[6] By February 1872, Reed was proving to be an unpopular governor among both Democrats and Republicans, and he refused to extend Drew's tenure as Florida Attorney General.

[7] However, on May 4, 1872, while Drew was preoccupied at the convention, the Florida Senate ruled that Day's coup was unconstitutional and reappointed Reed as governor.

Drew was removed from office that day, and was replaced by Horatio Bisbee, Jr., who was the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

[10] After leaving his position as United States Attorney around 1880, Drew permanently settled in Washington, D.C., and opened a private law firm in the city.

In December 1894, Drew helped the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway purchase 54,000 acres (84.375 square miles) of land near Horse Creek, West Virginia, which allowed for the connection of the railroad to the Kanawha River.

[5][12][13] Drew fell ill two weeks after arriving in Jacksonville, Florida, and died at his vacation home on November 4, 1924.