The Portland daily press., 1862-11-18
Hon. Solomon Foote, the " Conservative
Senator from Vermont.


Solomon Foote, the newly elected Senator
from Vermont. has been making sensible,
conservative speech. He was severe on the
abolitionists, and facetiously cheated them in
to applaudng part of his speech, thus:
II am for making this an abolition war;" he said,
In his stentorian voice. lChcers from the radicals
81 rpeat," said he, II am fer an Abolition ,rdr."
gentlemen, that for the abolition of this rebel
Hon" mot cheer from that side but deafcning sp
plausc generally .l-tAdvertser, Oct 18th.
There are TO be ten or dozen new senators
10 be elected. Most OF these will probably be
conservative, while of those whose terms do
not expire, several will be found acting with
the conservatives. We mention Cowan of Penn
sylvania, Harris of New York, Collamer and
Foote of Vermont, and we hope Fessenden of
Maine, judging frome his conservative course
last session.-tIbid, Nov. 9th.
We have introduced the foregoing para
graphs because we wish them compared with
the following extracts from Senator Foote'S
speech, referred to in the first of the above,
made before the Legislature Of Vermont on
Thursday evening, Oct. 23d. We copy from
q full, verbatim report of the speech, published
In the Rutland Herald of Oct. 30th and 3lst.
We ask special attention to the extract in
relation to the Abolition war" and his "se-
verify on the Abolitionists,' in which he is
said to have "facetiously cheated them into
appauding one part Of his speech;" and when
the full extract is read we ask the reader to
pass his own judgment upon the Ingenious
ness, canior and fairness oi the "Pen and
Scissors editor of the Advertiser, who could
make such garbled extract as that above,
and preface it with such remarks as precede it.
The extracts given below are detached from
the speech, but those who will take the trou-
BILE to compare will find that they are full in
themselves, are not garbled, and in no way
msrepresent the general tenor and spirit of
this most sensible, conservative speech"
ABoLITIoNrsM NOT THE CAUSE OF THE
REBELLION.
II Is a false pretence that this rebellion is
the effect or consequence of any prevailing
schemes of Abolitionism in the North. l do
not speak OF that Abolitionism imputed to us
by the South, who denounce US all as Aboli-
tionists who do not regard the institution
Of slavery as an inestimable blessing, who do
not agree to the divinity Of its origin and to
the benefcence of its influences, as civilizing,
humanizing and outstanding. trust we all
come within that category. But l speak OF
rison and Wendell Phillips are acknowledged
representatives ;'of these and such as these
who would overthrow the Constitution be-
cause of its recognition of slavery. / speak
of that al,olitionism which would interfere or
claim the right to interfere, under the Ccnsti-
tuition, and interfere by legislation or other
direct and aggressive action, with the instltu.
tuition Of slavery of the South, as it there ex-
isted. 1t has not been by this aboltionisn
that the rebellion was excited, for no such par
ty in any considerable numbers has ever ex
listed In any of these States. Mr.. Sumneri
words never claimed any such right or author
ity; and he more than once, in my hearing
has repudiated the imputation of holding suci
sentiments or opinions. tApplause.)
DESIGNS OF THE coNsPIRIroRs.
We have never yet invaded, undertake t,
say, we have never invaded one of the Consti
tutiona rights Of the South. We have, IL |
true, sometimes exercised the liberty Of ex
pressing our opinion upou the character an
influence of slavery. We have exercised tn
privilege and the right of resisting some Of tn
fragrant aggressions Of the South upon til
Constitutional rights Of the North; but / as
sumo that the North has Constitutional right
rs well as the South. We have resisted, a
we had right to resist and ought to have re
sisted aggression, upon the claims of civiliza
tion and humanity. We have resisted usurp;
ton, and delivered from the desolating trea
and curse of slavery the free territories of tn
Union. (Applause.l
This fidelity to the claims of civilization an
human freedom, is the extent and the measur
of our offending against our southern brett
rem. No, my iellow-men, this rebellion is br
the exhibition, and has not yet become I'll
consummation, thank God, Of long settle
and determined purpose to break up this ver
Government. and to build upon its ruins
Southern OliBarchy "a Confederation th
should ultimately embrace within its limits
portion of Mexico, Central America and Il
West India Islands. This i know to be tru
and will show the truth of my assertion out
the mouths, the very mouths, of some of Il
leading conspirators themselves.
THE WAR ONE OF sELF-DErENCK.
Mr.. Foote then caused to be read copio
extracts Of Southern Senators to sustain
position. He referred to the depression in I
public mind and the causes of it, and tn
said:
] say again this rebellion has been got
by the Southern Olgarchy, for the sole pl
pose Of carrying out their idea of vast E
pire OF Slavery. 1t Is now for the loyal pc
pie OF this country to decide whether this p,
pose shall be consummated Ii Is now for I
loyal people OF this country to decide whetf
this, the best and freest government on the IA
of the earth, shall be broken up and subser
such a purpose-the building up of a vast e
pire Of slavery, a despotism upon the Anne
can continent. Whether it shall be so or n
whether this Republic shall be destroyed, n
withstanding all Its promise for the future, a
its history In the past, depends upon the fid