The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-01-31
The End OF Blair's Pcnce Missions-NOys
for q Lift to General Grant.

The End OF Blnir's Peace nIissions-NOw
for u Lift to General Grant.
The venerable Francis p. Blair has closed
his labors at Richmond as a volunteer peace
maker, and the result is nothing. He reports
that dependency, gloom and confusion reign
at the rebel capital; that the rebel chiefs
recognize their cause to be in dreadful condi-
ton, that every one Of them is anxious for
peace on the best terms that can be obtained ;
but that, as oil are suspicious of each other,
off on the road to submission. He has dis
covered that JEFF. Davis is willing to enter
into negotiations for Southern independence,
and Davis has been informed that President
Lincoln il ready to treat upon the basis Of
tho submission of the rebellions States to the
Union; but all this we knew before. Some
over-enthusiastic gold gamblers in Wall street,
from Mr.. Blair's past associations and po-
litical identity with JET. Davis and his fellows,
were, perhaps, led to believe that the diplo-
mat Of Silver Spring would accomplish some
wonderful results in the way of inaugurating
the millennium; but he may now be perma-
nently set aside rs a peaccmalSer, with the
Rev. j. Wesley Greene, Colorado Jcwctt,
Greeley, Kiike and Jaquass. seis ,at
The only information of any practical value
brought back from Richmond by Mr.. Blair
is, that the rebel chiefs are resolved to fight it
out; and this, too, we knew before. Their cx-
pulsion from Richmond is still, as it has been
from the beginning, the first essential 10 peace.
To expel them we must dslodge and disperse
the veteran army of General Lee. That army
now possesses all there is Of unity and cohe-
sion in "the ccniederacy." With the demoli-
ton of that army the whole establishment Of
Davis, military and political, falls to
pieces. With this branch Of the business
accomplished, the simple plan Of pecaca-
ton proposed by General Sherman win
suffice. The people Of the rcbellious
States, State by State, or oil together in laying
down their arms, and in submitting to the su-
preme national authority of the United States,
will be "a red 20 the Union, and thero will BIO
peaco--a Substantial and enduring peace. No
bands OF peace commissioners, no negotiations,
no national conventions will be necessary to
secure this grand result The dislodgmcnt and
dispersion Of Lees army will practically setslo
the question, and nothing else win do it. .ai
In this common sense view Of the subject, we
are glad that Mr.. Blair, as . peacemaker, hos
turned over again the business Of his mission
into tho hands Of General Grant, to whom it
properly belongs. The negotiations Of Fort
Fisher will now come into play at Richmond.
The rebel leaders, no doubt, fully comprehend
the dangers Of their situation and the difficulties
Of resisting the military combinations closing
around them; but oil that can DO done by dcspe-
rate men, driven 70 the "last ditch" we may
safely assume will be done in their final strug-
gle for their last and most important stronghold
and their last great army. They win more
rigidly than ever gather up from their towns
and villages, highways and byways, their ab-
scntee soldiers and dcserters, and every white
man capable Of handling muskct and every
negro available for camp service. At the same
time, in small squads and desachments, rein
forcements will be hurried up to Lee by such
roads as may still be open to them from the
cotton States; and thus within month or two
Lees present army Of seventy thousand, may
be swellcd to o hundred thousand desperate
fighting men.
Against this body Of peace commissioners,
whatever may be the strength Of tho forces Of
General Grunt. we know that II he can be
speedily reinforced, to the extent Of even CITY
thousand men, we shall have immediate peace
as the result Of his decisive peace conference
With General Lee. Judging from the unproce
denied severity, North and South, Of this win
try season so far, II may be Month, or ever
two or three months, before the roads in South
ern Virginia will admit Of active campaigning
Within this interval, II tina loyal States pug