The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1868-10-17

leading man in st. Louis to defend her
naturalized citizens from the outrages then
being perpetrated upon them in our prin-
cipal cities by the native American party
who had burned the convent in Charles
town, Massachusetts,, and had massacred 90
many naturalized citizens in PHILADELPHIA.
and had threatened to drive them from the
polls in st. Louis. N
GENERAL BLAIR AND SCHUYLER CoLrAx.-
THE DIFFERENCE.
When Schuyl Ter COlfax was taking the
oath never to support any foreigner for
office, and solemnly swearing before High
Heaven that he would never vote for
Roman Catholic, Francis P. Rlair was
boldly standing up and defending them.
Schuyler Co!tax was first elected to Con-
gress as q Know Nothing. Francis p.
Blair was at the same election sent to Com
gress in opposition to Know Nothingism.
And this is one of the broad differences in
the record and character Of the two candi.
dates for the Vice-Presidency. The one
liberal, just, and generous, with q faith in
humanity wide enough to embrace his fel.
low-men Of all nations and all lands. The
other, bisoted. intollerant and mar.
row-minded, just the person to be, az
Mr.. Colfax was, the Chief of Know
ANOlluuSAoAA IN NAo tJtdt0 VI xuuldAdS
In politics, on all points except slavery,
General Blair has always been Democrat,
and when slavery was abolished he nat
urally swung back to his old position. He
saw 10 reason as thousands Of others can.
not OF keeping slavery in politics when
slavery has long been dead and in its
grave. lie won good name in Congress,
became leading debater and was candi-
date for Speaker against Mr.. Colfax in 1868.
HIS WAR RECORD.
AS General Blair. too, has been denounced
as ''a traitor" his war record condensed in
the smallest possible space is as follows, it
speaks for itself:
At the commencement of the war, in 1861,
he was the first volunteer from the State Of
Missouri, and among the first to organize
troops for the defense of St Louis. He
was made commander of the First Missouri
Regiment, and assisted at the capture of
Camp Jackson, of May 10th, 1861, which
capture was the first severe blow the rebel
lion received. Colonel Blair also took part
in the battle of Boonville. under General
Lyon, during which contest he commanded
his regiment. The decided victory these
gained, over the forces Of Gen. Price and
Gov. Jackson, was undoubtedly the saliva
ton of Missouri to the Union.
During the sessions Of Congress, 1862,
Colonel Blair was Chairman of the Com
mittee on Military Affairs, and as such rem.
dered in important services to the country.
Upon the close OF the session, he returned
to Missouri, and at the request of the Sec
rotary OF War, raised brigade Of Infantry,
OF which he was placed in command, and
commissioned Brigadier General, in
August, 1862. The Brigade became at
iached to the Thirteenth Army Corps.
nnder General Sherman. While under the
command Of that brilliant officer, General
Blair had charge of the First Brigade of
General Steele's Division Mt the attack upon
the detenses in the rear of Vicksbuyg. Here
he greatly distinguished himself for his
bravery, being the last man to leave the
nights, although the main army had
been severely repulsed. At the capture Of
Vlcksburg, Blair's Division participated
command. 1t was at this time that Grant
declared, Crank Blair is the best voluu-
teer officer in the United States Army"
HE Is WITH SHERMAN, IN HIS MARCH TO
TIE SEA.
In the great march of Sherman through
Georgia to the sea, General Blair command.
ed tho seventeenth army corps, the finest
corps in the whole army. His division was
the first to march into Savannah. The fol-
LOWING order shows Ill what estimate he
was held by Sherman:
I1EADptARTEHS ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,
December It'll. 1864
The General Commanding avais himself
of this opportunity to thank General Blair
for the zeal, intelligence, courage and skill
displayed by him in handling the corns dnr.
ing the eventful career he has conmandeN.
BY order OF
W. T. SHERMAN, Major General.
R. M. SAWYER, Asst Adjt Gen.
From Savannah the Seventeenth Arm.
Corps were transported by water to Pocota
ligo, whence it threatened Charleston
Here Blair and his men waded throughs,
swamp three miles wide with water fou
feet deep. The weather being bitter cold,
and after half dozen encounters with ths
enemy, the Seventeenth Corps carried the
bridge over the South Edisto by gallant
dash, Blair as usual, leading his men up
to the battery's mouth. Blair's Corps were
the first to enter Columbia. At the battle
OF Bentonyillc, N. c., the Seventeenth
Corps were engaged heavily on their way
up TO Richmond
1t is not necessary to go further into the
glorious services and gallant deeds of the
Democratic candidate for the Vice Presi-
-ency. His services OH the battlefield
would fill volume, while those Of SCHUYLER
,O1faV can ha rocOr1od in c;u u1o