The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-04-25
SOMERSET, PA. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 1888.

than civil came his way. and his fame
grew. He was always noted for his aver
sion to miscellaneous social Intercourse
and personal gossip, and the reserve with
which he marked the line between pub
lie life and private life In 1858 he mar
ried Jnlia Seymour, youngest sister Of
Horatio Seymour. This marriage was
not altogether pleasing TO the Seymour
family. but there was no mark cd opposi-
ton to il, and after time the Seymours
were among the most steadfast friends
Conkling had.
Shortly after his marriage Mr. Conk-
ling was elected Mayor of Utica, and at
the same election j. c. Hoyt and Charles
5 Wilson were tied for tine District Attor-
neyship. Neither Of the candidates was
qualified for the Office, therefore, and
Mr. Conkling. who was the incumbent
at the time, held over for the term,
serving as Mayor and District At
torney at the same time. In the fall OF
the same year he made his first attempt
to get into Congress. His friends advised
him earnestly not to % before the con-
vsntion as a candidate, for it was not be-
iieyed that he could get the nomination.
and defeat at that time would have
been extremely preiudicial to his chances
afterward. Nr. ConSling had faith in
his strength, however, and secured the
nomination and eventually the election.
He was not marked man in the Thirty
sixth Congress. He took little par. in the
debates Of the body and his only impor-
tant position was as member Of the
Committee on the District Of Columbia.
He was reelected in 1859, and in the ex-
ira session called by President Lincoln
he took a leading part lie was then
Chairman Of the Committee on the Dis
trict of Columbia, and of a special com
mittee appointed to framea bankruptcy
law.
Mr.. Conkling's attitude on the great
questions of the time was pronounced
against war, but not in favor Of abolition
In the bitter debates thatoccarred in the
Thirty-seyenth Congress he was the lead
er of the New York delegation and almost
the only Northern Representative who
used plain terms in speaking of the seces-
sion of the Southern States. His remar-
kable rhetoric WAS never more brilliantly
employed than in his response to the
fiery Southern Representatives. and in
DESOUSCISG SECESSION
as treason and rebellion. Nevertheless
Mr.. Conklius was in favor Of compro-
mise with the Southern States on the
slavery issue if thereby war might be
avoided. When war proved inevitable,
he was one of the most ardent support
ers Of the administration of President
Lincoln, and an uncompromising advo-
cate of a vigorous prosecution Of the con-
Aict He became bitterly opposed to
General Mcclellan and all the friends Of
that commander. lie was one of the
first to recognize General Grants fighting
qualities, and after the battle Of Fort
Donelson he proposed resolution Of
thanks, the first resolution Of the kind
passed by Congress in recognition Of
Grants services.
One of the most important features Of
NJ ConkliDg's early career in Congress
was the attitude he took on the famous
Legal Tender act of 1862 IT was one Of
the few occasions when he kicked over
the party traces and voted Independents
IL. The bill, inspired by Secretary Chase.
was drawn and promated by Mr.. Spauld
ding, of New York. Mr.. Conkling favor
ed the issue OF an interest bearing note,
and opposed the Spauldin- bill with
Thaddeus Stevens's amendment at every
stage of its passage. His speeches on that
subject were not long, and none of his
principal speeches were devoted TO fnan-
cial topics In this session of Congress
Conkling voted for the payment of inter
est on the national debt in coin.
Mr.. Conkling's desertion of his party in
the legal tender matter did not seriously
affect his standing in the organization,
but his political management during his
two terms in the House made him many
enemies in the Oneida district, and when
he ran for the Thirty-eighth Congress he
was defeated by Francis kiernan, his in
structor in law. For the two years which,
by reason of his defeat. he passed in pri-
vate life. Mr. Conkling practised law in
Utica and laid the wires for another
campaign. Nothing ever engaged his at
teRtion more earnestly than this prelimi-
nary canvass The WORK was well done,
and Mr. Conkling was elected, again run
ming In opposition to Mr. kiernan. He
entered the Thirty-ninth Congress man
with national reputation for brilliant
oratory and good party management. He
took very prominent part in reconstruc
ton legislation, through all of which be
was the embodiment of his party's poll
cy He was reelected to the House in
1866, but before Congress assembled he
was chosen successor 10 Judge Ira Harris
in the Senate He therefore resigned his
seat in the House and entered the Senate
on March 4, 1867. He was reelected in
1873, and again in 1879.
4 POWER IN POLITICS.
President Grants Southern policy was
to great degree directed by Mr.. Conk-
ling, and the administration found in
him its strongest and most faithful sup
porter. He helped to originate the civil
rights bill, and from the start advocated
such measures as tended to a speedy re-
sumption of specie payments.
Mr.. conkling had the honor of being
mentioned for the Presidential nomi-
nation by the Republican party as early
as the campaign of 1876. 4 respectable
body of delegates supported his name in
the convention that nominated HAYES.
In the following winter Mr. Conk-
ling took a leading part in the legislation
that resulted from the election. and his
unceasing work and powerful speeches
had much to DO with the establishment
ofthe Electoral Commission. by means
of which the Republican party retained
its control Of the Government.