Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-04-25
BIOGRAPHICAL.


Roscoe Conkling was very nearly 59k years
old. h e was born in Albany, n. Y, October 80
1928 His father, Alfred Conkling, was a promi-
pent man. member of Congress and at one
in the schools in the neighborhood and at once
addressed himself 10 the study of the law. Be-
fore be was 80 he had been elected to Congress
and was conceded to be leader of his party in
New York. He married Horatio Seymour's sister
and made his home in Utica, where he was
elected mayor in 1858. At the expiration
two candidates for the office caused him
to hold over for another term. In November
1858, he was chosen as q Republican to Congress
and took his seat in that body at the beginning
Gifts session, in December, 1852 He re-elect-
ed in 1860, but in 1862 was defeated by Francis
Herman, over whom. however, he was elected in
1864 Mr.. COnkling's first important speech
in support of the Fourteenth Amendment to the
constitution. He vigorously attacked the gener-
alship of Mcclellan, opposed Spalding's legal
tender act and firmly upheld the government in
the prosecution of the war. Mr. Conkling was
reelected to the House in the fall of 1866, but in
January. 1867, before he took his seat, he was
elected United States senator to succeed Ira Har-
ris. He was reelected in 1873 and 1879.
In the Senate he was from the first a member
OF the judiciary committee and connected with
nearly all the leading committees, holding the
chairs OF those on commerce and revision of the
laws He was q Jealous supporter of President
Grants administration and largely directed its
general policy toward the South, advocating it
in public and by his personal influence He was
also instrumental in the passage of the civil
rights Dill.
In 1891 he became hostile to President Gar
field administration on question of patronage,
claiming with his colleague, Thomas c. Platt
the right to cont1ol the federal patronage in his
state. The details of that unfortunate quarrel
are still fresh in the public mind. The presi-
dent appointed a political opponent of Mr.. Conk-
ling to The cOllectOrship of the port of New York
and the latter opposed his confirmation claiming
that he should have been consulted in the
matter, and that the nomination was g.
violation of the pledges given to him by
the president. Mr.. Garfield, as soon as Mr.. Conk-
other nominations to New York Offices, leaving
Finding that he could not prevent the confrma-
seat in the Senate, as did his colleague, and re-
turned home to seek a vindication in the form of
a re- election. In this, however, after an excit-
ing canvass, they failed two other Republicans
being elected to fill the vacancies.
President Arthur offered Conkling seat on the
supreme BENCH but he declined it and after his
Withdrawal from politics in 1881, he devoted
himself to the practice of the law. In this he
was very successful and his income has been es
tmated to run between SIS, 900 and 500, 900.
In character Cunkling was essentially a leader
of men, He was imperious, even domlneering
in his attitude 10 those about bim, but his
honesty and the faithfulness of his life to his
convictions have never been questioned, and as
long as he was in the service of the state he
poor man. When he resumed the practice of
law he at once began to accumulate money. 1t
is said that when he resigned the senatorship in
1881 he borrowed So from q friend TO pay his
fare back to New York