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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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