The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-04-27
EutOgieS of Senator Foot.
IN L. ;. SENATE. APRIL II. 1866.
Remarks of Senator Poland.

heudrkS Oh oeQaCOr POlaQQ,
.Mr President Two weeks AGO If was
my painful duty TO announce to the Sen
ate the death of my distinguished and be-
loved colleague, the Hon. Solomon Foot
The little time that elapsed between his
decease and the funeral services here. and
the absence OF one of my colleagues of the
House. who was Mr.. Foot'S immediate
representative. Were deemed sufficient
reasons for poStponing the customary obit-
uarv tributes TO some future dav. In ac-
corClance with the notice then given | now
ask that the Senate ior short time lav
aside its ordinary business and allow me
and Others the melancholy satisfaction OF
expressing our appreciation Of the charac-
ter. services and virtues OF our departed
associate friend The last occasion o! this
kind. in this chamber. was early in the
present session. in memory of nv lament
ed predecessor. Judge Colamer.
No one of Us will ever forget the elo-
quent and loving words OF Mr.. Foot on
that occasion. in dwelling upon tine mem
orv of his longtime friend and colleague.
AZ we looked nj his robust and majestic
form and listened to his deep rich voice
and solemn. weighty words. how little We
thought that in 80 short time. he. too.
would have become only an object OF
memory and subject of culo"v.
Who next in this body of Representa-
tiyeS of States shall he called from this
high place to the unseen world No one
of uS can tell How solemmly are we re-
minded that death comes II 4 thief IN the
night and how wisely are We cautioned
-. BE We also ready.
Mr.. Foot WAS born in Cornwall. Alli-
son County. Vermont. ON the 10Th dlv ot
November. 1902 have not been able
TO learn ANYTHING in relation TO his early
life: bat | infer that his family condition
wits such IL to make all attainment and
advancement in lite depend upon his own
efforts and labor>. infer thi~ from the
fact that he graduated from Milliehurv
COLLEGE, about 1926 or 1927. and some
what later in life than * Usual for vom@
men where the means OF education :rt
provided hv Others After hi> graduation
ne spent some time in trariiin". and at tn
same time in studying law. After hi al
mission 10 the bar he commenced practice
in the town of Rutland. VI. and that colt
tnurl to h, his residence up To the time
of hi~ death. He wi> elected 4 Repre-
sentative from the town of Rutland Ia ihc
Vermont Hou>r OF Representatives IN
1888. l,35. lo311. 1888. AMI a";Iin in the
wear 1917. and during th;' ia-t three OF
! those wears WAS Speaker oi the li"u>'.
, lie wis Il member ot tn. STATE "n-itiH
llonal Convention lii $50. wiii"n mad,
/ the important alteration iii or Safe ipn
-:itution of exchanging the Old i.r@l-!ativ,
+ Council for a State Senate. H. also hrl,
/ the Office ot Prosecuting Attorney to
/ Rutland County from 1886 10 1912 Il
! 1912 Mr.. Fuoi was elected Ia th,. lowe
! House oi Congress and rc-"icrtrd i'll 1911
hut declined further election. In $3.50 ht
WAS clccted TO the Senate OF tn" | nitc'
States. reelected in 1876. and ;lgain IL
ls622. and at the time ot' hi> death WI
the oldest member in continuous service il
this body.
Mr.. Foot soon attained Il highly rc
spectacle position u a lawyer lie Va
careful and attentive 10 the Interests q
his clients and always made tull AMI rlab
oratr preparation for the trial OF hi~ c;lri~r~
II hi~ lie had been devoted to li> proic-
sion he would doublc>~ have attained hi"i
rank a> 4 LAWYER. But his attention WI
early turned to political life, a'i'l his pro
t,.>>ional career WAS too broken AMI de-
>uitnrv 10 enable him to attain the hi@hc>
distinction i'll it. ili- ability ;jnd char;lc
ter We're far better suited 10 Il public in
popular. rarhrr than Il mere professions
life. lie lai been but Il VERY few vear
at the bar. and Il resident ot th;' town ,
Rutland when he wa> chosen t" reprr>ci
: that town III the State Legislature.
WIS quite rare at that day ihat 81 yonn
Il man was chosen 10 represent one oi I'll
oldest and most important towns IN til
State. ana Which contained many ia:9'tln
: public men But he htI alrcaI Y aitainc
l.. Il HIGH position IL IN able and popui;
: speaker upon public and political Iur.
| lion>. and his career iii the STATE Lcgi>l;
+ turc added 10 this 4 reputation a> Il WI
and careful legislator II WAS a. Speak,
| of the Vermont IIou>c OF Representative
| that he displayed that almc>t wonderi'
1 aptitude and capacity aS; 4 presiding oil
c Ger of deliberate assembly. which aitc
: ward made him 81 celebrated :!roughor
: the nation. when he became the pre>Idi
Il officer ot' the Senate of the +! nltcui State
: a. perhaps the best presiding officer iii Il
1 whole country. He seems almost To hay
9 been made for the position. His fin
e majestic person. his dignitied dcportmen
o his full and rich voice, his easy and grac
II iiul manner. all conspired to make him
o most useful and acceptable president ov
o any assembly. His knowledge Of parli
o mcntary law and usage was very tho
II OUCH, but not more 50, probably. tl;
many others His superiority in this I
spect appeared born in him Ills loo
= preserved order; the slightest word ALA
l. ed confusion. The same grace OF per>'
Is and dignity OF manner attended hi
always and everywhere, and waS equal
e pleasing and agreeable i'll private socie
V or on the Senate floor: ii had nothing
il hau.htine>s or arrogance, but was kind
:, and benignant, 1t had doubtless mu
IN Ia with tLn nImnst I11liynr..l ,anrs.n