Year: 1865

|


is fighting For, and on What


Terms It Will stop Fighting.


[From the Richmond Enquirer, January 2s.]


The second mission of Hon T p. Blair
to Richmond is ended, by the return OF
that gentleman to Washington yesterday
morning. That nothing has been accom-
plished towards an immediate peace we
feel ju-tifed in assuring our readers. The
enemy are willing TO permit us to dictate
; our own terms, provided only we will not
! dissolve the Union. Any guarantee for
slavery, any constitutional provision for
its protection and extension, full compen-
saton in greenbacks for all the negroes
that have been carried off during the war,
anything, everything that we can ask or
think will be freely granted, if only we
will consent to reunite with them. These
may not have been exactly Mr.. Blair's
terms, but they embrace the substance
of his mission, and do not in the least ex-
| aggerate the extremity to which the ene-
my are willing to concede us if we will
only return to the Union But these
terms cannot purchase our liberty. We
are not fighting for slavery, neither it's
protection nor extension. We are will
ing to give up slavery for our liberty. We
intend TO be independent and free or to be
exterminased. The enemy will nnder-
stand the earnestness of our people in due
time. AS yet they do not fully know US;
bnt they are learning fast. We are seek
ing place among the nations of earth,
believing it to be right secured to US by
our forefathers. Slavery has nothing
whatever to do With this war. We will
sweep the institution from before us the
moment it stands in the way of the ac-
complishment of our liberty. The enemy
might as well abandon the effort to bribs
Us with protection for slavery out of our
liberty. We admit that there are few
recreant wretches in these states who
would sell their liberty for their negroes !;
but our word for it, they are few and ut
terly contemplate. Resolutions may be
introduced into the Virginia legislature
looking to reconstruction, but they will be
rejected with unanimity which will for
ever damn the wretched traitor that has
thus sought to bring shame and disgrace
upon the fair name of the state When
they make their appearance il will be time
enough to speak of their authors and abet-
tors in their reasonable work. They will
be found to be men of no earthly influence
men who have maintained their places in
the Legislature because the army had ta-
ken into Its ranks all the men fit for such
places. Those who would now entertain
propositions of reconstruction and remain
with murders of our sons and brothers the
violators of our women, the wretches who
have burned our houses aud desolated our
fields, are either already purchased up or
have fixed their own price upon their trea-
son, and are satisfied they will obtain il.
1t would be most notifying to see any
such resolutions introduced, and we do.
most earnestly hope that good sense may
9 PAN'Nne enNi' OSi"S OAeISu' ne seCOno
mission of Mr.. Blair is the best evidence
that we can desire that our people have
only to be true to themselves and they will
eventually secure their freedom. When
MIR. Lincoln is willing to give up his love
for freeing negroes, and when he and his
people are willing to give constitutional
fnr fho c-1o
even to repeal all laws prohibiting its intro
duction into the free states, to pay for all
stolen negroes, there can be no better eyi-
dence that the enemy are beginning to un-
ders'and that the job is too big. Stand
firm now. We have gone through ths
fiery ordeal, W. h~re OuIy tU be-as faith
ful to our cause as were the sons and bro
theirs we now mourn, and we shall soun
rejoice in the eBjoyment of our liberty and
Independence. There is a compromise
that yet may open the way to peace. 1t
has been suggested that the United States
will acknowledge our independence, ,provi.
ded treaty of commerce and a league
offensive and defensive for the application
of the Monroe doctrine to all the states OF
North America can be agreed upon
When that proposition is made, it will be
time enough to discuss it, In the mean
time our readers may as well revolve the
subject in their minds, for it is not i'm
probable that it may become a living, tan
gible proposition before many months.