Roscoe
Conkling was born in Albany on 30th October, 1829. After studying
law he was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Utica. In
1850 he was appointed district attorney for Oneida County. Originally
a member of the Whig Party, Conkling joined
the Republican Party and in 1858 was
elected to the House of Representatives.
Conkling became a prominent member of the Radical
Republicans. This group was in favour the abolition of slavery
and believed that freed slaves should have complete equality with
white citizens. Conking also opposed the policies of President Andrew
Johnson and argued in Congress that Southern plantations should
be taken from their owners and divided among the former slaves. He
also attacked Johnson when he attempted to veto the extension of the
Freeman's Bureau, the Civil
Rights Bill and the Reconstruction
Acts.
Conkling believed that it was very important for senators to have
personal control over all federal appointments within state boundaries.
This resulted in him clashing with President Rutherford
B. Hayes to introduce civil-service reform.
In 1880 Conkling became head of what became known as the Stalwart
faction, a group that favoured Ulysses S.
Grant for a third term as president. After 36 ballots James
Garfield defeated Grant, John Sherman
and James G. Blaine for the nomination.
To preserve party unity, Chester Arthur,
another member of Conkling's group, became the vice-presidential candidate.
James Garfield defeated Winfield
S. Hancock, the Democratic Party
candidate by 4,449,053 votes to 4,442,030. Garfield attempted to select
a Cabinet that would retain the unity of the Republican
Party. However, Conkling was unhappy with some of Garfield's choices
and refused to serve in his administration.
On 2nd July, 1881, James Garfield was
waiting for a train in Washington with Robert
Lincoln, his Secretary of War, when Charles J. Guiteau, shot him
in the back. A supporter of Conkling, Guiteau, surrendered to the
police with the words: "I am a Stalwart. Chester Arthur is now
the president of the United States. After a four month struggle Garfield
died on 19th September, 1881 and Chester
Arthur became president.
Roscoe Conkling practiced law in New York
City until his death on 18th April, 1888.
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