The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-01-20
NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE.
Commissioners on their Way to
Richmond. '
Peace Movement in the House OF
Representatives.

the attitude of informal Peace OOillnls-
sioners, was received by the country. With
dopbfs' Since the notable failure OF pre-
yious efforts to open negotiations upon the
subject of ending the war and restoring
peace, through diplomatic agencies, the
country has been 10th to credit any of the
"neace % minors that have from time to
time appeared in the newspapers. The re-
mort that the Messrs. Blair had gone to
Richmond on peace mission was, there
fore. thought of lightly, and when it was
announced that their proposed visit to the
rebel capital had been prevented by order
of "the government" no one was IN the
least disappointed. But it appears that
that announcement was not quite correct.
Mr.. Horace Greeley, who was in Washing
ion at the time, and who is doubtless in
some way connected with this new peace,
movement, telegraphed to his paper that
"Secretary Stanton did not obstruct norm
any manner interfere with Francis P.
Blair's proposed visit to Richmond, nor did
the President. So much is certain. Mr.;
Blair's failure to visit Richmond is at
tributable neither to Gen. Grant nor to
any member of our government. So much
is in Justice to them. Further and inter-
esting developments must await their prop
or time. .. .,r..... ~, ...... -.... -.
The "proper time " for the " further and
interesting Developments" it is presumed,
has not yet arrived, for it is now announced
that the obstacle, whatever it was, which
caused the peace commissioners to return
before passing Gen. Grants lines has been
removed, and that the gentlemen are now
on their way to, if they have not already
reached, the rebel capital. =. ...... a..
The nature of the obstacle Y&ich caused
them to turn back is limited at IN a dispatch
which, at the same time, reveals the au-
thority upon which the Messrs. Blair have
gone to Richmond. SIT is believed to be
a fact" says the dispatch, "that pass
for Mr.. F. P. Blair to 60 through our lines
was in the army and ready for him on the
occasion of his late visit within five hours
after the time when abandoning the hope
of getting it he had returned home" So,
the pass authorizing Mr.. Blair to visit
Richmond was issued by higher author
ity than Gen. Grant, that higher authority
being of couse the President, personally
or through his Secretary of War. Atlast
then, Mr.. Lincoln has done what the Post
for two years has been advising him to do
sent commissioners to Richmond to ten.
der peace on the basis Of the Union at
least we are to presume this il, the basis,
as to make second tender the Niagara
condition precedent woulf. be merely the
repetition Of very st'Ipid act.
That the mission or the Blairs to Rich
mond is in referep, CO to peace there can
be no doubt. y. r. Greeley has indirectly
put distinctly revealed this fact. In the
house OF representatives on on Thursday,
Inc supIe ,et came up and the following de-
oa1e &" .curred. aa..
) ne House resolved itself into COM
u .ittee of the whole on the state of the
Union and the Presidents annual mes-
sage, when Mr.. Creswell, of Maryland,
made speech against slavery, which he
characterized as an unmitigated evil to be
tolerated for time only. a-s,,{
Mr.. Cox, of Ohio, said he was touched
by the earnest appeal of the gentleman in
the name of God and humanity, to vote
for the amendment to abolish slavery. = y
The epithets of the campaign are re APP
piled, because we endeavOr to make peace.
Yet while the gentleman from Pennsyl-
vania is using the epithet of copperhead
and traitor, l see ON the other side of the
House the editor Of the Tribune, Mr..
Greeley, comforting aOiM members as to
measures of peace TIE editor, in his is
sue of yesterday, urges that attempts be
made for peace; at least as Christian
people we are bound to ascertain what
the rebels will do. .....-.-.-
Mr.. Stevens-I do not agree with Mr..
Greeley, though believe him to be a
patriot. in u.
Mr.. Cox inquired, why does not the gen.
tleman denounce Mr.. Greeley for saying
only what we have said !? He is frank and
Out.spoken, yet he dare not denounce the
elector of New York, who is to vote for
Mr.. Lincoln. | am not prepared to say
that Davis will agree to peace except on
the basis OF independence. But, as Mr..
Greeley says, there is no harm in trying,
A million men in the North believed that
an attempt would result in peace and
Union. Be civilized and Christian. and
seek to know authOritatively at least what
the South will do. No harm can come
from the trial. Send the gentleman. Mr..
Blair, and his son, who now sit in This
house, to confer, no doubt, on this matter.
to Richmond, orthe gentlemen from Penn.
sylvania himself.
Mr.. Stevens-They would not let me
come back. '
MIR. Ccx-The responsiveness of the
gentleman, his appeals to God and human
! ity could not be resisted. At least, make
! the trial fit fails, you will secure unity
+. in the North. One million seven hundred
and fifty thousand voters who agree with
rs, ask this trial, MIR. Greeley asks for it.
, will offer q resolution in his language,
and when in order, try to get vote on it.
The resolution is as follows:
Whereas, The country halls with manifesto
tons of patriotic joy and congratulations the
victories recently achieved BY our brave ar
mics; and, ,ehereas, the recognized object Of
the war. at least among civilized christion na-
t;,ps ia an honorable and satisfactory peace
and that, although we do not know that the
Insurgents are prepared to agree to any terms
Al