The Portland daily press., 1868-07-20
The BIaIrs.

The following interesting sketch of the
Blair family we find in the Providence Jour-
nal Senator Anthony is the proprietor of
this paper, and the facts about "Silyer
Springs" are no doubt within his personal
knowledge
This family which has SO long reigned as the
Coburgs OF political society in Washington, is
now again, by the nomination of the younger
member OF the house to the ice-presidency,
brought more prominently before the public.
The hospitabe seat of the elder Blair is at
"Silver Spring" charming place few miles
out of Washington, in the District of Column
bla. There every prominent politician who
mas visited Washington, who had the DISPOSE
tlon and power, or in whom it was thought to
be practicable to inculcate disposition to nro
mote the influence of the family has been in
vited to spend Sunday, and such SUNDAYS. too
as were nowhere else to be found in the Dis
trct of Columbia. The whole family have
studied and become adopts in the art of max.
ing such occasions agreeable. No one ever
lett Silver Spring but with desire to return
The charm of the inequalities of that place is
exceedingly fascinating The only perplexity
is to know which of the aged couple that pre-
side there is the greater adept in the art of en-
tertalnlng. Each anticipates all of our wish
es, and our pleasures. Each is equally full of
entertaining "reminiscences. Each appears to
know what it would be most pleasing to MS to
hear, with the most proper time and to exact
ly appreciate the manner in which it would
be most agreeable to us to hear it.
To say that this family are like knot of
snakes, trying to charm every bird that comes
within the reach of their influence, to contrib
ute something to their voracious appetites,
would be harsh Illustration; yet it would not
De entirely inapt. The father loves influence.
J he asplres to be the power behind the throne.
ne SONS love office. They are not quite alike.
Montgomery seeks controversy. Frank does
not avoid it. The latter is brave. the former
cunning. Both are energetic and nersistent
Frank is candid, open, straightforward oener-
Gus, and perhaps little fast, but we have
heard ofno complaint of Montgo merv on o;tIa,
of these grounds.
Before the war, Frank was free-soiler ra
dld much to save Missouri from rebellion and
alter the war broke out he was one of its ahia
supporters IN Congress-. and became distin-
gusned IN Its prosecution by his services in
the field. He attacked Fremont while in Con.
gress; this divided the Republicans of his dis
trlct against him and that paved the woy e
his transit to the democracy He was a capdi
date Tor Speaker OF the Thirty Seventh Con-
gress but was defeated by Grow. The Free
mont quarrel was carried into Congress and
became bitter there, Colfax, Kelley and
Shanks pressing Fremonts claims upon Con
gress, and Blair lepellinG them Perhaps a
majority of the party throughout the country
was with Blair at that time, but unfortunate
ly Tor him the st. Louis Republicans took
sides against him, and he has gone over to the
Democracy.
Few persons we apprehend who knew Gen.
par intimately would have ever thought of
MN Ior the presidency OF the Senate; but the
undying hate of Montgomery TO Chase. and
the pilgrimage of politicians to Silver Springs,
with the hatred of the negro, conspired to give
him the empty honor of a nomination to the
Vice-presidency. " 'no
The way by the back stairs TO the pres;-
dents private room has long been familiar IN
the senior Blair, but the way that he has lone
known he will after the fourth of March next
know no more