Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-04-20
ROSCOE C0NKLING.
LIFE SKETCH OF a MOST RE-
MARt<ABLE MAN

uo Began the study of the Law In the
| lenpue In tho Senate In After Years.
| ConkiIng's Inst Political Utteranoe-
From 1850 to 1881 Roscoe Con)SlinR was
almost all tho time in public life and
always growing He probably sustained
fewer defeats and made as fow mistakes
between his election as county attorney
and his retirement from the senate as any
( public man of his time, and WIS certainly
on the victorious side OF as many great
issues. His first great mistake was his
last, and when hc failed Of re election TO
the senate, UItcr his somewhat orratic
appeal to tho people" no retired COM
plctely from public life.
The Conklinc family is n talented ono.
Roscocs father, Alfred ConllinS was m
eminent lawyer, member of congress in
le2l-23, Judge Of The Unitod States dis
trct court for the Northern district of
Now Yorl; from 1928 to 1852, and minister
to Mexico for short term One son.
Frederick A. Conkling, won high honors
in the army, and served one term In con.
grcss, and daughter, Margaret (Mrs
Steclc), has some renown "a Gu Guthoress;
bat both uro to sorue extent obscured by
tho farno Of their brother Roscoe
He was born Oct. 30. 1899, at Albany.
received nn academic education and
studied law in his fathers Office. then en-
tered tho Office Of Francis herman, after
ward his colleague in congress- nnd in
1850 was elected dist riot rttorLey for
Oneida county. IN thu spring Of 1853 he
Was elected mayor Of Utica Ind the next
November was elected 10 congress, Re.
elected in 1859 he was defeated in 1862
by his late law colleague, Francis Herman.
but in 1864 and 1906 was again successful.
Before taking his scat the last time he
was chosen United States senator. took
bis seat in the upper house in 1861 and held
the place continuously till 1881 lis first
prominence in the house Of represent.
ativos was ruined by his vigorous opposi-
ton to tho legal tender act, and lis
unenorilg criticism of Cen McClollan's
management Of the army. He forced AT
inquiry into the causes Tor the disaster q:
i}All . BluN. and his speech in tho rosoln
ton calling for information from She wan
department was read with an in{ous,
interest by the people. His speech on thC
legal tender act, III connection with thai
OF Owen Lovejoy, exhausted the subjcc'
/ On the negative side. On both thos,
subjects lie was consistent to the end o
, his career; he was an ardent hard none,
man and an uncomproElising opponent
of Gen. Mcclellan and all his supporters
indeed, he WAS determined in all his posi-
tions. ardent in friendship, relentless il
opposition. His devotion to the Iniiitar,
: support of Gen. Grant and the p0litica
Z measures of President Grant never weak
: ened for day; he was the untiring odvo
cate, one might say the creator, of tn
third term movement" Of 1870, an'
broke with President Garfield in 1881 on
/. point of political rights directly growing
Jut Of the matter. In the colnbst n
p fought with releutless fury, and when de
ieuted he went down with colors flying
His opponents often complained thot n
was cruelly sarcastic; but that he hat
many attractive personal qualities is con
clusivcly proved by the lifo lore devotion
Of his friends and supporters.