Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-07-07
Speech of Senator Foot.

We take from the Congressional Globe
of last Friday the following report OF
the stirring, eloquent and patriotic
speech made by Senator Foot on the
evening of June 23d, while the Senate
had under consideration the commute
ton clause of the enrolment law. The
circumstances under which the speech
was made have already been mentioned
in our columns. A lengthy debate had
taken place, in the course OF which Gar
rett Davis had made one of his charac
ter:stically raving and disunion speech
es that aroused the patriotic indigna-
ton of our distinguished Senator. The
impression produced by Senator Foot's
brief but impassioned speech, is indi-
Gated in the report of remarks made in
the same connection by one or two 9th
er senators, which we also give below.
Mr.. FooT. / am aware, sir, that the
hour is late, and that the body is weary
and impatient of further debate upon
this question to night. had intended
at an early hour of the evening to have
submitted some few remarks in response
mainly to some suggestions made by the
Senator from Kentucky Mr.. Davis, but
/ am not in the habit of OBTAINING the
Senate in debate at any time, especially
at so unreasonable an hour as this, and
If the Senate desires to take vote now
upon this question, without further dis
cussion, / will not detain them.
Mr. McDoUGALL. Ii the Senator will
allow me- / will move an adjournment,
Mr.. FooT. ask no adjournment and
cannot consent to an adjournment for
my accommodation. | shall detain the
Senate but few moments at the out
side.
do not rise for the purpose Of speak
ing now upon the question directly be-
fore the Senate; that is, upon the ques-
ton of communication. / have already
very briefly expressed my opinions on
that question. / have no occasion to
repeat them, and as yet no occasion to
change them.
The Senator from Kentucky dilated
at some length, and with much empha-
sis, upon the cost and the sacrifices of
the war in which we are engaged upon
the Affections the wretchedness, and the
woe that it was bringing upon the coun-
try; that the public mind had become
tired and weary and in disgust at the
manner in which the war had been con-
Quoted, and the object for which it was
now conducted, all calculated, as it
seemed to me, to disparage the war and
to disaffect the public mind. 1t is true,
Mr.. President, it is but too sadly true,
that our country is involved in war, in
fragrant, bloody, civil war, but war,
nevertheless, into which it has been
driven by the inevitable necessities of
selfexistence. 1t is war of selfde-
tense.
Mr.. SPRAegE. And of self-preserva-
ton.
Mr.. Foor. 1t is war of selfpreser-
walton, to repeat the suggestion of my
friend 1t is war for the rescue and
for the salvation of this Republic, and
for the salvation of republican institu-
tions and of republican liberty, against
the assaults of gigantic and causeless
and unprovoked rebellion.
Shall we prosecute the war to its final
Issue, or shall we ignobly and ignomini-
ously surrender our national life and our
udtiOHdi DCiHS lDub Is tuG 4uSStlUl
before us tonight Mr.. President, and
the American people have answered that
question for themselves, and for you,
and for me. The true and loyal people
OF the country have long since fully
made up their minds upon this whole
subject of the war and of the rebellion.
They have taken their stand upon it,
They have spoken their purpose in rela-
tion to it. The have proclaimed it in
the face Of the nations that this accursed
rebellion shall die, and that this repub.
lie of ours shall live, cost what it may
yea more, as necessary incident of tht
war, or, If you please rather to have il
80, as an inevitable result of the rebel
lion and of the war for the suppression
Of the rebellion. the instigating ca1s,
and the sustaining power Of the rebel
lion must die out with it, so as never t.
rise again to plague this people and Il
desolate this land of ours. To thi
great consummation-the suppressiol
OF the rebellion, the restoration OF tn,
Union, and the salvation of the Repub
lic-the loyal people OF the country Xix,
the immortal authors of the Declare
tion OF Independence, haye consecrateS