, 1868-08-07

The gallant soldier and statesman who has
been nominated for the Office of Vice Pres
ident of the United States by the National
Democratic Convention, and who will Ger,
tainly fill that Office, was born in the quaint
old town of Lexington, Kentucky, February
10, 1921, and is now in his forty>eighth
year. In his twentieth year he graduated
at Princeton College, and removed to St.
Louis, Missouri, aud there began the study
of law, in which profession he made rapid
progress. In l845, being then in his twen-
ty.fifth year, he made journey to the Rocky
Mountains with party of trappers for the
improvement of his health, which had failed
somewhat, owing to close pursuit of his
studies; and on the breaking out of the
Mexican war Blair Joined the force under
Kearney and the gallant Donephan in New
Mexico, and served as private soldier until
1847, when he returned to St. Louis and
resumed the practice of his profession. In
l848, like his father, Francis P Blair, Sr.,
be gave his support to the Free Soil party,
and in speech delivered at the Courthouse
in st. Louis, contended against the extension
Of slavery into the Territories of the nation.
In 1852 he was elected from st. Louis.
county, Missouri, to the Legislature as an
avowed Free Soiler, and was re,elected in
1854, though Thomas II. Benton, the Con-
gressional candidate, was beaten. In 1856
Mr.. Blair was returned to Congress from tho
St. Louis district, over Mr. Kennett, who
had defeated Col Benton two years before.
In 1857 he delivered an elaborate speech in
favor of colonizing the black population of
the United States in Central America. Mr..
Blair was also an editor and writer on tie
Missouri Democrat at one time. The father
Of General Blair was firm and fast friend
of Andrew jackson; the General when a
child was wont to play on the knees of
Andrew jackson in the White House.
His father was at that time editor of the
Globe, in Washington. In 1860 Mr.. Blair
contested the seat in Congress of Mr. Bars
rett, from the st. Louis District, and soon
after was returned to the House, after which
he resigned his seat. In 1860 General Blair
made speech in Brooklyn in favor of Mr..
Lincoln for the Presidency, and also delivered
a speech at the Metropolitan Hotel, New
York, in June, 1861, in favor of strong war
measures, limiting that Gen. Scott was rather
slow campaigner. Mr.. Blair was very assid-
uous in raising volunteers In St. Louis, and
was the first volunteer of the State of Miss
ouri. He raised the First Regiment of Misl
souri, Volunteers, and acted as its Colonel,
albeit he did not hold commission as Col
onel of the regiment. A difficulty arose be.
tween Col. Blair and Gen. Fremont, and
Col. Blair was unjustly placed under arrest
by that officer who was commander of that
department. This arbitrary measure of Gen.
Fremont's aroused great excitement in St.
Louis, where Col. Blair was universally
known and respected, the journals of tn at
city taking part in the quarrel at that time.
President Lincoln ordered Col. Blair to be
released from arrest in September, 1861,
thereby causing great feeling of relief to
the numerous friends of Col Blair ia st.
Louis. He was again arrested by General
Fremont but finally released after consider
able trouble and newspaper discussion by
both parties. Colonel Blair rapidly rose as a
soldier and became one of the most skillful
Generals in the Western armies. On the