Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-04-18
heath ofMr. Conk,ing.

Hon. Roscoe Conklipg died at No. 9 West
Twenty fourth street, New York, at ten min
utes before two O'Clock this morning. His
end was peaceful and unaceompanied by
pain. His sorrowing wife and daughter
we're weeping at his aide. Mrs. Conk-
ling aud her daughter boih bore up
bravely, but the elder lady was the most
Frustrated. In death the lines about his
mouth and on his face were slightly drawn
and he was much emacia,ed, but still his
face seemed natural all the afternoon he
lev upon his bed in the rear of his apart
ments OF the Hoffman House annex. Very
little motion OF the tody was noticeable ex
cept slight movement of his arms, which
were under the covers. He lay upon his
rio hi side in way that would not irritate
the cut in the side of his head, which the
surgeon had made as last resort to save
his life.
His last sickness, dates from the day
of the great BLIZZARD. March II. when
Mr.. Conklng walked to his home on West
Twenty fourth street from his office in Wall
street. He delighted in telling the story OF
his struggle and how he nearly got lost in
snow drift in Union Square. For two weeks
or so thereafter he continued to work, but
on March 30th had to give up. On April
81 he called DR.. Agnew, and on April 9Th
the operation involving the cutting of the
mostod bone, the projection behind the LETT
ear, was resorted to, to let out the pus That
had accumulated in the honeycomb forma-
ton of the bone. Many believed that his
sickness dated from his terrible blizzard ex.
perience.
Roscoe Couking was born ct Albany, n.
V, October so, 1929, and was son of the
Hon. Alfred Conkling, who was member
Of the seventeenth Congress and at one time
minister to Mexico. He was admitted TO
the bar at 81 and Immediately commenced
most brilliant career as lawyer. Before
no was so years of age he had been elected
to the United States Congress. Having
married a sister of Horatio Seymour, he
| made his home in Utica, OF which he became
mayor in 1858 He was defeated in sec
ond contest fol- the mayorality. but was
elected to the thirty sixth Congress, taking
his seat in December, 1859. Mr.. Conkling
was reelected to the thirty seventh Con-
press, which met in 1861, and quickly took
rank rs ore of the orators of Congress. The
day that Congress convened in December,
1861, he created sensation by introducing
resolution requesting the Secretary OF War
ITO report to the House whether any meas
ures have been taken to ascertain who is re.
sponsible for the disastrous movement of our
troops at Balls Bluff" The debate which
followed brought him out in his FIRST loren.
sic effort. His speech on this occasion gave
him national fame 10 day. MIR. Conkling,
though one of the youngest members, gave
evidence of the possession of strong convic
ton and rare courage, as in his opposition
to the majority OF his party on the thir'
J teenth amendment compromise, and in his
vote against the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Virginia.
| In 1862 Mr.. Conkling was defeated for re
election, but was successful two years later,
end resumed his seat in the SSH Congress.
| His work daring the sessions stamped him
| one of the foremost deDater5 and statesmen
of the day. His speeches on questions of
the war, his opposition to the legal tender
act, and his efforts in behalf various meas.
ures for the reconstruction of the Southern
States are d part OF the history oil that mem
orable decade.
In 1866 Mr.. Conkling was elected to the
| US. Senate, and more than did justice to
the reputation which he had gained in the
House. He was strong in debate, and the
galleries were sure to be filed whenever be
was announced for speech. He was grad
ually assuming that leadership in the party
| in New York, which for ten years was al
most absolute, gaining full control of the
reins of power in 1871, when he overthrew
the Fenton Greeley faction in the State con.
venlion. This control was never broken Till
| after the resignation fiasco of 1881.
| Mr.. ConSling voted for the impeachment
of Andrew johnson. He did not favor the
electoral commission BILL hui he would pro-
badly have been chosen one of the three
senators 10 sit on that commission had there
not been mistrust of his views. Senator Ed
munds strongly urged his selection. but his
name was withdrawn and Senator Frelng
| huysen chosen instead, because it was re
ported to caucus that Mr.. Conkling had ex-
pressed the opinion that Hayes was entitled
| to but one of the votes from Oregon. 1t Is a
matter of common belief among the friends
of Mr.. Conkling that if he had been put
upon the commission Tilden and not Hayes
would have been declared elected President.
Mr.. Conkling was candidate for the re-
publican nomination for President at the
Cincinnati convention of 1876, and on the
| first ballot received SO votes. After the
sixth ballot, as the contest then appeared to
he one between Blaine and Hayes, the New
York vote was thrown almost soidly for
rho OhioaD, iusuring his nomination. In
1880 Mr. Conklng appeared in the national
convention at Chicago as the champion of
Gen. Grant 1t was ne who offered the res
oIution pledging every member OF the con-
vention to support the nominee, whoever
that nominee may be" and when three delo
gates voted mo" it was Mr.. Conkiing who
offered resolution expe'ling them.
Mr.. Conkling's quarrel with Mr. Blaine,
arising from personalities used in debate in
the House in 1865 was a strong element 10
the defeat of Mr.. Blaine in the Cincinnati
convention in 1876 and again at Chicago in
1884 1t also lead indirectly to the quarrel
of Conklng with Garfield. the resignation Of
Conkling and Platt, the assassination OF
Garfield and the fatal embitterment of the
republican factions in New York State
Mr. Conkling was unfortunate in his quarres |
His enemies he usually characterized in terms
which forever after forbade reconciliation. He |
uuarreed with Gov Cornell never forgiving him |