the Mississippi to the terrible battles
OF Missionary Ridge his corps participated with dis
tinguished valOr and won for its commander con-
siderable reputation. In the early part of 1884, being
DESTROYS OF taking his seat in Congress- to which he
had been elected in 1862 General Blair presented his
resignation to Mr. Lincoln at the request Of that gen.
tleman, who urged him to be present and aid In the
organization OF the House. During the month OF
March following he re-entered the service and
placed In command of the Seventeenth Army corps.
Until the war ended he remained In the field serv-
ing under General Sherman In the celebrated cam
pagn to Atlanta and the sea, and winning fresh
laurels as a military leader. On the 18th OF July,
1885, he babe farewell to his corps at Louisville and
retired to private life.
As soon as the war was over and General Blair
perceived that the people of the South honestly
disposed to abide the result OF the conflict In good
faith, he urged liberal aud generous treatment Of
the ex-rebels At first he continued his connection
with the republican party and endeav0red TO change
its course In his State to policy OF conservatism
The Legislature Of Missouri had passed a law dis
franchising all who participated in or gave aid and
comfort to the rebellion and another law requiring
all the citizens OF the State to take test oath.
Both Of these measures were opposed by General
Blair az proscriptlve and unconstitutional. He
urged that the war being over, there was
no need Of any further rigor towards the men
who had engaged in rebellion, and regarded 1t as
dangerous to the peace and prosperity of the State
to deprive them of the right TO vote. With regard
to the test oath he absolutely refused to subscribe
1t, and upon presenting himself at the polls in St.
Louis his vote refused for that reason. For this
act he brought suit before the courts for the pur
pose Of testing the cOnstitutiOnay OF the law The
case Ia now before the Supreme Court OF the United
States and il not yet decided. Gradually General
Blair severed his connection with the republi-
can party, after having been member OF
that organization from Its incipiency. When
the present reconstruction laws OF Congress
were passed he denounced them despOtic.
revolutionary and unconstitutional, and declared
that the people of the South would be In the wrong
II they resisted their execution. He opposed with
great earnestness the policy Of universal negro
suffrage a disgrace and an outrage upon the
people, and in recent letter declared that the first
duty OF democratic President If elected, would be
to overthrow the present radical governments in the
South and restore the States to the rule OF the whites
This declaration OF his has been severely commented
upon by the radical organs while from its bOldness,
the democratic papers have scarcely ventured to
offer an opinion.
General Blair's military reputation has gained him
considerable popularity in the West, and particularly
among the late Union soldiers in that section OF the
country His recent adhesion to the democratic
party and his bitter opposition to negro suffrage
created for q time considerable surprise when his
views we're made KNOWN they being regarded as
singular when compared with his former denuncia-
lions Of slavery and the democracy. Indeed nothing
could more fully exempfy what revolutions some
times occur N politics and in mems opinions than
terday.