Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-04-04
Obseauies Of Senator Foet at Hut-
land.

the incidents connected with the oeAn VI oe"
ator Foot. As fitting sequence to the I'M
pressive services at Washington in which those
who knew, and respected, and loved him, chiefly
in the wide sphere Of his national labors, tes-
tilted to ther high appreciation Of ms character
we give place 20 a sketch Of the pubic ceremo'
MES at Rutland where the remains arrived, at
tended BY Congressional escort, on Saturday
las, AMI where, amid the tears. and the mourn
ing of thousands, last Monday-under the blue
heavens on a most beautiful afternoon OF the
early Spring-they were consigned to their last
repose.
The funeral cortege was met in Rutland Sat
urday by large concourse of cltizens' ana es-
corted to the Court House. Senators Poland, |
Doolittle, Riddle, Mr.. o. K. German, Acting
Sereeant-at-arms, and Gen. d. w. c. Clarke,
one of The clerks of the Senate, accompanied
the remains from Washington as Senatorial
escort. At the Court House, after brief re-
marks by Senator Poland, Senator Doolittle
made the following address to the assembled
citizens
Mr., Chairman and Gentlemen -
As my colleague upon the committee mas
truly SAID. we have come upon sad errand.
We have been commissioned by the eenate OF
the United States to bear home TO Vermont
all that is mortal of Solomon Foot. These ie-
mains, this precious dust, will now pass from our
charge as a committee OF the Senate, to yours,
as representing the people OF his native State
Ii is no time or place for eulogy Our hearts
are too full tor that. A great sorrow has fallen
upon the Senate and upon the whole country,
as we'll as upon Vermont.
That he was distngu a statesman
and Senator all the world knows, Out what
desire to say, and what my heart most prompts
me TO say, is not that he was dsting ushed,
honoret and respected, but that ne was beloved
BY every member Of the Senate OF every pollt-
zeal party. We were his personal trieuds-en-
.mies he had none. The Oldest member OF
the body in continuous service, he was revered
as the father of the Senate. Often called upon
to be It's presiding officer, and always watchIui
of its honor, he did more than any other to pre-
serve its dignity and de Drum. But he las
left The Senate-his place We cannot hi-hle
ike We may not look upon. Gentlemen, mere
in that coffin IS his teess body, and We com
init 1t tC your charge. Our mission Id oehaA
of the Senate i, lul6Ilsd-our sad, last sacred
otfice periormeC-our work Is done We are
now ready to return. But l cannot take leave
Of you without saying that l an here IN another
character, and as the bearer OF another message
from him a dying man 10 you, the people OF
Rutland and Vermont. Bear IN mind that tor
N re III. n eight eats We had been constantly
IN political and friendly intercourse, part OF
The time lodging under The same root, ana most
OF the time Sitting at the same table. tie was
10 me- ike a IAther elder bIotner IN those
lutlmAte relations. ] came 10 know Inn Well
and love him more. But did not know how
much loved him until, Standing al his bedside,
the dyiug stretched out ms hand, ana
CT ,splng mine IN his, said, "Dear brother, you
have always been kind TO me-a dear, good
brother senator | can never reward you, but
YOU Know where your reward lies.
| could not speak, but he continued IN a clear
voice, while his face beamed with heavenly
liz ut, to span of the Gospel and of its couso-
Iatlons IN sickness ana 10 health. Among
other things, | remember he said, Gods mer-
c, has been great 10 me in Tins sIckue~s. |
have 80 many kind friends, many anse C
ministers all around me, Il seems as though a
company of Angels we're all about 20 beAr
up my sinking spirit. | have been irNIug TO
recall II there is any human being upon earth
whom / have Intentionally ~ronged or Injured
| DO not now remem Der any. but II lneIe Is
one / pray that God viii forgive mt. / Viii
not attempt 10 le!! you al he saId- Before |
leit the room, however, he SAID Ia the same
clear voice to another, " Tue LORD reigns. Lei
The eartn rejoice. IL Is well that he does reign,
and the Jeopir II We reason TO rejoice ih,t he
does reign Yes, God rvlsns over al, there
can be TO doubt OF shat. We do nol come
into me world 0y chance. We are not crea-
lures OF accident. We born to an eternA
lie. Here he paused 4 ie" moments and
then uttered thAt dying message " Inch / now
bear to you. :. When | leave lhls chamber,
he said, " wish 10 parade, no oslenlaliouc
demonstrations to be mace, only the ordinary
proceeding which custom and proprett impose
i desire to be borne TO my Trends and nome
10 Rutland, Vermont, Leop.e who have always
been IA thful 10 me- more iaItti-. 10 me than
have been to them, | fear, they have done sc
much for me. / have no hods- there, but they
VIII prepare every Ting neediu, AKA there By
them, among that people let be buried ,
I'M, the message which 1 bring 10 you from
your d ,lug friend. | wac not present WHEN 1t
oTeathed has last, but from The account which
received Immedla teiy alter from those who wers
present, his Consciousness remained Clear to ii,
last, aud Bin ulteIance distinct almost To IN,
very last breath.
In his last words, distinctly uttered, he LET
another message, which speaks not only 10 lol
and 70 me, out 10 all men tor ali time. la al
history | canno. remember 10 tavr read OF
,uuching and heavenly, and more triumphant
over death auu The grave. Seeing his TIME "a,
al hand, the words OF the % Psalm were theI
, -epest.d 10 him by his wife, he called her tC
, his SIDE, folded his arms around her tor u mo
ment, then, his breathing became choked, IA,
said, " w hat cao this be death }" SO easy :?
- Has 1t come sready?' la few momen,t
after, his face lighted up as Vita soul just en-
terlng into Paradise, he Joytuily exclaimed, -
see 1t 81 see 1t the gates are wids open
BeoullfuI! Beautiful " and In very lev
moments after utterlng these words he expired
As statesman and a Senator honor nim-
as man of noble character We cherish his mem
ory-as true and fan htul friend We love nlm
and as dying Christian, what a glorious tx
ample 10 all mankind.
Col. Nichols made an appropriate response
The Herald thus speaks of the catafalque, anc
the embems OF sorrow, as the body reposed IL
state In the court room.
. The appearance of the Court Room
wherein are hand the remains OF Senator Foo
strikes one as especially appropriate in 1T
deep mourning aud tasteful drapery.
The catafaique, with Its evergreen pillars
significant of the old Green Mountain State
with It's canopy beautifully iestooned and
draped, with its raised base, Is i'll perfect keep
ing With the casket which it enshriues,
The case, richly trimmed and ornamented
bore this plain inscription
SOLOMON FOOT,
UNITED STATS SENATOR FROM VERMONT,
! Died in Washington, March 18th, 1866.
Aged o4 year.
: no Of ~