Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-01-11

Rebel View OF Ihe BIair Peace Mission
ION What Conditions Peace may be
Obtained NO more Unauthorized
Commissions.
From the Richmond Examiner, January 81
One would not be superstitious, but we
seem to perceive in the air taint of the
mephitic odors Of Washington. By he
pricking of your thumbs, you can tell when
something wicked this way comes. 1t is
not yet clear, but will probably soon bs
plain. enough, what particular piece of
Yankee villRiny and treachery Turks under
the unofficial visit of Blair senior, and
Blair junior, within our lines.
Ihe Tribune is the only one of the New
York papers which announces their depAr-
ture, and sffirms that they are TO make
certain communications from themselves
(for they represent nobody, to our author
tiles at Richmond, tending, perhaps, not
now nor soon, but sometime or other, to
the re-establishment Of peace. Here is an
exact repetition of the performance Of
| Kirke and Jaques, the two spies who were
entertained at our expense in the Spots
wood, were eloseted with the President
and afterward went home and published
all they saw and heard by way Of a cam
paign document for Lincoln's election.
Mr.. Davis had deep respect, it seems,
for the character Of those spies, and press
ed their hands with effusiOn. 1t is true
our Secretary of State was obliged TO make
an issue of verseity with the rogues, but
which version of the story, that of the
rogues or that of the Secretary, was most
generally believed by discerning public,
we have no means Of learning. In
one respect this pair differs from
Kirke and Jacques, whereas the latter
were quite unknown. The Blairs arc we'll
known, and what is known of them is most
decidedly unfavOrsble. Herein Jacques
and Kirke had the advantage. These
Messrs. Blair are, and have been, to sum
up in one word, pair of regular WASH
ington politicians, spectators in elections,
and jobbers in the publicmoney. Ii is i'm
possible 70 conceive sny two Yankees in
Rll the North more unlikely to have an
honest errand in coming to Richmond at
this day. Any given number of Hebrew
blockade runners would be much more well
come visitors, because they would at least
smugele in TO us certain useful commodi-
ties. It is not possible lust yet 10 say what
object Of disUnion and treason is to be
served by it but Of one thing we are very
sure. These men not being commissioners
authorized TO open negotiations between
governments are spies. viii the govern
ment authorize their visit, or has it
already done so? The question is
really not put vexstiously, nor with any
view TO embarrsss the Government; in
deed, the said Government will embarrass
itself very little by reason of anything we
can say on the subject. It it is not very
small matter that any Yankee novel-msker,
or Colonel, or newspaper editor, of Wash
ington lobby member, who may choose to
come here and look about him, and thrust
himself into the cabinet of the President
and heads of Departments, and take notes
all the while which may be serViceable to
his Government in their plan of conquer
ing US, can get full permission and carte
blanche so to do, 1t is no light matter by
any means. We have, all Of US, very
considerable interest in the successful pros
ecution of the present struggle. No less
than the interest of life or death for US
and ours. a deep interest also in the
maintainance OF the dignity ofthis country,
anu VI bu6 0pNeIuLuoub winch we nave
created to guard 1t. We desire to see our
Government bof course, receive commission
ers to treat Of peace, if they can be sent,
but not to see it frsternize with individual
enemies who may wander hither, or enter
tain spies as the honored guests Of the
confederacy. We can very well guess b.
iorehsnd what are to be the topics of die
course with the Blairs. Both sire and son,
in case they are granted an audience, they
have nothing TO propose, but will merely
give it as their private opinion that
ditional submission, abolition Of slavery,
destruction Of the confederate government,
army, and debt, might still save US from
utter annihilation. That Lincoln is full of
compassion and loving kindness, having no
pleasure in the death evan of rebels, and
that true repentance and amendment of
life may still move him to spare our lives,
or ct lesst some Of our lives not that they
can promise anything.