The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-01-31

PEACE RtMoRs.-Francis P. Blair, ST.. an &C
count of whose visit to Richmond we published las
week after returning TO Washington and holding
consultation with Lincoln, has again visited Rich
mond. arriving in that city the early part of las
week. This looks like the commencement Of
negotiations for peace than anything that has YET
occurred. God grant that good to our country may
come of it.
Ii is understood that a committee Tor commission.
ers) appointed by Legislature in secret
session last week to proceed to Richmond on the
subject of peace. We suppose these commissioners
were appointed at the request of President Davis.
The Richmond papers received up to the time of
writing this Saturday have very little to say about
this second visit of Blair's The Dispatch of Wed
Ecsday remarks
Mr. F. P. Blair was still in the city last evening.
He arrived here Saturday evening. dined with the
President Sunday, and has had several interviews
with him since. What has transpired during these
interviews is positively not known, the President
having not made any communication to his
Cabinet on the subject"
BY the last news from the North we have the fol-
lowing item the subject:
"a letter received in Philadelphia says Blair hns
full authority from Lincoln to give safe conduct to
Washington for Peace Commissioners from Davis.
The National Inteigencer. in its announcement of
Biair's second visit to Richmond says, ave have
good reason, not TO say authority, for stating that
Blair goes to Richmond upon no hollow hearts mis-
sion but upon of substance. giving hope to the
patriotic that opportunity will be afforded to
statesmen to bring the present civil war to close
by negotiation"
We suggested last week that the yankee nation
was getting alarmed on the negro question, and we
have since extracts from northern papers G.
knowledgng that the proposition TO put negroes in
the southern armies had alarmed many persons in
Il
no hope for overthrowing "the rebellion"
The only thing we fear in regard to this matter is
that the untimey and inprudent propositions in this
State and Georgia, to call State Conventions take
action the peace question. may cause the yankee
authorities abandon all purpose to negotiate fair
ly and honorably, and renew their efforts to subju
gate
APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONERS
RICHMOND Jan. 2S.-Vice- President Stephens.
Senator Hunter of Virginia. and Judge Campbell of
Alabama, have been appointed Commissioners to
proceed to Washington, to confer with the auhori
ties Of the United States Government, the ques
ton of peace. They will leave to- morrow.
Who IS He I've presume everybody wants
to know who is Francis p. Blair, the man who hos
been visiting Richmond with propositions from
Washington in regard to peace He is Printer
and for number of years the authorized pub
Usher of the debates and proceedings of the old U.
S. Congress. Most people in this country have
heard of the firm of blair & Rives" Congressional
reporters and printers. Francis 2. Blair was the
leading member of the firm, and he it who once
made the remark that - the printers in his Office
had done more to make great men than all things
else combined "--neanng that the printers had COR
rccted and put i'll proper shape fhe speeches of
members of Congress- and it must be understood
sometimes very scan for if the speeches of
many public were printed just they de-
lvered written, the speakers reputation as a
smart man" would be blasted forever. Mr. Blair
is old man. his vigorous days having been
spent contemporaneouSly with jackson, Clay, Web
stcr, Calhoun, McDufie and Gales & Seaton. His
public career about ending when first began
acquire some knowledge of public affairs.
Although Blair made any pretensions to
craftsmanship or figured Hon. or His Excel
lency," yet he always exercised powerful influence
at Washington, especially with Democratic Admin
istratious in olden times If the result of present
movements should prove that he has had influence
enough with the Lincoln Administration to induce
1t TO make fair and honora terms for peace with
the Confederate authorities, his name should be
handed down to posterty a public benefactor.
The Printers, at least, should unite and erect
monument to his memory.
u The communication in tosday's paper 90 the
subject of Confederate Money" contains q great
deal of good sense. The writer is prominent et
of this State, and has had much experience in
public affairs. We hope to hear from him often.
TUE HOME GUARD.-The Home Guard troops
have all been dismissed and returned houe. The
men from this section reached here OF Monday
morning.
Much complaint is made that the Home Guard
organization has been ruined by the tinkering of
the present session of the Legislature which made
so many exemptions as to utterly destroy the power
or ability Of the organization to render service or
aid In times of invasion.
BURNT TO DEaTH-A negro woman, belonging
to Mr. VIM. Bryant in this town. badly burnt
Friday night last. by her clothes catching FIRE.
that she died the next night. Her clothing caught
fire while standing or lying before the fire place.
HORSE STEALING.-Two horses were stolen from
the stable of Major j. NJ. Potts, in Steel Greek. on
Saturday night last We learn that the horses were
tracked to the suburbs of this town and beyond
the Statcsvile road 1t would be well for all per-
to keep close watch on their stables in these
times. See advertisement - s~