New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-28
MONTGOMERY BLAIR DEAD
THE END OF A LONG PUBLIC CAREER.

THE END OF A LONG PUBLIC CAREER.
| WASHINGTON, July 27.-The Hon. Montgomery
Blair died at his residence at Silver Springs, Nd,
near this city, at o'clock this morning The cause
OF his death was Inflammation of the membranes of
the spine He had suffered from this disease for
some years, and for the last eight months he had
been confined closely to his house in this city On
his removal some weeks ago to his country home he
seemed 10 rally somewhat. and hopes were enter
tanned Of his recovery, but he soon began TO lose
strength again. and for the last ten days he had
been gradually sinking. The funeral will take
place on Monday afternoon from Rock Creek
Church and the remains will be placed in the family
vault i'll Rock Creek Cemetery.
The Postmaster-General to-day issued the follow
ing order: AS mark of respect to the late Hon.
Montgomery Blair, ex-Posmaster-General,it Is
hereby directed that the Post Office Department
building be draped in mourning for period OF
thirty days from this date that the flag on the
building be placed at half mast until after the
burial of the deceased ex-Postmaster General, and
that the Department be closed on Monday, July 30,
the day of his funeraln
Montgomery Blair belonged to a family we'll
known In American public life for moro than half
century. His father was Francis Preston Blair,
whose naturalization views secured for him an
invitation from President jackson to edit q news
paper in Washington called The Globe, which he
did for fifteen years. He was also Public Printer.
When the Missouri Compromise was repealed he left
the Democratic party and assisted in organizing
the Republican party. He had two sons. Mont
gomery. whose death is now announced, and Fran
els Preston, jr, who after career In both houses
of Congress, in the Army and In the Civil Service,
was Democratic candidate for the Vice. Presidency
with Horatio Seymour, and then again o Senator.
Montgomery Blair was by nearly eight years the
elder of the two. but he long survived his brother,
who diet in St. Louis in July, 1875.
The subject of this sketch was born on May 10,
1913, in Franklin County. Ky. His school
education completed at West Point where he
was graduated in 1885. After serving for time
under General Scott in the Seminole war, he re-
signed his commission and began studying law.
lie admitted to practice at the bar in St. Louis
in 1889, and almost Immediately afterward was
appointed United States District-Attorney for Mis-
souri,. In 1912 he was elected Mayor OF st. Louis.
and In the following year was raised to
the bench of the Court of Common Pleas,
naming in that Office until 1S49 when he resigned
1t. Three years later he removed to Maryland, and
renewed the practice of his profession He was
frequently engaged In cases before the United
States Supreme Court, and was one of the counsel
IN the famous bred Scott case. Then President
Pierce appointed him solicitor of the Court of
Claims.
Judge Blair followed his fathers example in
abandoning tho Democratic party when the Mis-
souri, Compromise was repealed. and In casting bis
lot with the Republicans. This step cost him his
official head. for President Buchanan removed him
from his solictorship in 1883. In 1860 he presided
the Maryland Republican Convention, and
was in the Republican Electoral College of that
He tad ms .Cena nv
President Lincoln In 1861. and administered the
business of the Department for three years vIgor-
ousy and effectively. One of his first important
acts to prohibit the carrying Of certain disoyal
newspapers in the mails. OF course this attracted
widespread attention; the matter was brought up
in Congress, and after serious and detailed con-
sideratcn of the by the House of Representa-
tIves his action was approved. He also made many
important improvements in the postal service chief
among which were the establishment Of uniform
postal rates throughout the country,
the system of free delivery in large
cities, the money-order system, aud
tho postal railroad cars While bestowing these
benefits OF almost incalculable value upon the
country. he also made the Post Office Department
self-sustaining. In which work he aided by the
suspension Of tho postal business In the South,
which had always been conducted at dead loss to
the Government.
In October, 1864. he gave up his Office and went |
over TO the Democratic party again, where he has |
ever since remained. he was an earnest supporter
of Mr. Tilden for the Presidency. Indeed, he |
claimed TO have secured his nomination TO that |
office. After Mr.. Tlldens defeat he foremost |
in making repeated attacks upon the title of Presi-
dent Hayes 10 his office. He wrote various letters |
and made speeches the subject In the |
spring Of 1878 no got the Maryland Legislature to
pass a memorial TO Congress asking that the ques-
ton be reopened. Naturally. he favored the can
dIdacy of Mr.. Tilden again In $780, but he sup
ported Hancock cordially and made several speeches
during the campaign.
Judge Blair personally simple, kindly |
hammered man. fond of pastoral life. In appear
ance he was tail and thin, with a large head and |
smoothly shaver face. He was wealthy owning |
a fine winter residence IN Washington, while lie re-
taiued as a summer home his fathers superb home |
stead OF 600 acres at Silver Spring. Nd He there |
paid much attention TO the raising OF fine cattle. |
lie received from his father and leaves behind HIM \
IA large aad valuable collection of manuscripts given
by PRESIDENT Jackson the elder Blair for the pur
pose of writing his biography. Upon that work
both the Bairs spent much time, but IL Is vet In
complete.
The family OF Judge Blair consists of his wife,
who is a daughter of Judge Levi Woodbury., OF
New Hampshire; three sons, who are all lawyers
and one daughter