Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-03-19
RNTNG LEADER.
RsDAY Ni6RNTNG. MARCH 10.


We publish herewith the remarks Of
Hon. A. G. Riddle in the United States
House Of Representatives upon the indem-
nihcation bill. As viii be seen by Perusal,
other and kindred topics we're also dwelt
upon in the speech. As this is the last, SO
tits By many considered the best Of the
speeches Of our member, whose honorable
record for his term Of office is now made
up for the judgment Of his constituents
And here, incidentally we win say, as
only just tribute to an honorable, Patri-
otio and able public servant that Mr.. Rid
dies course in Congress has been such as
to win for him personal and political re-
spect from opponentsa as well as friends
Re has stood high among his contemporary
ConRressmen and has had an influence sec
ond to no new member. Ho has been found
upon the right side Of every question Of
public and local Importance, and his record
in the ayes and noes is one which he may
be content to leavetO history.
In this last speech Of Mr. Riddles, be
has carefully, though briefly, touched upon
many Of the leading questions Of the day.
Regarding the extraordinary powers dele
gated to the Executive, and the objection
that such action is unprecedented" he
asks, where are the precsdents for those
Precedents which are held up in any case.
Those very precedents were unprecedented
in their time; they were called out by some
extraordinary emergency in which the
delegated authorities took such steps as
we're found necessary to meet it. We are
in such an emergency and must meet it as
we can. The oft-repeated distinction be-
tween the Government and Administration,
he aptly compares to machine at rest and
the same machine in operation under its
GppOinted engineers.
The Democrats claim that they are op-
posed to the Administration, but in favor
Of the warm fact, that they are the only
true war party. How comes it then, asks
Mr. Riddle, that in all the legislation in
Congress and out of it, they have never
proposed a single measure for carrying
forward and helping the war, but have
spent time and breath in opposing those
plans which have been submitted ty the
Administration party? Why have they
never originated scheme for hurting the
rebels2 They profess to be in favor Ofthe
Government, and then oppose, with all
their might, the action of the Executive
arm Of the Government. WhatpatriOtism
is there in that2 They say they are Op-
posed to the "pOlicy Of the war /" and want
the way left open" for a reconciliation.
Wasn't that way left open long enough be-
fore the present policy was forced BY war
itself upon the Administration
The Democrats say that the elections Of
last fall was condemnation by the peO-
pie Of the Administration. After stating
that even according to that result there
was majority Of 80 900 against the DEM
Osrats in the free States, he says that
there were three reasons why the elections
should not be taken as the true sentiments
Of the whole people. l. There was no gen
eral discussion of the principles at stake
before the people 2. One fifth Of the vO-
ters we're absent from both the hearing
and decision Of the questions And g. This
absence indicates q great disturbing cause
which Of itself makes a fair Judgment
impossible. In the greatheart-thrObs with
which the armies and the welfare Of the
loved-ones therein were watched, there
was no room for thought of the ballot box.
Save the thinking few snd the designing
many, who cared for voing2 If those
elections showed the judgment Of the
nation, how isit thatno petitions have been
presented to Congress for the repeal Of the
Confscation act, the tax law, against
emancipation, or in favor Of establishing
slavery in the District?
In Ohio, the weakness of the magnanim-
ity Of the Republicans abandoned party
organisation, and thrust the State back
into hands from which the people had res
cued it. The Crittenden resolution was
made the State platform on which they put
Conservative candidates, and they were
beaten by the Democracy by ten thousand
votes. If the election in Ohio settled any
thing, it was the condemnation by the De-
mocracy Of the Crittenden resolution. But
there has been another election in Ohio.
It is the reeoil, the reaction in Ohio, that
reelected B. F. Wade to the Senate Of the
United States.
Mr.. Riddle then reviews the course Of
the Democrats as connected with the rebel
lion, and charges home upon them its in
cubation and sustenance in scathing
censure.
With parting sdmonitOn to Vallandig-
ham and all his fellows that they shall be
met before the people with facs and argu-
ment, Mr.. Riddle closes his able remarks,
which we trust will be widely read.