Year: 1876




telegram from Washington announces the death
of Francis Preston Blair. at his home at Crystal
Springs. Md. Mr. Blair mad been IN for some time
and his death was not surprise TO his many friends
whose minds had been prepared for the sad
news by intelligence OF his weak physical condition.


Francis Preston blair was born at Abingdon in tho
county OF Washington and State OF Virginia. the
18th April, l79l His father the Hon. James Blair
was an eminent lawyer, who at time filed the
Office or Attorney General OF the State OF Kentucky
while his mother u lineal descendant
OF that Preston family which has long
bscn famous in the annals OF the country for
the eloquence OF its and the grace OF
its daughters He enjoyed the best educational
advantages which were to be obtained In what
then known a the West and was finally grad
ua.od with academic honors in the University OF Tran
syvana. He subsequently studied law but never
entered upon she active practice OF the profession
of the delicate health which totally unGttod
him at that time for the confusion OF and the
contentious Of clients He was supposed to be suffer
ing from pulmonary affection, which would soon
bring his premature end, and the longevity
to which he subsequently attained was forcible


illustration of the Scottish proverb that ''threaened
people live the longest" Yet, feeble as he was he
volunteered as private in one Of the first military
companies that formed in Franklin county, KY,





having been appointed by Governor George Madison as
OF his aids he proceeded with the Kentucky troops
on their line OF march toward the Canadian
frontier, WHOM, being selzed with a severe hemor.
rhage from the lungs, he len behind by his
rades in what seemed hopeless condition His health
remained at this prccarous state for several years.
quring tho of constant prudence his part
and exciting the greatest solcitude Of his family and
frenda


Mr. Blair carly turned his attention to politics and
took . keen and vivid interest In the discussion OF
all public questions For such discussions he
admirably qualified by tho range Of his
studies by the habits OF his mind and
especially by the facility and force with which he
could wiold what the French call "the gnited logic"
Of earnest disputant Whether he argued with the
pen or tho living voice. he presented his views not
the cold absracons Of the political reason but fused
them with all the fires Of ardent temperament,
which was sometimes kinded TO white heat by
the friction Of political debate His talents at
tracted the notice Of Henry Clay, and between that
rising young statesman and Mr. Blair friendship
sprang up which cemented for a time no less by
community OF political opinions than by mutual ad-
OF the manly traits inherent In the character
Of each 40 MT. Blair was warm supporter Of Mr. Clay
In the earlier stages Of their association, from
eloquent friend case in point may be
found in the divergent course they respectively





agitated the State OF kentucky for SO many years
TINS controversy took its impulse lin preston
Of the common mind in Kentucky that the judicial
tribunals Of the State had become the strongholds OF
tho wealthy and arstocratic classes to the dsparagc
ment not to the detrmcnt OF the ab0ring population
ana in the issue thus Joined Mr.. Clay took his
stand on the side OF the courts while MIR.
Blair espoused what he believed 10 be the rights
the people against the assumptions Of the judiciary
II during the pendency of this contest that Mr.
Jeferson's doctrine Of an Collective judiciary" for
the first time in this country seriously invoked as
adv n In hto
controversy true to the democratic instinct ne had
early evinced and which he destined long and
vigorously to MAINTAIN In the presence OF his country
men, Mr. Blair ranged himself on the side OF popular
sovereignty"
When General Jackson after his rupture with Cal.
houn found IL necessary TO have an 'organ'' TO de-
fend his administration Mr.. Blair chosen to d.
rect It. Hc Blar) hesatsd long before he consented
tho onerous responsibilities Of post that
WIS offered to him.


After repeated conferences with Amos Kendall It |
agreed between him and Mr. BLAIR that the name
OF the paper should be the Globe, and that Il
should have for Its motto the maxim that
..the world is governed too muchn The nrst number
Of the paper appeared or the 7th Of December 1880
The Globe remained the bulwork Of the administration
OF Jackson down TO its triumphal close, when iu
able TO sing q pHan Of victory all It's foes Jack.
had not only maintained his position against the
combined assaults OF Adams aud Webster At the
South, but he had been able TO dictate his
successor In the person OF NJ Van Buren,


The Globe continued to carry the nag Of Mr.. Van
Burcn until It went down in the log cabin and
hard cidor campaign OF 1S40 The death Of General
Harrison, followed as It was by the accession OF Mr.
Tyler to the Presidency, and by fued between Mr..
Tyler and his party, might have seemed to offer TO Mr.
Blair promising opportunity for striking hands with
a valuable accomplce in tho work OF disorganzing the
wings Blu: Mr. Blair steadasty refused all completely
with the Tyler administration.


On retiring from tho tolls Of political journalism
Mr.. Blair took up his residence at Silver Spring, .
country seat about seven miles from Washington, In
Montgomery county, Maryland. Without at all aban.
donng the thoughtful observation OF political events
he devoted himself assduousy to the Improvement OF
hts and to the diffusion Of knowledge subjects
connected with the practice and science of agriculture


1t need not be said that Mr. Blair active in his
opposition to the administration OF Mr. Buchanan and
that he aborcd arduousy for the election Of Mr. Lin
coin in 1860 The course OF events at this time had
caused the whole country to face the dsunon issue,
which Mr. Blair had forcseen from the day when he
pcnned against McDufe the vigorous editorial article
which had first brought its writer TO the notice OF Gen
erNl Jackson in 1880.


During the late war III fortune came In the year
1854 10 disturb tho statesman editor hts quiet
treat at Silver Spring body OF the enemy, while
lowering around the national capital In the month OF
July In that year. sacked his house. rifed his papers
and burned the country seat Of his son, the Hon.
Montgomery Blair. who was then holding place In
NJ I Jtnro nf q (ahi