Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-02-01
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Ifno results have been achieved by the
recent mission Of Mr.. Blair to Richmond,
which promise immediate peace it has
done much in assuring the country that
our only course is to fight on until the
power Of the rebel army is overthrown.
There are Thousands of anxious patriots,
men whose hearts shrink naturally from
the efusion of blood, and who do not want
another drop shed in this fearful civil war,
unless it is absolutely necessary. This
class Of our citizens were anxious that the
informal visit of Mr.. Blair to Richmond
might show that the leaders of therebellion
had, at length, been convinced at least Of
the hopelessness, if not of the wickedness
of an attempt to continue the struggle.
They hoped that the series of disasters
which had fallen upon the Confederacy for
the last six months had carried conviction
and repentance to the hearts of the rebel
chiefs. They knew that great dissstisfac-
ton existed in the South that some states
were almost on the verge of revolution
against the tyranny OF Davis; that all
hope of foreign aid had been abandoned,
and ali their resources in men exhausted.
They therefore naturally concluded that
the time had probably come when the
mad, desperate struggle would be given up.
We believe that large portion of the
North were of this class. Weary of she'd
ding blood, taking no delight lit, but suf-
fering 1t only as the highest duty of a
Christian PATROL, their prayers went with
Mr.. Blair that he might succeed in schiev-
ing pscihcation that would be alike hon
arabic and satisfactory. We cannot but
look upon the efforts of Mr.. Blair, there
fore, as prompted by large hearted pat
riotism and good sense, which will be ap-
precisted by his countrymen. To have
secured peace would have brought upon
him the greatest honors which q grateful
country could bestow. For him 70 have
ended this terrible war, would have added
another glory TO life already crowned
with many useful and honorable works.
His mission, however, has proved the re-
verse. It has established the fact that no
peace can yet be attained which does not
include, as one of its conditions, the recog-
milton of the independence of the Confed-
crate States. This, the men who have
stood by the Government from the day
when war was insugursted at Charleston
down to this hour, who have given their
sons and brothers and their substance to
the righteous cause, cannot grant Too
much has already been sacrificed to admit
of base abandonment of the purpose we
cherish TO maintain, intact, the integrity
Of the nation. Too many of the bravest
and best souls of the Republic have been
bresthed out in the fierce flames Of war,
for us to turn back from our heroic aims
The war is therefore a NECESSITY, fearful
it may be, but imposed upon rs by all that
is manly and all that is patriotic. It must
go on. The naughty power of the rebel
lion hasnot yet been hurled from its throne.
The men who are yet hedged about by
rebel army, like the proud spirits that fell
from Heaven, are bent on holding on until
compelled to cease from their hellilh work.
Mr.. Blair has prov ed this. No man could
probably ascertain the intentions of Davis
better than did Mr.. Blair. No man could
exert greater personal influence, than did
be, at Richmond. He fsiled. All hope of
an end to the war, by that process, is there
fore lost. The only alternative left, there
fore, is the vigorous prosecution ofthe war.
Let our armies be filed up. Let the thun-
dering wheels of bloody war roll on, until
ground to powder beneath their fery
course, the rebellion shall forever cease.
The rebels ask independence; our answer
is, War, unrelenting War.