Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 April 1888 — ROSCOE CONKLING DEAD. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ROSCOE CONKLING DEAD.

His Last Hours Pal al ess, and Weeping Friends Watched His Slow but Sure Decline. Pathetic Scenes in the Sick-Room—Bio-graphical Sketch of the Famous Ex-Senator. (Special (New York) telegram.) Roecoe Conkling, the famous ex-Senator. died in his room in the Hoffman House annex at 1:15 o'clock Wednesday morn in ". He began declining rapidly early in the day, and was but slightly cousoioua during toe forenoon, sinking swiftly into tae coma that precedes death. When bia breath left him. and he was still, there were beaide hi a bed his wile, hie daughter, Mrs. Oakman; Jud;e Coxe. his nephew; Dr Anderton, and the colored nurse. Mr. Conkling passed away without moving a limb. He looked as though peacefully sleeping. There were a number of persons outside

< n the street waiting to catch tho last report, ilhin doors there were between forty and fifty persons, also waiting to hear the worst. They wore composed chiefly of representatives of tho press and friends of tho dead Senator. It was a dreadful struggle that the patient fought against grim death, but at last his end was peaceful and unaccompanied by pain. His sorrowing wife and daughter were weeping at his side, but the once keen eyes wore glazed end set in the unequal struggle. Mrs. Conkling and her daughter both bore up bravely, but the elder lady was tho most prostrated. Mrs. Oakman supported her mother. The ashen pallor deepened upon tho emaciated face of the sufferer. Mr. Conkling gasped three or four times and passed away. In death the lines about his mouth and on his taco were slightly drawn, but still his face seemed natural. It was a sorrowful group that surrounded the sick man's bedside, and tearfully watched the passing away of tho great Senator. Tho strong frame that in his delirium required tho stoutest watchers to hod, even while wasted by disease, now lay low and lifeless in the bunds of the Great Destroyer. Tho breathing of those powerful lungs, whose musical but sonorous sound reverberated through tho halls of Ci ngress, was weak and difficult, and gradually became slower and more labored, until their action caused forever. A premature announcement of Mr. Conkling's death was made in the New York Assembly, whereupon tho House passed resolutions expressive of its admiral on and estoum for him, suggesting a joint memorial committee of the House ana Senate, and adjourned out of respect to his memory.

Biographical Sketch. Roscoe Conkling was born in Albany, N. Y.. Oct. 30, 1829. Illa father, Albert Conkling, was a Representative in tlio : events, nth Congress, and in forward .tilled tho positions of United States Judge for the Northern District of New York and Minister to Mexico. Roscoe received a common school and academic education. Removing to Auburn and Geneva with his father he studied law three years under bis tuition. In IH-lii he entorel the law ofllce of Spencer A Kernan in I'tl'u, and in 1849 was appointed by Hamilton Disk listrict Attorney of Oneida County, several months before ho attsinud his majority. On the day ho was 21 he was admitted to the bar. During the next deca ie ho disclosed rare qualities of management, and bocamo a louder in local politics. In law ho ranked with the first of the profession as an advocate. The triumphs he achieved at the bar, mid which wore his passports to public preference, were gained before he reached tho age of 29. After that ha accepted but sow cases, but in those bis success was marked. Ho married Julia (Seymour, sister of ex-Gov. Horatio beymour. hi 18118 he was elected Mayor of Utica, mid in November of the same year he was elected a Representative in the Thirty-sixth Congress and took his seat in that body at tho beginning of its first session, in December, 18 >9, a session noted for its long and bitter contest over the Speakership. He was re-elected in 1800, his brother, Frederick A. Conkling being elected ut the same time for a New York City district. The two brothers entered the Thirty-seventh Congress at tho opening of tho special session convened by President Lincoln, July 4, IHiil. In this Congress Roscoe Conkling was Chairman of tho Caminittoe on tho District of Columbia, and also of a special committee appointed to frame n bankrupt law. A candidate for re-election to the Thirtyeighth Congress, he was defeated by his old law partner, Francis Kernan. In 18<H Conkling defeated him. serving on the Committees on Wavs and Means and on Reconstruction. Ho startled the nation by an attack on the tactics of General McClellan, and gave tho keynote for earnestness iu ail future war legislation at a time when hesitancy and vacillation prevailed. In February, 1802, he oiqaised Mr. Spaulding's legal-tender act by speech and vote, sustaining, contrary to the prevailing party policy, Mr. Horton’s amendment providing for the issue of an interestbearing note, and against the final passajo of the bill as amended by Thuddeus Stevens. In the same session he voted for the payment of interest on the debt in coin. Mr. Conkling was a firm upholder of all legislation tending to uphold the hands of the administration iu prosecuting the war for the suppression of the rebellion. In the fall of 18:>U he was elected to the Fortieth Congress, but before that Congress met he was elected to succeed Judge Ira Harris tie United States Senator from tho State of New. York. He took his seat in tho Senate March 4, 18(17, and was re elected twice, his seceud term beginn ng March 1,1818, and his third term March I, 18/9. Ho was a zealous supporter of General Grant's administration. The general policy of that administration to.vnrd tho South was largely directed by Senati r Conkling, who advocated it with all the powers of his eloquence and all the potency of his personal and political influence. He was also largely instrumental in tue inception and passage of the civil rights bill. In 187(> he took a prominent part in framing the act for tho Electoral Commission, and in carrying it through. In 1880 Senator Conkling led the Grant forces at the Republican nominating convention iu thio ago, aud made the speech p ttiug him in nomination. Soon alter the election of President Garfield he differed from him on questions of public policy, and in 1831 he resigned his seat iu tho Senate. and applied to tho Legislature of New York for indorsement and re election. He failed in this, and retired from politics, resuming the active practice of law to redeem his fortunes, which were sadlv shattered. He speedily assumed the foremost position at the New York bar, and was engaged in a number of prominent and re nuueratlvo cases. Of lute years be had been repeatedly solicited to re-enter politics, end his recent replies had indicated that he might reconsider the resolution he made iu 1881 Mr. Conkling had u nar row escape from death in the late New York blizzard, being almost overcome one night in the drifts and the blinding snow, and only his magnificent physique carried him through. Although his hair and beard had whitened of late years, Mr. Conkling still retained his fine physical proportions, which would have made him a marked man in any assemblage.