Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-04-26
coxxI.Ne ~ ms PRIME

who knew more about law than many
an old practitioner. when, at seven
teen years of age he entered the office Of
Spencer L Herman at Utica. The latter gen
tleman, whose name is familiar to all who
read the papers, was to become the future
colleague OF the young law student in the
senate OF the United states Before he had
reached his majority, before he had been
admitted to the bar even. he received the
appointment of district attorney OF Oneida
COUNTY He was admitted TO the bar at
tweuty-one, and Immediately commenced
most brilliant career as a lawyer He also
began to ngnre prominently in the politics
OF his state He was leader by instinct, and
soon became one Ia fact Before ne was
thirty years of aye be had won great til
umphs as an advocate. become q recognized
leader OF his party in New York. and been
elected to the United States congress Hav-
ing married a sister of Ex-Gov. Seymour, he
made his home in the city of Utica, of which
he became mayor in 1855 He was defeated
IN y second contest for the mayoralty, bat
was elected 10 the Thirty-sixth congress.
taking his seat in December. 1859. The
fame which had gone before him, and the
bri liant powers which he possessed. enabled
him at once to assume position OF Influence
in the national legislature. He was re-
elected the following year. and entered the
special session called by President lincoln.
July 4. 1861, with his brother Frederick,
who was elected from New York city. In
hts candidacy for the Thirty eighth congress
be was defeated by Mr. Herman, in whose
Office he mad formerly been student. but
was again successful in 1864, and resumed
his seat in the Thirty ninth congress
HIS FORENSIC TRIUsIPHs
Ii was then that he began that grand series
of forensic triumphs winch have forced 3
passage into history, and entitled him 20
position in the forefront Of contemporary
orators The arraigument Of McCieilan's
generalship, his memorable speeches on the
questions of the war. his opposition to the
legal tender act, and his influence in direct
ing the policy OF the government toward the
South, have all served TO elevate him Ia
glory above his peers, and 10 establish bis
reputation beyond the reach of partisan
bitterness In the autumn Of 1866 be was
chosen United States senator, assuming his
duties on the All of March, 1867. He was
reelected in 1878, and again in 1873. Mr..
Conkling was the candidate OF the Republi-
cans % New York az the Cincinnati eonyen-
ton of 1876. and on the irst ballot re-
ceived al but one Of the seventy votes from
his state and thirty votes besides After the
sixth ballot the New York delegation retired
for consultation, and rs the contest then APP
pearei 20 be one between Blaine and Hayes
the New York vote was thrown almost sol
idly for the 0hioan, insuring his nomination.
In 1850 Mr.. Conkltng appeared in the ma
uonsl convention at Chicago as the CHAM
pion Of Gen. Grant. ana his speech Of NOM
nation IN which occurred the passage: @You
ask where our candidate halls from and the
/ al - from nm fsfaa has
celebrated IL was Mr.. Conkling, too. who
offered the resolution pledging every mem
Der or the convention to support the nom
inee, whoever that nominee may be-
and when three delegates voted mo-
is was Mr.. Conkiiuy who offered q
resolution expelling the three delegates In
the warm discussion which followed Gen.
Garfield played the part OF peaeemaker and
the incident gave him an opportunity to
make that favorable impression upon the
convention which largely promoted his
nomination four days later. In the diff
euitiss fousssfing the presidential election of
1876. Mr. Conkiing took a conspicuous part.
notably In the framing and passage OF the
electoral commission act
Perhaps the greatest mistake in life was
his resignation from the UGited States SEN
ate in 1850 fswas occasiened by what he
deemed the arbitrary and unjust conduct Of
President Garfield in insisting on the con-
frm2tiou OF Gen Robertson rs collector of
tnB port ut New 10fk I he puDiiG Sefe not
in svtapathy with his movement, and the
fair fame of NJ ConSIing suffered at the
hands Of popular resentment After retiring
10 private life he devoted himself 70 the
przctice OF law in New York city, and man
aged several important cases with great sue
cess
GoSKLIsG AND BLAINE
Mr. Conkiing's quarrel with Mr. Blaine,
arising from personalities used in deoaSs in
he house in 1865. has exercised remarkable
influence upon the fortunes. Of the two men
and upon the DO isical history OF their coun-
try. II was q strong elementfn the defeat of
Mr. Blaine in the Cincinnati convention of
1876 and again at Chicago in 1850. and
elected Mr.. Cleveland president. IL also led
indirectly TO the quarrel of ConkIing with
Garfield. the resignation OF Conkiing and
Platt the assassination OF Garheld. and the
fatal eFnbieterlnsDt OF the Republican fac
tions IN New YORK state Mr.. Blaine
did nor enter congress until 1858. or
four years after Mr. ConkIing. but in his
book he thus speaks Of him: The ablest
and most brilliant man of the New York
delegation was Roscoe Conkhnx. He had
beer elected TO the preceding congress wien
only twsnty-nfns years Of age, and had tx
hibited an elcquence and readiness ID de-
bate that at oues placed him IN the mont