New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-18

Adjourned ,,op
man House denying the first report and stating that
H. dead Su ai he had rallied and was stu alive
SKETCH OF MR.. COMBINES CAREER
Roscoe Conl1lng was born at Albany. N. y, In
Ases His father, Alfred Conbing, was an accom-
nllshed lawyer and held several prominent pubic
passtions He served q term as ctAuorney Oh
Montgomery County; he sat In the XVllth Congress
ns21'23); In 1925 he was appointed United States
Circuit Judge for the Northern District Of New-fork
ana In 1852 he received the Mission to Mexico The
Judge as he was commonly called was the father OF
three boys, Of whom, Frederick a., survives
Rococ The other, AurelIan, died many years ago
After receiving q good academica education Roscoe
without taking collegiate course, turned his at
tsption to the law. Removing from Albany 10 Urea
b entered the law Office Of Spencer Herman in 1896
and three years later began the practice of his pro
fsssion in Utica His life public official had an
early In the spring Of 1850, upon the resg'
nation of Calvert Comstock Governor Hunt appointed
him DlstrictAttorney OF Oneida County. The frag-
meat Of the term for which he was named ended with
tho year In 1858, having in the meantime divided his
attention between law and local politics lie was chosen
Mayor OF Utica He held until November, 1859. when
no resigned,
HIS CAREER AS LAwMAKER
Roscoe Conkling's career in National Lngislat-
urc dates from 1850. In that year hs entered the
historic XXXvIth Congress the representative Of
the Oneida District Among his fellow members OF
the New-YOrk delegation was Reuben f. Fenton with
whom later he nercely to struggle for party
leadership The sessions of this Congress were filed
with propositions looking to the preservation OF tho
Union and to its dismemberment II was golden
opportunity for a at once able and patriotic TO
make an impression. But Mr.. Conding may have felt
that It was becoming to his mex perence as egs-
lasor to be seen and hcard' At all events his
mark upon the session would seem TO have been slight
Mr. Sonkling returned TO the XxXVllth Congress,
of which 1t interesting to note his brother Fred
srick also q member On the 4th OF JULY 1901,
the XXXvIIth Congress met in extra session on the
memorable proclamation OF President Lincoln tcaliing
for $4,000 mem "to consider and determine such
measures as their wisdom the public safety and In
forest may seem to demand" During the extra and
the regular sessions of this Congress Mr. Conh'ng
made number Of vigorous speeches which were well
received, advanced IN influence and came to be recog-
possessing many of the qualities that enter
into leadership His voice and vote were employed
In strengthen the Union cause as represented primarily
BY Mr. Linooln's Administration noteworthy event
In this part Of Mr.. Conklings career, remarks re-
cent writer was I" his vote against the legal-tender
oct which passed by Congress in February, 1862
The bill inspired as Is very well known, by Sec
rotary Chase, and was drawn by Mr. spanldng,
colleague Of Mr.. Conkllng's from New-York Mr.
Conllng opposed the bill In some short speeches and
BY his vote This was the first time Mr.. Couhins
Ieft the party traces"
Mr.. Conking for a third consecutive term, but
was defeated, Francis Herman succeeding him in the
xxXvIIlth Congress. During tho two years of his
enforced retirement from public life Mr. Conkng devot
"a himself to law and polticsor perhaps politics and
Law would be q accurate statement. Al all
events he succeeded we'll in mending his fences
that, renewing the contest with Mr. Herman. he de-
fssted secured his election to the XXXIXth
Congress As a member Of this body he helped pass
the Cvn Rights bill over President JohDson's veto,
and played an efficient part In shaping the reconstruc
ton legislation the Homestead BILL and the other great
which designed to preserve the fruits of
tho war
THE CoNKLING. BLAINE UNCERTAINTIES.
II was In this CoDgress-iD April 1966-thst Mr.
ConklIng and Mr.. Blaine engaged In the acrimonious
controversy which led to their alienation from each
other. This historic quarrel had It's beginning in an
amendment which Mr. ConklIng moved TO a bill pro-
vdng for the reorganization Of the Army Of the United
States. The motion looked TO the abolition OF the
Provost Marshal Bureau and the consequent humilia-
ton Of Provost Marshal General James D. Fry.
In support of his motion Mr. Conkiing sharply criticised
General Fry's official conduct. any objection to
this section Isl he remarked, shat 1t creates I'M
necessary Office for undeserving public servant
Mr. Blaine, in behalf of the Military Committee, Of
which ho was member, replied. He defended the
section which Mr. Conkling proposed TO have struck
out, commended that there not in the American
army more honorable and high-toned officer than
General Fry, and referred to qusrrels which the Cen
erai had had with Mr. Conking "quarrels 1t is gen.
orally understood In which the gentleman fconlng)
came out second best at the War Department |
Conkng made haste toFe,oin that II General Fry is
for vindication upon the gentleman from
Maine (Blains he is TO be sommserated. certainly
few days later the debate renewed on An elabo
rate letter from General Fry, which Mr. Blaine caused
TO have read at the clerks desk The General an |
swered the charges which had been made by Mr. |
Conkling and declared that the differences between
Mr. conkiing and myself arose altogether from my |
unwillngness to crafty him In certain matters In
which he had 9 strong personal INTEREST," Al the |
elimination OF the heated discussion engcndered by
this letter, Mr. Blaine rose II the end OF ono Of Mr.
periods and addressed the chair. The
Bpsaker inquired Does the gentleman from New
York yield to tho gentleman from ManeT No SIR
was Mr. Conklings stern reply. do not wish TO have
anythins 10 DO With the member from Maine not
y much - . y1sld him the aoor.s few minutes