Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-04-26

In November, 1875 Mr.. Conkling was
chosen as "A republican to congress- and
took his seat at the beginning OF the first
session of that body in December, lo59-a
session noted for its long and bitter con
test over the speaker,hip. He was re-
elected in 1860. but in ls62 was defeated by
Francis Herman, over whom he was
elected in l,t1. Mr.. Conkling's first i'm.
portant speech was in support of the l4th
amendment TO the constitution. He
vigorously attacked tGe generalship OF
Mcclellan, opposed Spaulding's legal
tender act, and firmly uphe the govern
ment in n vigorous prosecution OF the
war.
Mr. Conkling was re elected to the house
in 1855 but in January. 1877, before taking
his seat, was chosen United States senator
to succeed Ira Harris, and reelected in
1873 and 1879 In the senate he was from
the first member of the judiciary com
mittee. and connected with nearly all the
leading committees, holding the chairs of
those on commerce and revision OF the
laws. Senator Conkling was jealous sup
porter of President Grants administration
and largely directed its general policy to-
wards the South, advocating il in public
and by hi4 personal influence. He was
also instrumental in the passage of the
civil rights bill, and favored the resump-
ton of specie payments, lie took prom
inent part in framing the electoral com
mission bill in 1877 and supported it by an
able speech. Mr. Conkling received e3
votes for the republican nomination for
president in the Cincinnati convention in
1879. In the Chicago convention he advo-
Gated the nomination of Gen. Grant for
third term.
In 1881 Senator Conkling became hostile
70 President Garfeld's administration on
a question of patronage, asserting, with
his colleague, Thomas &. Platt, tho right
to control federal patronage in his state.
The president having appointed politi-
cal opponent OF Mr. Conklipg to the col
lectorship of the port OF New York, the
latter oppo-ed his confirmation. Finding
that he could not prevent the confirma-
ton, Mr.. Conkling on May Is resigned his
senatorship, as did also his colleague, and
returned home to seek vindication in
the form of a re election. In this, how
ever, after an exciting canvass, they
failed. and two other republicans were
elected TO take their places. Mr.. COnklinG
Immediately resumed his law practice in
New York City.
In 1856 Mr.. Conkling was counsel for
| the state senate committee, appointed for
the purpose o. disclosing the fraud and
bribery in the grant of the Broadway
| horse railroad franchise by the board OF
aldermen in 1881. After the taking of tes
| timvny, lasting about three months, Mr..
| Conkling made an argument, together
| with Clarence A. Seward, which resulted
| in the repeal OF the Broadway railroad
| charter, drove the doodle aldermen
either to Canada or Sing Sing, and Jacob
Snarp TO MS grave clnce LuaI tlIne MI
| Conkling has added much TO his reputation
not only as a brilliant but remarkably
successful lawyer He had appeared In
majority OF the noteworthy cases tried in
the state of New York since his retire
ment from the senate.
Mr.. Conkling's healtl had been excel
| lent up to the time OF the recent great
| blizzard in New York. when. in returning
| to his home through the heavy drifts, he
nearly pe~ishel from cold and exhaustion
To that terrible journey is laid the disor
| der which culmina lated in his death.