Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-08-11
The Late Francis p. Blair.

nOeNcf knew General Frank Blair, must
have heard of his death with sincere regret.
With great and obvious defects of charac-
ter, for which he dearly paid he had many
of those qualities which awaken and retain
admiration and regard. lie had indeed,
many Of the traits of n hero-undaunted
courage, gallantry, ardor and independence
and his service in rescuing Missouri from
the coils Of slavery and secession was q sig
nal personal triumph which his subsequent
alterations aud extravagances as democrat
should not obscure. A service of another
kind but not less useful and admirable in
its way, was the Brodhead letter; for while
it was Enthusiastically bold and defiant, it
was sincere, and served to show, in his i'm
mediate nomination by the democratic party
exactly the spirit and hope of that organiza-
ton. There is still another service, Of an
other kind, which Mr.. Blair rendered the
Republican party, and which is not gener-
ally known.
The Chicago convention of 1860, which
nominated Abraham Lincoln, was composed,
like all such bodies, of the Republicans of
principle and courage, and those of timid
and perilous expediency." 1t was evident
in the situation of the country that, opposed
to a naughty and confident party in fun pos
session of the government, and threatening
us run IL tutN MtIt utlcltct. tIlc true poilcN
for the Republicans was a bold declaration
of their principles, and an appeal to the ma
tiOnal conscience and courage. The time
for trimming and hesitation had passed.
When the committee on resolutions reported
the platform, Mr.. Giddings, of Ohio, moved
an amendment, re-assertiLs the "self-evi-
dent truth of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence. Mr.. Carter, of Ohio, strenuously OBJ
jected that the convention might as well re-
assert the Ten Commandments. Another
gentleman joined in opposition, and no one
sustaining the amendment, probably fearing
that any discussion of the platform or
change in it, might lead 10 unexpected and
undesirable results Mr.. Ashmun the Presi-
dent, eagerly put the question, and with evil
dent satisfaction declared the amendment
lost. Mr.. Giddings and his friends there.
upon rose TO withdraw from the convention.
As they passed the seats of the New York
delegation, one of its members, seeing in
their departure the retirement of the strong,
aggressive anti-slavcry clement which was
indispensable in the impending contest, as
really the soul of the Republican party, and
feeling that nothing could more fatally dis
courage that party and all brave " Sons Of
Liberty" in the Union, than the knowledge
that the convention had been afraid in that
the Declaration as its political creed, and
had actually rejected them when offered
stopped Mr. Giddngs and begged him to
remain, as he would offer substantially the
same amendment.
Sending word TO the chair that he wished
10 be recognized as soon as possible, the
member rose, and Mr.. Ashmun, not suspect
ing that anything would proceed from the
New York delegation that could disturb the
convention, Immediately gave the New
Yorker the floor, and he renewed Mr. Gid
dings amendment, merely changing its form
so as 10 include the opening words OF the
Declaration. Instantly there was an uproar,
and the point of order was vociferously made,
that the convention had just virtually passed
upon the same amendment. Mr.. Ashmun,
eagerly as before, and with an air of irrita-
tion that the trouble should have been re
newed, decided the point to be well taken,
aud passed peremptorily to the next busi-
ness. During the reading of the platform,
and the debate upon the amendment OF MIR.
Giddings, the member from New York had
observed at the end Of the seat opposite his
own upon the aisle, and but few feet from
him, a sturdy, sandy-haired man, who sat
carelessly swinging one leg and foot over
the arm of the seat and squirting tobacco
juice upon the floor, apparently inditfer-
ent TO every thing that took place, But rs
Mr.. Ashmun peremptorily ruled, the sandy
haired man, by sudden spring, raised him
self erect upon his feet, standing on the seat,
and with voice that commanded the chair
so that he instinctiyely turned and could not
help recognizing the speaker, exclaimed
"Nlr. President {" Mr. Ashmun responded,
"The gentleman from Missouri" Il rise
to point of order" The gentleman viii
state IT," My point is that the amend
ment of the gentleman from Ohio was to one
clause of the resolutions, and that of the gem
tleman from New York to another, and that
the question, therefore, has not been de
cided by the convention" The point was
indisputable. MI Ashmun saw it, and said,
coldly, " The gentleman's rnint is well taken,
and the gentleman from New York has the
floor" The amendment was renewed, a few
words were said in support Of it, and the con-
yention, now understanding the situation,
reversed its previous vote, and with enthu-
siastic unanimity adopted the amendment,
while Mr.. Giddings and his friends resumed
their seats in the convention.
The sturdy. sandy-haired delegate was
"Frank Blair" and it was he who thus
saved 10 the Republican platform of 1860
the consecrating phrases OF the Declaration,
and TO hearty cooperation with the Repub-
lieall party the original anti-slayery senti-
Weekly.
TmE Count de Grasse was once wounded
in the knee with a musket-ball. The doc
tors cut and hacked and made many in
ciSions when pettino ont of patience, the