Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-04-26
The Great Lawyer, Great Orator, And
Great s atesman, Has Bowed Be
fore the Reaper, Death
His Last Hours Painless And Sur
rounded by Family and Friends
At 1850 On Wednesday Morning
He Brcathed His Last.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
4 sketch of the Life of the Deceased States
man.

read with interest:
Roscoe Conklug was born in Albany,
n. Y. Oct, 30, 1929. His father, Albert
Conkling, was representative in the
Seventeenth Congress, and afterwards
filed the position OF United States Judge
tor the Northern District OF New York
and Minister TO Mexico. Roscoe received
a common school and academic educa.
Won. Removing to Auburn and Geneva
with mis- father, no studied law for three
years under his tuition. In 1876 ne enter
ed the law Office of Spencer q Herman in
Utica, and in 1S49 was appointed by
Hamilton Fish District Attorney OF
Oneida County, several months before he
attained his majority. On the day he
was 81 he was admitted 10 the bar Dur
ing the next decade he disclosed rare
qualities OF management and became
leader IN local politics. In law he ranked
with the first of the profession as an adj
vOsate. The trium phs be achieved at
the bar, and which we're his passports to
public preference, were gained before he
reached the age of %. After that
he accepted bat few cases, but In
these his success was marked. he
married Julia Seymour, sister OF ex-Gov-
ernor HotatiO Seymour. Ia 1858 he was
elected mayor OF Utica, and in November
of the same year he was elected a Repre-
sentative in the Thirty-eIxth Congress,
took his seat in that body at the begin
ming Of its first session, in Decem Der,
1859, a ser sion noted for its long and bit
ter contest over the Speakership. He was
reelected in 1850 his brother Frederick
A. Conkling, being elected at the same
time for New York City district. The
two brothers entered the Thirty seventh
Congress at the opening of the special
session convened by President Lincoln.
July 4, 1861. In this Congress Roscoe
Conkling was chairman Of the Committee
on the District Of Columbia, and also of a
special committee appointed 10 frame a
bankrupt law. A candidate for re-elec
ton to the Thirty eight Congress, he was
defeated by his old law partner, Francis
Herman. In 1864 Conkling defeated him,
serving on the Committees on Ways and
Means and on Reconstruction. He star
tied the Nation by an attack on the tao
tics of General Mcclellan, and gave the
keynote for earnestuess in all future war
legislation st time when hesitancy and
vacillation prevailed. Ia February, 1862,
he opposed Mr.. SpauldiDg's legal tender
act by speech and vote, sustaining, coh-
trary to the prevailing party policy, Mr.
Horizons amendment providing for the
issue of all Interest bearing notes,
and against the final passage OF
the bill rs amended 10y Thaddeus
Stevens. IL the same session he
voted Tor the payment of interest
on the debt in coin. Mr.. Conkling
Was firm but up holder to all leg
islation tending TO uphold the hands the
administration in prosecuting the war
for the suppression of the rebellion. In
the fall of 1866 he was elected 10 the
Fortieth Congress, but before that Con
gress met he was elected to succeed
Judge ira Harris as United States Sen
ator from the State of New York. he
took his seat in the Senate March 4, 1867,
and was re elected twice, his second term
beginning March T. 1878, and his third
term March f. 1879. He was Jealous
supporter of General Grants admsnistra-
ton. The general policy of that admins
tration toward the South was largely
directed by Senator Conkling, who ad-
yocated it with all the powers of his elO-
quence and all the potency of his per
sunal and political influence He vas
also largely instrumental in the incep-
ton aud passage of the civil rights bill
In 1876 he took prominent part in
forming the act for the Electoral Com
mission, and in carry ing it through. In
1880 Senator Conkling led the Grant
forces at the Republican nominating
convention in Chicago, and made the
speech pGtting him in nomination. Soon
after the election of President Garfield he
differed from him on questions of public
-olicy, and in 1881 he resigned his seat
in the Senate and applied TO the Legisla-
ture of New York for Endorsement and re-
election. He failed in this, and retired
from politics, resuming the active prac-
tee of the law to redeem his fortunes,
which were sadly shattered. He speedily
assumed the foremost position at the
New York bar, and was engaged In a
number Of prominent and reDumeratiye
cases. His last visit to Chicago was in
July, 1887, when he argued a patent case
IN the United States Court, aud received
much attention, being rendered a recep-
by the Grant Club OF late years he had
been repeatedly solicited to re-enter poll
tics, and his recent replies had indicated
that he might reconsider the resolution
he made in 1881. Mr.. Conkling had =
narrow escape from death in the recent
blizzard in New York, being almost over
come one night in the drifts and the
binding snow, and only mis- magnificent
physique carried him through. Although
his hair and beard had whiteped of late
years, Mr.. COnkling still retained his fine
physical proportions, which would have
made him a marked man in any assemb-
lage.
French radicals are beginning to gIowl
over the magnihcenee of the French bise-
ops. Investigation has shown that the
bishops OF Coutauces has 80 chambers
for his personal use in his palace, "a for
his assistants, and "a kitchens, all named
With chefs. The bishop of Augers has s
I Kitchens in his palace, and about GO rooms
/ for himself and assistants. The bishop
Of Bourges has 10 sumptious salons be
sides his private apartments. The rad
( Gals want their salaries stopped,
Story Of Berry.
1 Senator Berry, OF Arkansas, tells his
/ friends of q trial for assault in his STATE,
4 in the course OF which a club, rail, an
Ak handle knife and shotgun were
exhibited as "the instruments with which