Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-06-20

a pamphlet in 1888 entitled "Por
trait of the State Notification
Convention" He noticed all the
prominent members. He gave 6
general sketch of McDufie ano
closed by stating that he sat thir.
teen years in Congress without al
equal in either house. hope that
some of Major Perry's sons will
republish that production of their
father. Major Perry knew that
during the thirteen years. he spoke
of, that such men sat in Congress
as Andrew Jackson, John Quincy
Adams, William Henry Harrison,
Martin Van Buren, John Tyler,
James K. Polk, Franklin Pierce,
James Buchanan, John G. Calhoun,
Henry Clay, John Randolph, Rich
ard, Mr.. Johnson, Daniel Webster,
Thomas H. Benton, and scores of
others; all most distinguished
men. Forsyth, of Georgia, aud
Preston Of this State were there.
have, Mr.. Editor, selected Blair
as the leader of the Union party.
Col. Preston stated of Blair, though
only seif-taught and educated, that
he could bring as strong language
to support any subject he chose to
advocate as any living man. Col.
Preston, it is known, could never
be elected to the lower House of
Congress. The Congressional dis
trict he wished to represent lay
joining Blair's district, he said
that Blair's influence reached over
enough in his district to prevent
him from being elected. Blair was
the only Union man in the State
returned to.Congress in 1882 and
consequently was the most infuen-
tial Union man in the State. He
was represented as man of many
eccentricities, and wagner by
trade. In physical proportions he
measured seven feet in height,
weighed three hundred and sew
enty-six pounds. B. F. Perry said
when he saw him in the complete
uniform of a brigadier genera, ),
that he looked like he nigh ths!
son Of Mars. The Frenc6 ster:
st Washington, when hegaWBla
said he resembled General Kleber,
and called him the American Kle-
Der. Blair'a worst hallucination
was that be liked liquor too we'll.
A bar keeper grossly insulted him.
Blair knocked him down and con-
tinued to hit him. He heard some
thing like a gun Shaping in his
rear. He looked round and the
bar keepers wife was repriming q
huge musket. The Generals chiv-
airy would not allow him to COM
bat woman, and it was said that
he took leg bail.
The General went to theatre at
Washington and soon got into a
snooze. When he awoke he did
not know where he was. He i'm
agined that be was in the midst Of
a snow storm in q dark forest. A
beautiful lady came tripping along.
A ruffian appeared and showed
signs of robbing her. Blair COM
manded him not to modest her.
The ruffian paid no attention.
BIair's pistol rang out, the ball
passing through the would be
actors immense head of hair. The
actor shouted "Murder!" called
for e platoon of police to arrest
Gen. Blair of South Carolina.
Twelve men it was said approach
ed, armed with muskets, six on
each side. AS he rose he struck
with both arms each way, knocking
down all. He had seized one of
the guns and cleared the house.
The Joke was so good he was only
fined five dollars.
In his next exploit his finances
we're effected more. Duff Green,
editor Of paper called the United
States Telegraph, called the Union
party Of South Carolina a band OF
Tories that had disgraced the
name of the Union, Blair met
Greer, on the street and knocked
him down with the little end OF
his cane. The Generals fine in
this case was three hundred dollars
Duff Green was still alive during
the Confederate war and frequently
could be seen passing on the rail,
road from Branchville to Augusta
He was a very tall man. l have
boord Cantain Bird of Greenwood