Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-04-26


he had reached his maiority-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 twenty-one ard inn
mediately commenced a most brilliant career
as lawyer. He also began to figure prom
inently in the politics of his State. He
leader by instinct, and soon became one IN Fact.
Before he was thirty years of age, he had won
great triumphs advocate. become one OF
the recognized leaders of his party in New
York, and been elected to the United States
Congress Having married . sister of Horatia
Seymour he made his home in the city OF
Utica, of which he became mayor in 1883. He
was defeated in a second contest for the mayor
atty but was elected to the Thirty-sixth Con-
gress, taking his seat in December, 1859.
The first vote of Importance which Mr.. Conk-
ling cast was in opposition to the proposed
TIL rteenth amendment to the Constitution
which provided that mo amendment shall DE
made to the Constitution which shall give Con-
gress the power to abolish or interfere with
slavery in the States.
Mr.. Conkling was reelected to the Thirty
seventh Congress, which met in 1861. The day
that Congress convened in December, 1861. he
created sensation by introducing resolution
requesting the Secretary of War ITO re-
port to the House whether any. and ii
any, what measures have been taken to
ascertain who is responsible for the
disastrous movement of troops
at Dali bluH Inc secretary OF w ar, IN an
swer to MIR. Conk1ing'S resolution, stated that
Malor-General Mcclellan, commanding the
army, lis of the opinion that an inquiry on the
subject of the resolution would at this time be
injurious to the public service Mr.. Conkling
was not satisfied. and Immediately offered an
other resolution looking to the same end. The
debate which followed brought him out in his
first forensic effort. His speech this occasion
gave him National fame in a day
In 1862 Mr.. Conkling was d sfeated for
reelection in the Utica district by
his law associate, Francis Herman,
but he was successful two years later, and re.
sumed his seat in the Thirty-ninth Congress.
His work during the sessions of this Congress
stamped him one of the foremost debaters and
statesmen of the day.
In 1866 Mr.. Conkling was elected to the United
States Senate. To write his history in that
body would be to write history of the Iegisla-
ton and great debates from 1867 to 1881, for he
was twice reelected a Senator He more than
did justice to the reputation which he had gained
in the House Mr.. Conkling voted for the I'm.
parchment of Andrew Johnson. He did not favor
the Electoral Commission bill, but he would
probably have been chosen one of the three
Senators to sit on that commission had there
not been mlstrust of his views. Senator Ed
munds wanted Mr. Conlxl1ng en- the commits
son and strongly urged his selection, but his
name was withdrawn and Senator Freling-
huysen chosen instead, because it was reported
to the senatorial caucus that Mr.. Conkling had
expressed the opinion that Hayes was entitled
to but one of the votes from Oregon It 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.. Conk1ing was the candidate of the Re-
publicans of New Y ork at the Cincinnati con.
vention of 1876, and the first ballot re-
ceived all 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 the contest then ap-
peared to be one between Blaine and Hayes the
New York vote was thrown almost solidly for
the Ohioan. insuring his nomination.
In 1880 Mr. Conllling appeared in the National
convention at Chicago as the champion Of
General Grant, and his speech of nomination.
IN which occurred the passage: ''You ask where
gu candidate halls from, and the answer is,
from Appomattox,' has become celebrated. 1t
was Mr.. Conkling, too. who offered the resolu-
ton pledging every member of the convention
to support the nominee, whoever that nominee
may be-" and when three delege ties voted
''No", it was Mr.. Conkling who offered resolu-
ton expeling the three delegates. In the warm
discussion which followed General Garfield
came to the front.
Mr.. Conkling's quarrel with Mr. Blaine aris-
ing from personalities used in debate in the
House in 1865, has exercised remarkable in
fluence upon the fortunes of the two men and
upon the political history of their country.
of Mr.. Blaine in the Cincinnati convention of
1876 and again at Chicago in 1880. It also led
indirectly to the quarrel of Conlzing with Gar
field, the resignation of Conkling and Platt, the
assassination of Garfield, and the fatal embt-
terment of the Repub can factions in New
York State These incidents have become a
part OF the history of the country.
Mr. Conkling has been unfortunate in his
quarrels. He quarreled with Blaine and Gar
field, and with the latter just at time when
quarrels with his Iieutenants made it impos-
sible for him to receive the vindication at the
hands OF the New York Assembly,
which he courted. His enemies he has
usually characterized in terms which forever
after forbade reconciliation. He quarreled
with Cornell, never forgiving him for not at
tending a conference in New York in 1881,
when all his friends were to decide on
his course after resigning his seat.
Mr.. Conkling spoke of the Governor afterward
as that lizard on the hi1l'', phrase that took
like wildfire, and burnt like wildtire, too. He
auarreled with Chester A. Arthur because he,
when President, would not appoint John F.
Smythe of Albany. collector of the port of New
York and remove w. Fl. Robertson to make the
necessary vacancy.
President Arthur offered Mr.. Conkling an
associate judgeshp of the Supreme Court,
which he declined. After his retirement from
politics he devoted himself to the practice of
law, in which he enjoyed signal success. 1t is
stated that when he left Washington after his
resignation he was compelled to borrow twelve
dollars to pay his way to New York. He had
never been money.maker in public life, but
as lawyer be enjoyed large fees
The Baltimore & Ohio.
BALTIMORE, Md, April 1S.-The monthly
meeting of the directors of the Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad Company was held to-
day. Mr.. Charles o. Scull, assistant gen.