Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-02-06

Mr.. Dawes. Chairman of the Election ECommittee
apolocizinT for his assault on Mr.. Kelley and beg
ging that il might not prejudice the interests Vi n
State.
The plumber of persons on board the olocsaue
running steamer Leila, when she .iouhdereu AZ tn'
mouth of the Mcrscy, on the 9TH inst, was vaiousy
estimated at between thirty aud sixty, only eight Of
whom were known TO he saved
RESULT or BLAIR's PEACE MISSION.
The Washington correspondent of the New York
Times thus colnpses in his own way, the peace BUD
bic which, 'for ten days past, noated so brilliantly
before the gaze of men :"
Late last evening f. z. Blair, Sr., returned from
Richmond, and brought with HIM preciseiy "nat
sensible men expected-that Is, just ho'hlhg, ne
brought neither olive branch in his hand, feace
Commissioners under his cloak, nor treaty IN MS
uocket His mission as far Impractical result! are
concerned is in fact, Mr.. Blair expressed him-
self to-day, "a total failure"
That JEDI Davis desires peace, his own oft-re-
peated official announcements leave us no room 10
doubt; but we now know that as CONDITION precedent
IN any overture looking TO this end he demands,
first that negotiations shall be conducted as be-
tween two independent natonalities; and, second,
that pending such negotiations ALI armlstlee snail be-
proclaimed
Neither of these propositions, il need be said, can
be accepted by the Government. 70 yield either
would be, in fact, TO surrender the whole issue OF
the war There is not the slightest disposition on
the part of the Administration to do either the one
or the other.
The dominant tone of the Rebel chiefs is substan-
tally indicated in semi-Oiteal utterance published
in Jcfi Davis organ, at the very time Mr. Blair was
in Richmond. II is comprised in the distinct alter
native I" Independence or SUtJagdf,On" In such an
alternative there is no room tor hesitation our
part.
Turning aside therefore, from this dream of
peace which has for time beguied many, the
nation soberly addresses itself TO the work OF war;
through continued vigorous prosecution Of which
"a satisfactory peace alone he obtained The re-
helion will be ended most rebellions are ended,
bV internal disruption and collapse. Ii Will leave no
treaty IN bistory-no treaty in which the names OF
Jefferson Davis" and Abraham Lincoln" will
appear as arbtTatOrs Of peace.
Mr.. Blair's mission, which seems to be to blab
glibly of what he did and what he did not do, and
more especially of what was never said during his
visit here, is thus described by the Tribune:
Especial Despatch TO the n. Y. Tribune
WASHINGTON Jan, 1850 p. NM Blair has
returned from Richmond unaccompanied. The re-
suits of his errand summary stated by the best
informed here 10 be the ascertainment OF JEFF. d.
Wis Willingness TO negotiate for the benefit OF two
countries. lie had been sent to Richmond TO nego-
tate for the benefit Of one country.
Two theories-preVail as 10 Mr.. blair's missions.
The one that they were set foot for the needs
of Mr. LincOn's inaugural address, In which il Is
said that the President will declare to the world
that he has honestly and humanely endeayored to
persuade the rebels TO lay down their arms aud ter
inmate the war by an arrangement fall OF olemency
while preserving the national unity that his offers
and solicitations had been rejected and that no al
Tentative is left 10 him but vigorous prosecution
of the war to the total crushing out of the rebel
lion The other theory is that Mr.. Bairs impulses
in the direction OF peace, guiding his genius for po
htical arrangement, took him TO Richmond on an
nj modification which the President felt
might do good and could not do hurt, but which Mr..
Lincoln put restrictions on, to prevent its being
personally miscellaneous to himself or embarrassing
10 his administration. He limited Mr.. Blar's pow
crs in such q sense. II is said that he exceeded
these powers on his first mission that he rendered
concessions to the rebels and held out promises
which Mr.. Lincoln disapproyedOf when he got back,
and that 10 recall and get rid of these, Mr.. Blair
was sent TO Richmond second time,
Although Mr.. Rlair is one Of the closest mouthed
men in the world, he is represented 10y stock gam
hlers and professional newsmongers to have di-
vulsed the results Of his embassy, lie brings back
they saw two propositions from JEFF Davis. The
first to- agree TO peace on the basis OF recognition
The second, willingness to establish an armistce
for ninety days IN which to talk about negotiations
and peace.
WHAT THE HERALD SAYS or THE pssioS.
The Heraid, OF course is lgt TO b. optdone. by
the other Yankee papers in its speculations TO
the result of Mr.. Blair, "e.rand." 1t says the
following which, of course il declares to be "au-
thcntic information All the others are forgeries,
nothing but what the Herald says is true; everything
else is false
# is now definitely settled that his mission has
been an entire failure and that he is not to wear the
hOpprs Of great pacifcator. Mr.. Blair went to
Richmond, aS haS been stated In the HerGldS cor
respondence confident that he should be able TO in
augllrate negotiations whose ends would be the ter
miuation Of hostities and the restoration of the
Union He returns satisfied that at present there is
no hope OF peaceful solution of existing difficult
ties. lie found division and wrangng among the
Rebel leaders but they are distrustful of each
other that dare TO the responsibility of
making advances or agreeing to terms which would
lead TO peace. Davis is environed with enemies who
watch his every motion and are ready, at tho first
indication of disposition TO accede 70 any possible
terms OF settlement, TO spring upon and overwhelm
him. For this reason he could offer no terms, ex-
cept precedent recognition OF Commissioners as
representing the Confederate Government; or he
was willing to negotiate without actual recog-
nition provided armiStice of from thirty to ninety
days was granted. Neither of these propositions
could of course, receive moments consideration,
and so he was informed.
Finding all efforts go accommodate matters una
valiDg, Mr Blair has returnedto this city, and his
Iabors as peace maker are ended Nothing now
remains but 4 vigorous prosecution ofthe war until
the army of Lee is destroyed, and then peace will
come, not by negotiation but by the disintegration
OF the rebel government.
This little plan of the Herald is unquestionably a
good one, but then, it must be remembered that
there is great obstacle in its way, and that is moth
ing less than that army itself. Prosecute the war
TO destroy that army why it is nearly four year
that they have been trying it.