The Leavenworth weekly times., 1875-07-29
TMeeklp Gimes
THURSDAY, JULY %, 1873.
nesth af Gen z 2. Elair.

The death of Gen. +. P. Blair, the partic-
ulars of which are given in our telegraph
ic dispatches, though long anticipated as
an event likely to occur at any moment,
will call forth many expressions OF public
rrief in Missouri. For many years his
Gallant advocacy of Free Soil Democracy
and emancipation kept him under the ban
of fhe dominant sentiment OF the State, but
his generous and manly character always
secured him many warm personal friends,
even among his political opponents, and
now that he has gone, the great State to
whose service he devoted all the best years
of his life, will treasure the memory OF his
leading qualities, and the men who met
him in the political and military battles Of
the old slavery contest will dwell grateful
ly on the magnanimity OF his bearing IRON
the moment the conflict of arms terminated.
II is hardly worth while here, even II
time and space permitted, to dwell minute
ly upon his character and the later events
of his public life. They are already iamil-
lar 10 the people OF the State. But brief
outline will not be ariiss. Like John q.
Breckinridge, whose death preceded his but
a lew weeks, Gen. Blair was born at Lexing-
ton, Kentucky, in 1871. His venerable and
distinguished father, who still Lives on his
Silver Springs estate in Maryland, was then
a country editor unknown to fame. II was
not until 1929 that an editorial on the nuls
LITIGATION movement, written by Francis r.
Blair Sr., for a::Kentucky country paper,
attracted the notice Of President Jackson,
who invited the writer to become the editor
Of Tie Globe, Democratic organ about to
be established at Washington. For the
next fifteen years the elder Blair was
a power in the politics of the country. In
IS4S he supported Van Buren against the
regular Democratic nominee, and thence
forward his lot was cast with the opponents
Of slavery until the close of the close of the
war, his sons going with him through all
the mutations of political conflict. The
elder son, Montgomery Blair, after gradua-
ting at West Point and serving in the Flor
ida war, began to practice law in st. Louis
in 1896; was appointed L. S. District At
torney for Missouri in 1889, and from lS43
to 1919 was a Judge of common pleas.
To him came his younger brother, F. p.
Blair Jr., after graduating at the college OF
New Jersey, in 1S4l and he he also began
the practice of law in st. Louis. Failing
health sent Frank Blair to New Mexico in
lS45, and being there when hostilities broke
out he joined the army as private, and
served till IS47, when he resumed the prac-
tice OF his profession in st. Louis. In 1S4S
he attached himself to the Free Soil branch
Of the Democratic party; supported Van
Buren; publicly opposed the extension OF
slayery edited the Missouri Democrdf for a
time, and until the war came continued to
lie the daring, energetic and untiring leader
of the anti-slave-y forlorn hope in Missouri.
He was elected to the Legislature
in 1852 and 1854, and was elected to Con-
gress as a Republican in 1856, where he
made speech in favor of colonizing the
colored population OF the United States in
Central America. He was beaten for Con-
gress in 1855, but was elected in 1859 and
1862. He entered he army as colonel of
volunteers in 1861, and was appointed brig
adier-general in August, 1862, and major
general the following November, resigning
his seat in Congress in 1863. The services
he rendered the government in Missouri AT
the outbreak of the war, and in the field
dunng its continuance, cannot even be re-
capituiated in the limits of this outline.
Since the close of the war Gen. Blair's
share in public affairs has. been 50 conspic-
uous that a bare allusion TO his salient
points viii enable most we'll informed per-
SONS to recall the balance. He was appoint
ed Collector of Customs at ST. Louis and
Commissioner OF the Pacific Railroad, but
becoming dissatisfied with the policy pur-
sued toward the South, and being sternly
opposed TO the disfranchisement Of Mis-
sourians, he broke with his party and
threw himself with all his influence, energy
and courage ON the side of the Democrats.
He was nominated for Vice-President on
the ticket with Seymour, in 1865, and in
1870 was elected TO FIJI a vacancy in the q.
s. Senate from Missouri, his term expiring
in 1873. The close OF his term found him
failing rapidly in health. The melancholy
story OF his subsequent struggles with death
and misfortune is well known. He was
warm-hearted, brave and patriotic man.
Peace 10 his ashes !-Koascs City Times.