Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-10-28
Address Of Hon Solomon Foot, to the Leg
islature and Citizens of Vermont DeliY-
cred October 23d.


Mr.. President, Senator'S and Representatives. of
the LtgiSidture, friends and JedoiC citizens
1t Is buta poor acknowledgement Of SO kind
and complimentary manifestation, only to say,
thank you, sincerely thank you, for this kind
and generous greeting and for the compliment
tary words OF your presiding officer in his intro
duction. 1t IS but II feeble expression Of nv
profound sense OF obligation and gratitude to the
people Of Vermont and her Senators and Repre.
sentatyes to assure them OF my grateful apprc
clation OF their oft repeated manifestations Of
confidence and good viii toward me- IL is said
there are sometimes occasions when the heart is
too full for ute ance. NJ own experience upon
tins present occasion is but a yerlhcaton Of the
truth and force Of that remark and beg YOU
all to believe, and accept from Inc the assurance
that fully recognize and most gratefully ap.
precaIe the kindness and the confidence of my
fellow citizens Of the legislature aud the State
at large, 70 often and 50 generously manifested
even though may fail adequately TO express
IN hitting mud appropriate terms, my sense Of
that Kindness, and my feeling OF obligation.
Aside from the approval of his conscience and
hls God, the pubic servant can reccye no
higher and no more gratifying reward, than the
approval OF those who have committed to his
ner have discharged the high trusts which
have SO often been contded to my charge by the
people OF Vermont, | speak not but acts, pub
lie acts are upon the records of the country.
That record must speak my approval or mg con.
demnaton. Ii Is my high satisfaction however,
and 1t Is my abundant reward, that | have
the approval OF those whose commission have
borne, and for whom have been authorized to
speak and To act. ! have already had long
service 10 the two Houses OF the National leg
islature quite too long, fear for the best
interests Of my State and my country II had
been my cherished purpose, purpose long en-
tertaned and often ana freely expres ed at the
expiration OF my present Senatorial term, to
retire from public service, though still a little,
and but very little on thesunny side OF sixty
Iii 1t can he said that there ls any sunshine
either side Of that line. But YOU Senator'S and
Representatives, constituting the legislature Of
my State, aud speaking The popular will, |
trust, 10 that behalf, have seen lt " comms-
sion me Tor another and third term 20 the Senate
II the United States. In my own view of what
| yet owe 10 the people Of my State, have no
choice but 20 obey their behests Pardon me
If | say again. | have no words whorewith ad-
equatey 10 express my feelings OF gratitude
and obligation lor this last and highest testmo-
NAL Of the regard, of the confidence, and Of the
good esteem OF my fellow citizens, of this, my
native State, thus honorng me beyond all claim
or merit Of my own. How well | shall serve
you, how faithfully, how deyotedly, in the high
position to which you have again assigned me,
my past service, the many years IN the halls
OF the National Legislature, whether lor good
or for evil, whether for honor or dishonor, IS
the best pledge can give YOU This is the best
guarantee | can offer you OF mY fidelity and my
devotion to your interests and to your honor IN
the time to come
| am not insensible to the great and the sol
emn responsibility which at all times rests uuon
those who are charged with making the laws
of this great people and lar more welghty
are those responsibilities now, IN the present
and changed condition Of our public affairs,
than ever before. | am not unapprlsed that
great and grave questions, questions novel,
and intricate and perplexng, questions lnyolv-
ing the highest interest and honor ot the coun'
try, questions involving the very existence and
life itself 1t may be Of the government. must
necessarily demand the consideration and the
action OF the Federal Congress. am not un'
aware that questions so great and so grave and
50 momentuous, require for their consideration,
for their due and proper consideration, the high
est WlSuuin, tlt tAHtIlcuOc, NilV NiVhiucN
intellects and the coolest judgement, supcradded
to the most incor7uptible integrity, and the
most devoted loyalty, which the country can
fnrnish Well, indeed, may distrust myself;
well indeed may hesitate, we'll indeed may |
stand appalled, before such a requislton, and IN
the presence of SO great and 50 trying response
bilitcs. | can say, however, and 1t is all |
can say,-that responsibility will be met, that
will ba NJ xprpI an TAR firth and
we'll, as God shall give me strength and wisdom
TO do it, Applause.
My friends and fellow citizens, need not re-
mind you,-for the sad reality is upon MS all, -
that we have fallen upon evil times | need
not remind you that our beloved country, but q
few months ago so uniIed, so peaceful, so pros
porous, to-day wrlthos and bends under the as
saults Of q gigantic Rebellion, the most unnat.
ural, and most causeless and a. the same time
tie most remorseless, the most crdel and the
most atr0c.ous in all ia features, thai has ever
risen to plague any nation or people. | need
not remind you that your beloved country, o
late 80 tranquil, and 50 beneicently dispensing
blessings untold, with uneparlng hand 90 all hel
people, to day staggetS as II ready TO fall, un'
der the ielon blows OF iratrlcidai hands. | say
have 40 occasion to remind you OF this un-
happy condition OF your county. l0u are re-
minded OF it every day and every hour in NOR,
marked 4ni impressive forms than any pool
words of mine. The records of the worlds his
tory will be searched IN vain or parallel /,
this stupendous crime. Ii we euqdlre whenc'
or wherefore, whence the origin and what th'
motive Of TINS Rebellion, they are palpable, ant
stamp It's character # possible with blackeI
ingratitude and with II bOlder felony
As we all know, this Rebellion had its origin
and derives its chief support, from that sector