The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-02-13
The Blair MissiOn-The Discord md
Distraction in ghting
Now the sole Business Of the south.
From the Richmond Enquirer Feb. =.

From the l(lChuOnu enquirer feD g
The whole thing turns out to be- "a
trick, deceptive not only of these people,
but also of the United States Congress
Mr. Seward originated tho mission of Mr.
Blair to deceive the people Of these states
into sending commissioners, and then
used the fact Of our sending commission
ers TO deceive the United States Congress
into the adoption of an amendment
abOlishing slavery in all the States. II
was a double trick of fraud and decep-
tiOn To accomplish an object IN which
he had failed before. Mr.. Blair was either
the knave OF dupe of Mr. Seward and
played the shameful part either in ignor-
ance of the designs of Seward, or he is "A
particlpatOr in the crime OF having de-
Ceived his own Congress. Everything
may be- fair in time Of war; but there are
some things that Oyerrcach the designs
and purposes Of their authors. Mr. Sew
ard might have secured this amendment
without deception and fraud; for no mat
ter how obtained, its adoption WAS inn
material and unimpOrtant to the people
of these states. But Nr Seward has
done us a service Before lac undertook
to use the high and holy purpose Of
peace-making to serve the low and mean
ends Of party, the people Of these states
were somewhat divided. A portion of
them believed that the enemy would yet
give them fair and honorable terms OF
peace, provided they agreed to recon
struct the Union; and under this
belief their was a growing party
which insisted on negotiation. An
honorable and manly course Oh the part
Of Mr Seward might have made the par.
ty dominant ia these States, and endsd
the war with rOcODstTuctlon. But MS
tricks and deception, his trif M with
the sacred cause Of peace, has undecelN-
ed the reconstTuciOnists and taught
them TO believe, with the rest OF their
fellow citizens, that faith, and truth.
and honor, are unknown TO the ushOTi-
ties of the enemy He has united the
people of these States in the same spirit
which animated them in 1861, and, hav-
ing destroyed the last hope Of peace, rec
| onciIed them 10 war and lighting il out.
1t is not impossible that the scene Of
discord and division that has distracted
the city, made gloomy and Respondent
| the people Of these States, and cast
cloud over the buoyant splrlt OF our army
may have encouraged Mr.. Seward to pro
pose his dishonorable terms. That the
! enemy should hasten 70 seize upon the
moment Of our destruction and division,
was not TO be wondered at; but that the
| Confederate authorities should continue
TO give that aid aud comfort 10 the en-
emy win greatly surprise and disgust
| this people We care not which is right
nor which is wrong-whether the Presi-
dent is obstinate or the Congress i'm
D. acticable-the want Of concert and
harmony i a disgrace alike to both.
This 10 the honest opinion Of the people.
They believe that General Johnston
should be restored, and they approve Of
what the Congress has done in this mat
/ ter; they desire new men in the cabinet,
and TO this extent they have witnessed
the Preside nt's reluctance - crafty theu
wishes with sorrow and dependency
To work and to fight Is now the duty
of the Legislators, and will be, we sim
cerely believe, the pleasure Of the people
The authorities have exhausted all
means Of an honorable peasS this pso.