Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-05-28


We take pleasure In publishing, this
morning, the speech dsliverSdinthe House
Of Representatives on the 2Qth inst upon
the proper treatment Of rObal States and
torritOrias BY Rsprossntatiys Riddle Of this
district. Il Is an able speech, and eon-
tains many new and powerful arguments,
It is not 50 lengthy but that every think
lngman may read and Judge Of 1t for him.
SELF and having, done this the author may
be willing to abide By bis deSsion as tots
weight and logic. It Is an exhaustive
speech, and one that win DO sostudy upon.
Il Is very modorats, Its arguments being
mainly directed 70 the treatment Of the
rebels, Is such, and not IN their oOnnec-
ton with slavery, Tho constitutional ar
Fumsnt against the right 70 seeede is clear
" and forcIbly set forth, while his uncOm-
promising ground that the President, Vice
President and Cabinet Of the traitor Gov
srnmenL With every men Who held a po-
sition in the American Army or Navy,
and who discarded it for the cause Oftrea-
sen, and others whom he enumerates,
should be made to suffer death for their
crimes, viii meet with = response in the
hearts Of ell who are truly loyal.
Mr. Riddls's opening paragraphs are Of
great beauty and full Of suggestive
thoughts, as he loOks forward to the close
Of the war and the restoration Of peace. 80
then refers to the wisdom, sagacity and
patriOtism which established our gcvern-
ment and says that If the men Of Con-
gress are equal 70 the high occasion, The
country win emerge from The war strong
or and purer. If not it win not be
through the fault Of the Constitution, nor
our soldiers, but the failure viii be upon
the men Of Congress Let them address
themselves to the shaping Of the desti9iess
Of the seeded States, and thus determine
our own. yzas ra.all sf.ul
How shan We deal with the rebels when
the close OF the war has put them in our
kands7 We must remember that those
people and States were American, and thai
that territory IS stiR 10 constitute part
Of our empire and yet We must punish the
rebels fully, Justly, firmly ana moreifully.
But It Is the voice Of towards or sympathy
for murderous traitors that now raises
feeble walls for mercy to the rebels. Mercy
nov is treason, but mercy when the rebel
lies helpless in cur hands may be de-
manded.
The rebels must betrested collectively il
States or severaliy as individuals. The
doctrine Of reducing the rebel States 70 Q
territorial condition can only be carried
into effect when all other 1ightful authOri
contemplated the vacation Of 4 States an'
made No. provision for such an emergency
But if such an exigshcy should arise, Con
gress must provide for the government 0
such territory. Mr.. Riddle then discusse
the question as to whether such an exi
gsncy has arisen, arguing that it has not
the States, as such, having existed prior (
the Constitution, and still exercising lsqel
State functions us they might under an!
circumstances lawfully exercise. Heelailui
that although the Constitution require
that most Of the State officials shall take al
oath to support II, yet the refusal to tax
such oath would not abolish thelOfice the,
defectively fI. ..s
The question Of the right OF = State I
ssesds is put In q new fOrm By 9Ir. Riddl,
The Constitution asserts that the peOpl
have q right to alter, change or amend thsi
government, and this was the basis Of Qs
first Revolution, and purports to be tn
authority for this one. Bat, as he view
It. the people Of a State may ehnngs thsi
own State government subject @ the limt
tatiOns Of the Constitution but they eanno
alter the ratiOnai government. The peopl
Of the whole nation alone can do that.
withdrawal Of one cr1moreL States Is
change Of the national government, an
therefore the States have no right to Sc
cede. Mr.. Riddles argument upon thi
point is strong one. 5vr
Upon the territorial doctrine he says tha
the people of a State act in tWc-fold cs
pacity-they are citizens Of the Unite
States and Of their own States althoug
they may declare themselves absOlved frol
their allegiance as the fsEner, jet 80. lon
as they perform the fanetiOnso Of the lattel
they cannot be considered az having dss
trOyed their State existence. The Cor
srnment has right 70 enter the soil {
South Carolina, establish its authority an
compel obedience but beyond that it car
not go.
Mr.. Riddle upholds the doctrine Of Stat
Rights as far as these do not Interfere wit
the rights Of the General Governments
And he protests against seven or eigE
States being wiped of the map to be mad
mere provinces Of the central gOvernmen
He pays a glowing and eloquent tribute
Ohio and to what she has risen from he
infancy. kdkd9 reI
asd - e r-a
He then proceeds to consider the moo
BY which tie rebels are to be punished
Our space fails us for an extended synol
sis Of his views upon thisPoint aud v
must refer our readers 70 the speech itsol
He would first rednce the mass to be pur
ished by the removal from them Of tho ",
men and children, the great mass Of minor
and the horde who have gone into the wa
IS the eOmmOnality viii always follow Il
leaders. Then to the eliie Of treason WI
remained he would mete out severe but j
dieious r,in;sI,r,Snt- . -1t4
The right and the duty to pass law