Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-04-27
NUMBER FORTY-FOUR

friends and compels the respect, aud even the
admiration. of adveisaries he had
| none
stranger, Mr. President, upon entering
this Chamber. and casting his eyes around upon
the Senate couldn't but be struck with the impOs-
ing presence Of our departed friend and assO-
ciste and attracted by the rare union o. mild
ness and dignity in his expressive features. II
he rose to speak, the commanding yet pleasing
tones Of his voice. the noble grace of his de-
meanor, the elegance Of his language, and his
clear and forcible statement, would deepen the
first favorable impression. If called TO the
chair, as be was more often than any Oth,r,
that seemed TO be the place he was made to NIL.
| There was exhibited his remarkable love
of order, his impsrtislity, his sense of
senatorial proprietY, his entire fitness to
preside over and control the deibers-
tons Of what should be a grave, decorous, and
dignifei body Of thoughtful men charged with
great trusts and alive to their Importance
Whatever was in the least degree unbecoming
WAS offensive to his feelings and his taste, but
however these might be offended he never
| fer a moment forgot what due to the Senate,
and 10 himself as its officer. Would that his
precepts and his example in these particulars
may net be forgotten. Often, sir. when we
look upon the chair you occupy, however ably
and faithfully it may be filled. must We think Of
him whose admonitions We well remember, and
| TO whose unshaken frmuess and unweared pa
/ tience we were so often indebted for the preser
vstiOn Of that respect which We owed to our
selves.
Ayerse TO much speaking. Mr.. Foot did not
/ often address the Senate, and never but after
careful thought; and yet he possessed every ad-
vantage for distinguished success. His mental
| powers, as have before remarked, were care
\ fully trained and cultivated, his command OF
language was excellent, his tas e correct, his
voice sonOrous, and bis action At once graceful
and digni6ed. That with such advantages be
should have taken so small share in debate,
| especially in later years when he had become IA
miliar with public affairs must seem not a lit
tie singular to those not acquainted with hi
habits Of thought ami his peculiar temperament
/ The explanation, however, is simple, and msy
/ be found in his rauaarksble want OF selfsppre-
/ ciatiou Modest 10 a fault, he never did any
/ thing like justice to his own powers. To others
and especially 70 those who possessed his conf
dence and affection, he did more than Justice
being too ready alWay to receive and defer To the
opinions Of others in no respect superior TO him
self Thence it followed that he seldom address
I ed the Senate upon subjects which occasOned
/ general debate.
! Often have | known him to insist that his
/ name should be struck from an important CON-
mitiee, in order TO replace j; with The name Of a
| friend or assosiate to whom he thought the dis
/ tinction would be grateful To HIM more than
any other was assigned the unenviable task Of
arranging these committees. not only because
all confded in his sense Of justice, but because
/ Of his dsinterested msgnanimity. have often
| thought that such generous Abnegstion Of self
/ should not have been permitted know that
on several occasions it was peremptorily over
ruled
| That such a Senator, so useful, so modest, 60
unaruming, so courteous, % kind, Of deport-
ment so urexceptionable. should have won the
| goodwill of all his associates snd the love o.
/ many. and that his loss should occasion uniyer-
sal sorrow. may well be supposed. Those, how
ever, who saw and marked the crowds assembled
to witness the last sad ceremonies, and who
noted the many weeping eyes which looked upon
/ his coffin, would naturally be led 10 consider
that nothing in the routine OF his public career
could account for grief so deep and so general
Men are not apt TO be mOurned with tears for
| public services, or even on account Of public
| or private virtue. Great Intellectual preemi-
nence may excite admiration, but when the light
| goes out its absence occasions but weak and
/ transient emotion. Gifts and qualities Ike thess
| come not near the heart The secret Of sn
/ that genuine and unaffected sorrow for the
friend we have lost lice in the feeling Of sll
who came within his sphere, that his was true
and noble and loving nature. Impulsiye and
ardent in temperament, he WAS kind, generous,
| and forgiying. lfiDjury excited him to anger,
1t was a generous anger, which could hardly
outlive the occasion, and perishei Of itself let
alone. Enthusiastic in his friendship, no labor
was too severe no sacrifice too great for those to
whom he gave his affection. He was proud Of
his country, Of his State, Of his friends. For
himself he was humble. OF an open hand, his
charity was instantaneous and unsuspectiDg. II
''IIe prayeth best, who lOveth best
AL things, both great and small :"
then Was he man Of prayer. And If "the
chamber where a good man meets his fate IS
holy, then may We rejoice who were permitted
to feel the loveliness Of his dying hour.
Admirable Senator patriotic citizen good
and true man dear and cherished friend this
scene Of your many lsbors will know you no
more, but long will your memory dwell in these
Halls This marble pile, bearing the impress Of
your watchful care, is one Of your monuments.
Its massive pillars will stand erect, giving their
testimony 10 our country's grandeur long, long
sfter weand generations yet to come shall have
passed like shadows upon the wster yet he
who, like yourself, shall have performed his
duty IN life and died with Christians hope,
will survive when al these columns shall be
lost to sight in the accumulated dust Of ages.