The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1888-04-19
ROSCOE CONKLING.

ROSCOE CONKLING.
This eminent statesman and patriot
passed away on Wednesday morning in
the prime and vigor of life. No better
tribute could be paid to his memory than
the following resolution passed by the
New York senate during his illness:
"The senate of the state of New York
profoundly regrets the serious illness of
the Hon. Roscoe Conkling. His honesty
of public career, his loyalty of friendship
and nobility of character have endeared
him to the people of this state and nation
and placed him in the front rank among
the foremost men of his time.
Resolved. That the senate hereby ex-
presses its earnest solicitude for the dis
tinguished statesman and its hope for his
speedy recovery to health and usefulness.
Roscoe Conkling was born at Albany
October 80, 1929. He was the son of
Hon. Alfred Conkling, who was men,
Der of the Seventeenth congress from New
York, and who was appointed by John
Quincy Adams in 1925 Judge of the
Northern district of the state. He was
also minister to Mexico by the appoint
ment of President Fillmore. Roscoe re-
ceived his education in the common
schools and the academy of his neighbour
hood, after which he accompanied his
father to Auburn and Geneva, and then
under him commenced preparations for
the bar, which he continued three years.
In 1916 he entered the Office of Spencer &
KEENAN,, at Utica, the latter being the
gentleman who was afterwards to be his
colleague in the United States senate.
Mr.. Conkling was very brilliant young
man and was appointed the district at
torney of Oneida county not only before
his majority, but prior to his admission
to the bar, and commenced not only a
brilliant legal career, but for the next ten
years displayed his remarkable qualities
as manager in politics, becoming a
recognized leader of his party in New
York state. Before he was thirty years
of age he had won such triumphs as an
advocate that he established his pre-erni-
nence and opened the way to his future
career. He married Julia, sister of ex-
Gov. Horatio Seymour, and made his
home in Utica. In 1858 he was elected
mayor of that city, and in the fall of the
same year he was elected member OF
the thirty-sixth congress, taking his
seat in December, 1859. He was re-
turned two years later, but was de-
feated by Senator KEENAN, in 1862. In
64' he was again elected as he was in
1866, but before taking his seat in TIE
Thirty-ninth congress he was chosen
United States senator, and took his place
in that body March 4, 1867. He wasre-
elected in 1873 and again in 1879. He
had much to do with forming the recon
struction policy of the government, and
was conspicuous in framing and passing
the famous electoral commission act On
nearly all great questions his voice was
heard with marked attention. In the
campaign of 1876 he was at his best per-
haps, and was a power. At the republi-
can convention of 1880, Mr.. Conkling
was the leader of the Grant delegates,
marshaling his forces and holding them
steadily until the conflict ended in the
nomination of Gen. Garfield. After the
famous Mentor conference" Mr.. Conk-
ling did effective work for the ticket, car
rying New York and securing the election
of Garfield. March "a, 1881, President
Garfield sent to the senate the name of
Gen. Robertson for collector of the port
of New York. Robertson was politically
and personally opposed to Conkling, and
the senator opposed his confirmation for
several weeks. Upon Robertsons con-
firmation Conkllng and Platt resigned
their seats in the senate and sought a
vindication at the hands of the legisla-
ture of New York. Both were defeated,
and Conkling retired from political life.
Since then he had been actively engaged
in the practice of his profession.