Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-11-24
Senator Foot.

Our readers will recollect a notice in
our columns few days before the cleo
ton, of a rousing Union meeting held
in Brandon, which was addressed by
our distinguished townsman, Senator
Foot The Brandon Record has made
the meeting and the address the occa-
sion for the following article in relation
to the honored Senator, which we take
great pleasure in copying;
The people of our State are not little
proud of their Congressional Delegation
Our representation in the National
Assembly is small, and destined to be-
come smaller; but so long as it CON-
prises the names of Foot, Collamer and
Morrill,, we shall indulge fears neither
for our reputation at the Capitol, nor
for the want of wise and able advoca-
ton there of the nations soundest in
terests.
In this section of the State, where
Senator Foot spent his childhood and
youth, and which witnessed his career
as collegian, a preceptor and mem
ber of the bar, he is regarded with a
pride and an interest, which has grown
with his increasing reputation as
statesman, has freshened with the fire.
uuent public honors bestowed upon him,
and cannot diminish while every year
adds to the ripeness Of his talents and to
the weight of his public counsels Few
men can show clearer, nobler record
of thirty years craftsmanship than
Senator Foot. From his elaborate
speech in 1885, in favor of establishing
a Senate as coordinate branch of the
State Legislature, to that burst of
scorching, withering, annihilating re-
buke of copperheadism, which electrified
the United States Senate few months
ago, he has always been the strong
champion of right, the clear-headed, far
| seeing adviser, and the courteous, cul-
| tured gentleman.
That all this has told upon his con
| stituents, the large and enthusiastic
audience which greeted his appearance
| on the occasion of a "Union Rally" at
| the Town Hall of Brandon, on the
stormy evening of last Friday, abun-
dainty testified. For nearly two hours
the audience gave breathless attention
to the distinguished Senator, charmed
and stirred by his powerful oratory. He
has not for years, perhaps never before
in Vermont, displayed such eloquence.
The time and the subject evidently
furnished inspiration, and argument.
description, invective, and towering cli-
max, were poured forth in a strong
glowing stream. Mr.. Foot has by no
means been overrated as public
speaker. His noble form, and the dig
nifled grace with which sixty years have
crowned it; his massive head, and
handsome features, refined with feeling
and cultivated thought, and Lit up with
an eye of depth and fire, are oratorical
advantages not lost to him. His Ian
guage is unhesitatingly chosen, and yet
is singularly elegant and forcible, glow
ing and flashing with ready imagina-
tion. His gesticulation and speech are
welded, the one suiting the variety of
the other. The danger of the good ship
Union, no doubt reused him to unwont-
| ed fire of delivery last Friday evening,
but we feel sure that no subject in poll
tics or literature would suffer from de-
fective delivery at his hands.
While we write thus of Senator Foot,
we reflect with pleasure, that he is to-day
still in the ripened maturity of his
powers, that more than half score of
years may yet add lustre to his fame,