Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-01-19
Bradford 3eporter,
Towanda, Thursday, January 10, 1866.
THE BLAIR MISSION.

1t appears certain that Francis P. BLAIR,
Senior, the old Editor of the Globe news
paper, the organ of Gen. JAcKsoN's admins
tration, has finally succeeded in procuring
permission to visit Richmond, and we learn
that he has even arrived safely at the Rebel
Capital, and proceeded quietly to the
Spottswood House" What Influences Sc
cured him the favor of the visit, after his
first refusal, we are not informed but prob
ably it was the pertinacy of GREELEY, who
has been importuning the President to al
low this mission. The natural presumption
would be that after GREELEY's miserable
and laughable Clifton House adventures of
last summer he would rest content upon
the laurels he has already won as a Great
PacifcatOr-and that the President would
be satisfied that however honest he may be
in his endeavors to promote an adjustment
of our National difficulties, he is anything
but safe counsellor.
But it seems otherwise BLAIR has de-
parted upon his errand whatever it may be,
and forthwith the very atmosphere is charg-
ed with rumors of peace. The most unre-
liable and extraordinary canards are circu-
lated-and believed-and the public expec-
tation is wrought up to the highest pitch of
anxiety.
1t seems to us that nothing can be more
unwise and unfortunate than a mission OF
be, that those who are i'll the secret, are
possessed of information which makes such
a mission proper and timely But we do
not believe it and we know that the coun-
try looks on with regret at actions which
appear peurile and vascillating. 1t is true,
that the Rebellion is in great extremities,
and gloom and dependency prevail through
out the Confederacy. There are occasion.
! ally croppings out of disposition in Reb.
eldOm. to rebel against jeff. Davis arbitrary
rule and desire to come back under the
old flag But we fail to see, nor do we be
lieve the shrewdest and best-informed can
perceive any indications that the leaders OF
the rebellion, are ready to lay down THEN
arms and cease their unnatural and unholy
warfare
Until such spirit in manfested-unti
/ the leaders Of the rebellion, show some
manifestations of a desire to cease THEN
wicked strife, and seek the clemency and
/ pardon Of the Governmcnt-until uley make
/ overtures-we conceive that all such mis-
sions as Mr.. BLAIR's-whether authorized
or unauthorized fraught with incaIcul
able mischief to the Union cause, and cal
culated to retard rather than promote the
advent Of peace.
The Rebel leaders know the road to peace
as we'll as any Union man. They went of
on their own accord. and let them come bach
in the same way. Besides, such a mission
will only tend to remove peace, further into
the future. If it does any thing, it will only
revive new hopes among the rebels. They
may conclude that we need peace more
than they do, else why make overtures.-
They may conclude that it is as humiliatinG
for US to sue for peace as for them, and tha
inasmuch as we do, there must be some
thing more to cause this, than what is man
itest on the face. But, it is alleged tina
Mr. BLAIR has no authority from the Presi
dent to propose terms Of peace, that az
ii al frinrI ,f+ +I,a Ey,n,,+i,-n
whose views he is familiar, he only goes t.
ascertain wheather peace is feasible. The
rebel leaders understand this game of feel
ing them, and allow themselves to be fel
accordingly. Moreover what does Mr.
BLAIR know of the opinion Of the Prcsiden
on the subject Of peace, that is not known
to every intelligent man in the Union, ant
to the rebel leaders themselves The,
know that all that is asked of them is t
lay down their arms and submit to TIN
laws and they know too that they cal
come back in no other way. The people q
the free States, who have thus far borne u
against their hellish work, are not willing
lhdl liicN SnDulu Dc ldhcH DICK On an
other terms, aud the President knows this
What need then Of oycrtures If these az
made, the presumption at once will be, tina
there are conditions different from thos
which we have named, and which hav
: stood out 50 prominent among the friend
; Of the government, yet all must know ther
r are no conditions for the rebels, except sui
3 mission to the laws. We hope therefor,
that no such error as is indicated in til
report Of Mr. BIS mission, has been commi
: ted
Tue CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
The House Of Representatives at Wasl
. ing,on is engaged ill discussing the Con
stitutional Amendment providing for til
nNtincfi,, Of Sloror,r Tho lal,