The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-10-03
speech OF Representative A @. Riddle
before the Congressional Convention.

that requires the defeated to return thanks
such as they are, for his misfortune. | am
called before you. ! stand here, as have
ever stood before the world, in the purity of
an unsullled manhood. say to YOU. with
oil respect, that this result of YOUR labors.
though not so intended, feel has done me
o bitter injustice.
sough: this high once from no unworthy
motives, and won 1t by no dishonorablo
means. Its hoDors have been meekly and
worthily worn. My hand is unstained. and
my soul is unpollutcd. On tho floor of Con.
gress ! occupied no obscure place. was
prominently identified with oil the leading
measures Of the recent sessions. and il was
because | was so identified with those me
ures, that sought reelection, l made
those issues fairly before your and my con-
sutuents, and gave them a direct opportu.
nity to pass upon those great measures.
have voted for every recommendation
OF the President, and sustained all his poliov.
voted to sanction those extraordinary acts
OF his, which otherwise found no warran,
save in the necessity of the times-to take
from individuals and corporations all the
telegraphs in tho whole country-to wrench
from tho hands and control of their owners
all the railroad on the continents. and by Tho
exercise Of sovereign power place them in
the hands of the Executive.
Since my return fifty thousand people
can testify how have sustained the Pres-
dent In every speech | have reproved
those who cayil and find fault with him and
bis course, and | have every where predicted
tho course which the President has lust in. .
augurated.
And now tho wires bring the proclamation
OF general emancipation, to which the op.
pressed and waiting hoarts of the people
riso up as to the voice Of Coda message
that realizes the visions of the old dreamers
of freedom. and fulflls the prophecies OF
the old prophets of liberty.
IL is because | have thus sustained the
President that have sought reelection.
aud thus have also put him and bis meas
ures and policy fairly in issue before our
people.
Was it not just and proper that these
measures of Congress and of the President t
should be directly passed upon: Was it
not important that this district, at this fear
full juncture, should say directly to tho
country, the President and the rebels
whethor il approved or condemned them
And yet in this Convention these measures
nine votos, and il the person of my col
hundred and fifty-two.
know you don't intend this. but who
can explain it outside of the District, or
within it other How must the President
and his advisers and the whole outside world
understand 1t
Gentlemen, this is perhaps .he only time
| NAV ever meet this constituency. from
which miss the old familiar faces of one
entire county. and it is because their places
are filled by honored strangers, that / must
say a word further. You know have been
and am hunted and pursued rs no man in
this State ever before was. That a press.
without cause or excuse. attacked me before
took my seat, and with q steady, tireess
and persistent maligniry, has poured its
columns upon me to this moment, and see
its conductors here ready to tear and man
gle what now say. The one tireess tale 10
that, on a memorable occasion, / was guilty
of Infamous and cruel treatment of Ameri.
can soldiers. In the faces Of my calumnia.
tors pronounce this a mendacious lie.
say to you, and | charge you to boar
this to your constituents. that no act OF
mine, no incident of my life, no word that
ever spoke or wrote, can be 80 tortured as
to sustain this charge, and l defy mortal
MN to produce witness that can say that
ever conducted myself toward a soldier,
save with the utmost kindness and consid.
GRAFTON.
l say so much because have never been
among you with the story of The wrongs and
insults so causelessly thrown upon me. l
hayo not teased the public ear, or sought to
abstract its attention from its grave concerns
to myself. Whether this war is to continue
rests with my enemies. IT so, and | con.
Iinue to observe the same line of modera.
ton, they know that am governed BY no
of personal apprehension.
To my friends-the kind, warm, true
friends who know me, and who have so gen.
arously stood by me through these evil re.
ports; for all the kind words and penuo
for many. many messages O:
confidence and trust; for the grasps of as
surance, and from very many rough and
hardened hands, ! may not hore express my
gratitude. All these things have become a
part of my existence
But for the noble and manly support
which have received 30 steadily in this
body, iG is fitting that hero express my OBJ
legations in terms as ample and warm as my
ability permits. In my public record, and
private life, must thoy look for some slight
excuse for this manly conduct; and trust
no future acts of mine will bring them re-
grets or reproach.
Parden me for these personal remarks
the ocsasion forces them from me and be.
ieve that the frank expression OF my dissent
from the result of your labors, is uttered
without the least personal disrespecT, and
irust is fitting for me to say.
After all, is the presence of the great
calamity that threatens 10 oVerwhelm us,
and that SO dwarfs the greatest among US,
what are we, and our little griefs, and petty
ambitions, and disappointments, aud the
nan who cannot, or who will not forget |
himself for a great cause, deserves to be !
forgotten by all others.
Let US remember that the demands made !
upon US can be answered only By an entire
devotion o! all We arc and have to our coun-
ry; and that its needs open ample fields
or our united courage and devotion.
AS for myself,gentIemen, notwithstanding
his condemnation At your hands, shall go
orward to finish, as began, my official ca
eer; and at its close the trust will be trans
nitted to my successor, pure and unsullied
ls the spirit of the Constitution requires.
l will recall no word that have spoken. |
will change no vote that have given, will
lndo act that have officially performed. |
My speech shall be intensified, and my action