Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1884 — Blair as a Peacemaker. [ARTICLE]

Blair as a Peacemaker.

Mr. Francis P. Blair, in December, 1864, believing that he might pave the way toward peace by visiting Richmond, proposed to go there, and the President, while he declined to give the visit an official saw no reason for preventing it. Mr. Blair, accompanied by his son Montgomery, accordingly repaired to Gen. Grant’s headquarters, before Richmond, but was not permitted to proceed further, because the Secretary of War, believing no good could be effected by "his proposed conference with the Confederate chiefs, saw fit to intimate to Gen. Grant that he did not approve of Mr. Blair’s proceeding, nor believe that it would result in any good, which Gen.

Grant very naturally interpreted aa a hint from his immediate. superior not to allow Mr. Blair to pass his lines on his waiy to Richmond. Mr. Blair thereupon perforce, to Washington.—Ben: Perley Poore.