Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/271

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

university he became clerk of the Kentucky iupreme court. In 1828 the legislature elected him. to the presidency of the Bank of Kentucky. During this time he had made considerable reputation as a political writer in a controversy which had arisen in Kentucky over the attempt on the part of the state to cripple the Dank of the United States by taxing its branches within it.** jurisdiction. This contest lasted for ten years, and involved the right of the state to alter its laws enforcing contracts, its right U: abolish imprisonment for debt, to extend the replevin laws, and other important ques- tions. It resulted in the triumph of the bank party, but a new direction was given ti» the controversy — the conflict became national, and resulted in the downfall of the United States Dank, and its overthrow was followed by a reform in Kentucky on the l.rinciples which had been sustained by Mr. r.lair. Up to this time he had been a Clay man. but he now attracted the attention of President Jackson, who in 1830 induced him to go to Washington City and assume the editorial management of **The Globe'* news- paper, which was to be made the official organ of the administration. Mr. Blair dis- played excellent journalistic powers in this new field. He gave warm support to the Jackson and Van Buren administrations, but by his opposition to the annexation of Texas lost his hold upon the Democratic party, and a new newspaper, entitled **The Union." edited by Thomas Ritchie, received the support of President Polk, and Blair retired to private life. His leanings were toward the nationalistic wing of the Dem- ocratic party, and during Mr. Polk's ad- ministration, when the states rights wing was in the ascendant, he allied himself

with the Free Soil party, and was chairman Of the first national Republican convention, in 1856. which nominated John C. Fremont for the presidency. He was a delegate to tlic next national convention of the party, in i8rx), which nominated Mr. Lincoln, with whom he ever after maintained a close and influential intimacy. In 1864 he visited Richmond, by permission of President Lin- coln, and brought about the peace confer- ence which took place in Hampton Roads ii' the fall of that year, and which was un- productive of results because of the refusal of Mr. Lincoln to negotiate except upon the basis of complete submission of the South- ern states. Ho could not approve the recon- struction methods following after the war, and returned to the Democratic party, but took no part in public affairs. He was the father of two distinguished sons — Mont- gojiiery Blair, who became postmaster-gen- eral in President Lincoln's cabinet, and Francis P. Blair, Jr., who was prominent in Missouri in 1861, and became a major-gen- eral in the Union army. Blair was an able man, a versatile writer and a strong nation- alist, but had no scruples in changing his support of men and measures whenever, in his opinions, it was expedient to do so in the interest of party.

Janney, Samuel Macpherson, born in Loudoun county, Virginia, January 11, 1801 ; was a minister of the Society of Friends, and travelled extensively in this capacity ; in 1869 he was appointed by Presi- dent Grant superintendent of Indian affairs in the northern superintendency : he was the author of a prize poem entitled *'The Country School-House'' (1825); "Conver- sations on Religious Subjects" (1835; 3rd

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