The Life and Letters of Roscoe Conkling (Volume 3); Orator, Statesman, Advocate (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1889. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXV. SENATOR CONKLING AND GENERAL SHERIDAN A FAMOUS PATENT SUIT. NE of Mr. Conkling's ablest speeches was in defence of General Sheridan, in January, 1875. Several disaffected Republicans in the Senate had united with the Democrats in assailing the Administration. In the city of New York a call for an indignation meeting was signed by Democrats and alleged Republicans. A mass meeting was held at Cooper Institute, and General Sheridan denounced upon the strength of a telegram from McEnery, the Democratic gubernatorial claimant in Louisiana. Among others, William M. Evarts spoke. Insurgents in Louisiana had forcibly seized the General Assembly of that State and placed its organization in the hands of the minority. With the aid of General Sheridan's forces these interlopers were expelled from the legislative chamber by means of the civil authority of the State. This act was denounced as a usurpation, not only in Congress, but also at indignation meetings in New York and Boston; and the responsibility was laid on Grant's administration. It mav be said that in the debate upon the Louisiana question Senator Conkling defended the Administration as successfully as on several previous occasions, and notably in the winter of 1871-72. Senator Conkling reviewed the facts in the Louisiana matter January 28 and 29, and proved that the military only supported the civil power. This speech forms a chapter of recent history that should be read by every American student. Referring to this remarkable oration, the writer of an obituary in the Daily Tribune, of Salt Lake City, says: In the field of his triumphs there were three occasions when, it seems to us, his superiority over his fellow-men shone out most conspicuously. The one was after General Sheridan had se...