Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-01-07
lsNn,Crcd Mission 10 Richmond.

Francis p Blair, Sr., and Montgomery,
his son, have gone to the front, and have
been spending some days with General
Grant. This visit is made the foundation
of many peace rumors. which find currency
in some of the Washington papers anG in
the correspondence of the New York jour
nGls. The Adtioaal MteNiqeHcer has gathet-
cd up and siited these rumors, which, it
says, have ''all an important political char
actcr,' and presents the two subjoined,
"obtain the most credit"
/. That jeff Davis sent special invita-.
ton to Mr.. Blair, by flag of truce, to visit
him at Richmond, though for what object
can only be guessed at. The quidnuncs
claim that the result of the interview,
should it be held, will have important bear
ings upon the relations between the North
ern and southern States.
2. the other rumor is that Mr.. Blair ),
charged with an important commission,
which can only be executed 10y direct com,
munications with the confederate authorities.
The peculiar relations existing between Mr..
Blair and the President tend to obtain more
general credence for t.i,lis report.
The New York Tribune, commenting on
these rumors and the departure of the
Messrs. Bla!:.f, saws: q,
OF rrtace; Or, perhaps we should more ac-
curately say, to see whether any termination
of our national struggle is now atlainable.
| We presume their mission is not in terms
official; but it were absurd to pretend, con-
sidering who they are, and what are their
personal relations To the President, that 1t
is unauthorized. While we consider Rich
mond about the least hopeful point in the
Contederacy at which to seek an acceptable
peace, and regret that the MesSrs. Blair had
not proceeded, or offered to proceed, direct
to Raleigh instead; and while we can scarce
ly encourage hopes of any immediate paciii-
cation as a result OF this mission, we vet re-
joice that it has departed and are confident
that its influences will be salutary and its
ultimate consequences bencicent For the
| Southern people need, above all things, to
be undcceived with regard to the origin,
impulses, and purposes of the war for the
| Union. They have SO long been incessant-
! ly tolu that the North is fighting for suhju-
Sation-lor Unrestricted dominion--ior
| spoliation, devastation, and rapine-that
| thousands who should know Il great deal
better actually seem to believe it. The visit
Of the Messrs. Blair to Richmond, and the
propositions which they will there doubt
| less) submit to the Confederate chiefs, can
not he kept from the knowledge of the
South, and cannot fail to be largely in
| tluential in disabusing the Southern mind.
If it shall thence appear that the North
wants nobody enslaved, but everybody
liberated as nobody despoiled but the
rights and earnings of every human being
placed under the protection of just and
equal laws, then we say it is scarcely posi-
Bile that the fierce malignity, the vengeful
hate, which have thus far animated the rebel
masses in their war upon their own country,
can retain tnelr yirulence unmoditied. And
at all events, in this mission the civilized
world will see, even though Dixie should
obstinately bardage its own eyes, the evi-
deice of spirit pervading our loyal people
and thei. Government quite different from
that persistep:iy ascribed to them 10y their
enemies. We are therefore inclined to at
tribute profound significance to the visit
of tie Messrs. Blair 10 Richmond, and to
expect from it bene6cent, even though not
immediate nor very pa,pablG results.