The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-03-02
Hon. Roscoe Conkling

hon. ROSCOE COnkllu&.
The President has recently sent to the Sen
ate two important noniinations-that OF Hon.
Roscoe Conkling, of New York, to be Asso-
ciate Justice of the United States Supreme
Court and that of Hon. A. A. Sargent, of Cal
ifornia, to be Minister to Germany. The press
is ladened with comments favorable and I'M
favorable to these selecticns-the nomination
of Mr.. Conkling elIciting much the larger
portion of public attention because of the
prominence of the gentleman himself. We
cannot understand why it is the feeling and
prejudice of factions or of party, should so
far subordinate honest judgment and fair-deal-
ing as to do injustice to public man of such
eminent abilities as Mr.. Conkling is conceded
to possess. With most of his assailants his
life seems to hinge upon the events which re-
suited in his retiring from the Senate. His
large service to the country and the Republi-
can party in the past, and the abilities which
may yet be brought into exercise to promote
the public welfare, seem to be overlooked,
and the occasion of his nomination availed of
to crafty personal hostility, the manifesto
ton of which argues the absence of deliber-
ate consideration and Judicial judgment. If
all public men were judged only by single
misstep they had taken, and nothing of good
they had done placed to their credit, very
few would be found who would be acceptable
appointments to positions. OF honor and re-
sponsibility. Duringa long and distinguished
IL 10
the only important mistake Mr.. Conkling has
made was in resignlng his seat in the United
States Senate. The penalty of that he has
borne with dignity, and without word OF
complaint Instead of airing presumed griev-
ances before the country. he has devoted his
time. since the refusal of his State to endorse
his action on that occasion, to his private bu-
siness, entirely ignoring all public exhibitions
and disdaining pretexts to bring himself tc
public attention. He has with patient dig
nifty accepted the situation as one precipitated
by himselfor which came to him as possible re-
suit of his own action. No one has heard word
from HIM in censure OF his political enemies
nor has he obtruded himself in any way into
the political contests or projects which have
been considered since his retiring from the
Senate
Now, however, wher the President, withou,
testify his appreciation of the personal regard
he feels for him and the eminent abilities moi
even his bittereet enemies deny him, Tray
Blanch and Sweetheart are let loose upon
him, and with unseemly malignity, are seek
ing not only to prejudice the public against
him, but against the President for nominating
him. No miln living can boast more up
right public and private lite and no one who
respects his own good name, would dare al
lege that he would not bring the requisite
qualifications to the discharge of the duties
of the pos ition in question. 1t is going most
too far in the liberty allowed the press in
criticisinss public acts and men, to overstep the
limits of truth and justice to assail Mr.. Conk
ling, because his name has been brought be
fore the public in connection with high OF
fee without his seeking. If it is assumed
that Roscoe Conkling has run his politica
course, and that willing or not, he mus
gradually fade from public attention, there
never was more egregious error. He ii
neither politically dead nor moribund. II
the vigor of splendid manhood, intellectu
ally and physically, and with a force OF char
acter very few possess, his power will b.
1 felt, wherever he may choose to throw thu
weight of his influence, or direct his abilities
And this should not be forgotten, whether h
shall accept the rendered position or not.
That the respect due to an ex-senator, b.
uniform custom, was not extended to MI
Cenkling in his confirmation, without th
nomination being referred to a Committed
will do him less harm than it will the moye
of the reference. 1t was very small bus
ness for distinguished Senator to allow hi
personal resentment to master his better judg
ment, and expose weakness that lily be
comes the highest deliberatiye body in til
world. 1t only proves that Senators are hu
man like other people, and that some of ther
have good many of the frailties which al
tach to the race.