The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-04-28
ROSCOE C0NKLING.

R"srno Conk'iu" Wa born IN Albany
n. Y, October 30, 1923; received al
academic education, and studied law
tire" lenra under his Ia neI's IuitiOH.
la 1916 he entered the law office Ui
Francis Herman, ,uttGrwHrd his colleague
ia the senate, and IN 1000 became dis
iricl attorney ior Oneida county. lie
was admitted TO the bar i'll that year,
and soon became prominent both in law
and in politics. He was elected mayor
of Uiicn in 1868, and at The expiration
OF HI, first term u tic vote between th,
two candidates for the office caused
him to hOid over for another term. la
1885 h" was CHOSEN as Il republican TO
c"nErcSs, and took his seat III that
bout At he the beginning Of its first
session, IN December, l859-a session
noted tor its long and bitter contest
over the spcakcrShip. He was re
elected III 1860, but IN 1862 was defeated
by Francis Herman, over whom, how
ever, he WAS elected i'll 1864. His first
committee was that on the District OF
Columbia, Of which he was after arc
chairman. lie wa also member oi
the committee OF ways and means and
of the special reconstruction commit
tee OF fifteen Mr.. Conkiings S first i'm
purtant speech was III support of the
Fourteenth amendment TO the consIi
tatiom. He vigorously attacked tn"
generalship OF Mcclellan, opposed
Spaulding's legal tender act, and firmly
upheld the government in the prOsecu
ton o! the war. Mr.. Conkling Wa
re elected in the autumn of 1866, but
i'll January, 1867 before he took his seat
was chosen UDitcd States senator 10
succeed Ira Harris, and reelected in
1873 and 1879. In the senate he WAS
from the first q member Of the judiciary
committee, and connected with nearly
all the leading committees, holding the
| chair OF those on commerce and revision
of the laws. Senator COnklin9 was 4
Jealous supporter of President Grant :
administration and largely directed i!S
general policy toward the south,
advocating il III public and by his
personal Influence. He was also in
strumental in the passage OF the civil
rights bill, aud favored the resumption
OF specie payments. He took promi
nent part in framing the electoral
commission bill in 1877, and supported
il by an able speech, arguing that the
Hhtolipil VI lil'7
ton shoud be left to that body Itself
Mr.. COnkiing received % votes for the
republican nomination for president il
the Cincinnati convention of 1876 IL
the Chicago convention of 1880 hC
advocated the nomination of Genera
Grant tor third term. In 1881 ht
became hostile TO President Garfield
administration ON a question OF pat
rOnmg", claiming with his colleague, L
&. Ptatt, the right to control fedora
appointments III his stale. The presi.
dent having appointed political op-
pOnent OF Mr.. CunklIng to the cOlleC
iorship OF the port of New York, iht
latter opposed his confirmation, claim
ing that he should have been consultei
in The matter, and that the nomination
was violation of the pledges given tc
him by the president. Mr. Garfield, Il,
soon rs Mr.. COnkling had declared hi.
opposition, withdrew all other nomi
nations to New York offices, leavin.
the Objectionable one to be acted Oh b.
itself. Finding that he could not pre-.
vent the confirmation, Mr.. COnkiin@
on May l6, resigned bis senatUrship
a5 did also his colleague, and rctHrne,
home TO seek vindication in the f0rI
OF n reelection. In this, however
after an exciting canvass, they failed
two other republicans were chosen tt
till the vacant places and Mr.. Conklins
returned TO his law practice in New
York City. In 1885 6 he was conLso
OF the state senate Investigating com
mitce, appointed for the purpose q
disclosing the fraud and bribery in thu
grant OF the Broadway horse raiIroa,
franchise 10y the board of aldermen i,
1881. After the taking Of testimony
lasting ABOUT three months, Mr.. Conk
ling together with Clarence A. Seward
made an argument which resulted il
the repeal OF the Broadway railroac
charter.