The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1868-09-12

/ FRANCIS P. BLAIR, DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR
vECE-PEEsIDENr.
One accustomed to observe character from
portraits could not 90 far wrong in judging
this man, even from the imperfect r presen-
/ tation above There is a current anecdote
to this effect A gentleman inquired of
rather non eommittal old lady what sort Of
man Mr.. Smith was who lived near by ?
1 With the double purpose Of being olite and
not committing herself she replied: Well,
( sir, have known him many wears and con-
slider him just about such a kind of q mau
as one would naturally take him to be. So
! we may say of the portrait Of Mr.. Blair.
1 He looks the character he is In the B9wery
/ nomenclature, he would be pronounced ." a
/ bully boy. There are evidences Of strength,
! II not OF refinement or deiicacy here We
reckon he would smash things generally
Ii provoked, and the safest place for the OF.
fender would be at a respectful distance.
Mr. Blairs safety consists in his living
strictly temperate life. Fire him up with
bad whisky and foul tobacco, and he would
4 be something ike a mad g bull In a china
shop" Let US see how he Is made up. lie
has a large bory structure, a strong mus
cular system, with heart, lungs, and stomach
to match. All the animal functions are in
working order, and he eats, drinks. and
sleeps with hearty relish SO far,1here Is
nothing wanting The head Is bid-not dis
proportioned to the body-and very high in
the crown, rendering selfesteem, iirmuess,
and apprObativeness large. The intellect IS
strongly marked he would display much
originality and faeile comprehension. He
is not without ability TO plan and lay out
work. Indeed, he would be far more In
clined to project new schemes than to exc
cute them. lie has more combatlveness-
which exhibits itself in talking and wri-
ting-than destruetiveness, which gives
practical execuhveness Most of his fight
ing would therefore be done with tongue or
pen, rather than by sword. But he will
threaten The devotional, the spiritual, the
penitential, meen, and the humble sentiments
are not prominent When he submits, it
viii be under severe pressure. Still, he has
qualities not altogether unamiable. As
man of the world, he would be hailed as " a
good fellow, and be considered above the
average in intelligence. He Is generous in
giving hOspitalitles to or receiving them
from his chums is a good liver, and viii
provide the luxuries for his friends. His
ability TO get money Is greater than his power
to keep it. We should not select him for a
banker, nor for an economist. But he could
superintend a plantation, navigate n ship,
take charge Of a colony of criminaIs-Nan
Diemen's Land, for eXample-or do hun
dred other things, where n disposition to be
boss and take the responsibility Is con
cerned, pT0CjdiHg others would submit to
his rule. Win, strength, frankness blunt
ness, and Indifference TO praise or blame are
among the traits in this character.
Francis p. Blair, Jr was born at Lexing-
ton, Ky, February 10, 1921, was educated
at Princeton College, New Jersey, and, re-
moving to st. Louis, adopted the profession
Of the law. He entered into political life as
an advocate Of emancipation. In 1913 he
sustained Van Buren and the Free Soil
party, opposing the extension of slavery into
Territories and advocating its abolition In
Missouri As an abolitionist be was elected
In 1852 to the Missouri Legislature and was
re elected in 1854 Two years afJerwari he
/ took his seat IN Congress as n representative
from Missouri, and remained IN that capacity
until the opening Of the civil war He had
exhibited much gallantry as a volunteer in
/ the Mexican war, and was moved to again
! take the sword in behalf Of the Union as "A
! Colonel of Volunteers in 1861. He was
soon alterward appointed BTigadier General,
and won general favor by his intrepid con-
! duct on the field.
In Nav, 1868, he commanded a division
! Of McPheTson's corps, and was before the
/ close Of the year appointed Maj General,
/ when be resigned his seat IN the Thirty
/ eighth Congress When Mcpherson in 1864
was made commander Of the Army OF the
/ Tennessee, he was succeeded by General
| Blair in the command Of his corps This
command he held until the close of the war,
attending Sherman in his marches from At
/ lanta to GoldsboUough.
In 1866 he was appointed Collector Of the
! Port Of st Louis, and now is brought before
the American people as an available man
/ for the party which few years since owned
no sympathy for him.