Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-15
Career in the House.

While IN the House of Representatives
Mr. Riddle distinguished himself as being
the first man to advocate the arming of the
slaves and is one of the first and most etii
cient to propose and advocate the abolition
of slavery in the District Of Columbia. He
was one of only two men in the House, the
other being John F. Potter of Wisconsin,
who voted against the Crittenden resolu-
ton, which had come from the Senate to
the House, as specifically declaring the OBJ
jectS Of the war as In no event involving
the subversion of slavery. His first distinc
ton In the House, however, was his
pousing the cause of a Democrat in a con-
tested election case from Philadelphia, and
notwithstanding the overwhelming Repub-
lican majority the democrat retained his
seat. This and the incident Of his eulogy
OF Senator Pearce of Maryland were two OF
the most Characterised acts of his con-
gressional career, as he and Pearce, who
lived at the same clearinghouse, at first
contracted a violent enmty, which ulti-
mately dissolved and became a close friend
ship. and it was at the request of the Mary
land delegation that Mr.. Riddle delivered
the eulogy of his former enemy.
An abrupt enl to Mr.. Riddles congress
sonal career was brought about by the
battle of Bull Run. which battle he wit
messed in company, among others, with.
Senators Wade and Zachariah Chandler
Mr.. Riddle so incensed by the panic OF
the federal troops that he wrote a gra phic
but severe letter to his wife describing the
battle, and this having, through the indis-
erection of friends, found it's way into the
Cleveland newspapers, was perverted to
Mr.. Riddles political undoing, but Mr.
Lincoln Immediately sent him as consul to
Matanzas, Cuba ostensibly on a consular
mission but in reality as an agent of the
government to keep watch upon the move
ments of the ships of foreign countries of
suspected hostility or lukewarmness toward
the United States.
1t was after the discharge of his duties
at Matanzas that he came to Washington
and entered upon the practice of the law
Throughout his entire political life he was
noted for his virile and striking addresses,
and as he was a man Of unhesitating moral
courage his utterances spoke only his
convictions. which were of the most in
tense, and. as then thought, radical kind
Such was his address at Cleveland on the
execution of John Brown. which after
wards was read in the House of Represen-
tatives b. the request of 8. S. Cox, and
such also was the address delivered by him
at the formation of the free soil party
Something of his caustic, penetrating and
unequivocal characteristics he carried into
the practice of his profession. as is well
remembered even by many who knew him
only in Washington life.
At the Local Bar.
In the course of his practice he was a
participant in many famous cases, having
tried some forty murder cases. in but one
of which he wholly failed, and having also
oeeh upoh oiie slue oE tHe otHer ol nearly
every important case arising in his Ohio
home. On coming to Washington and find
ing himself one Of the few republican law
yers, II not the only one, In the city, he
was much sought after to assist the resi-
dent bar before the then newly formed
Supreme Court of the District Of Columbia.
which. as Is remembered. was formed ex-
clusively OF republicans In displacement
of the old Circuit Court Of the District Of
Columbia Moreover, because of his polit-
ical affiliations he was often called upon to
defend officers and others brought to trial
before the military courts which were so
frequent during the civil war. and as he
enjoyed the confidence Of Mr.. Stanton in