Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-04-20

usefulness 10 the State and people thus be-
/ reaved
Nr. Woodbridge Remarks.
Senator Foot Was what W, call O + IT,
made man. ! do not attribute 90 i'm any
I particular credi, Tor that TIE term self
made man is o much-abascd one. There
no royal road 10 GREATNESS Every man who
comes 10 b. power reaches 70 through por-
sonal effort The scholar D. -al.-madr. and
becomes a scholar through Iatieut and cx-
[ haustin. labor and reflection The nroics-
sional man J, s,l.-uadc aud s1 j. the mer-
chant and the artisan That Senator Foot
succeeded where a weak will would have
failed l. doubtless true. and hence the great
er honor 20 the man. As lawyer. Mr..
Foot was not learned. As statesman. be
never seized upon new theories or ventured
upon untIIed paths A. political eclu1-
mist, be never originated new ideas or de-
velOIod old once with extraordinary power
and Yet. without question. be- was one OF
the safest statesmen and most jIiIcIlu- leg
islatJrs Of the age.
lie dad not resemble the mountain. tow
ering 10 the sk.er. barren and useless from
3
whose summit .- covered with ;te forest. and
whose slopes wave with the yellow grain
lie did not reseu ole the terrific shower which
destroys by Its violence. so much as the gcn-
tie rain which the earth driuk- and then
dresses herself In new lite and uclutv
God granted u Mr.. Foot one uf the great
est OF earthly blessings, "a loving. praying,
pi0us mother. who early iusu.led into his
mind principles Oi reverence toward God,
obedience % authority. and love OF truth
and through long public lite the great
leading char cterIs;ic OF bic mind, and ler-
haps the highes power Of be- character, was
his devotion 90 truth that high ethical
truth which Is grounded DO the moral being
and the fitness OF things, lying back OF and
deeper than retinemeuts or pOpuiarities
reaching down 90 the inner nature and eic-
waiting the moral forces
his word was good az his bond " No
social or political combination or influence
no syeophantic latterer no Gas;arily and
cunning insInuator 10 expectation OF re-
ward or place or power ever shook the truth
fulness OF solomon Foot.
Among iunumorable false, uumoyed,
Uushaken, uuseIucei. uuierIifel.
His loyalty he kept, his love, las zeal,
Nor number nor example with him wrought
To swerve from truth or change bis instant
mind.
Though single"
Senator Foot was patriotic man.
HE loved bis land because it was his own
And scorned to give ought other reason why
lie loved his native State. 10 uIm there
3D..
Ter mountains, no water So sweet as that
which dubbed from her crystal sIung,; no
grass so green as that W hich clothed her val
loys; and be now lies beneath the shadow of
her hills, where the wind sIng- his requiem
and the solemn old pines stand as santinels
over bis dust.
During the long and bloody rebellion,
when suffering and death entered almost cy-
cry household. 10 wounded soldier, no weep
Ing sister, no heart-broken wife or mother
ever called upon Senator Foot in vain Their
wants were biz wants Their suffering was
hls suffering. 10 sunshine and in rain, in
sickness and In health, by tender and sym
pathizing counsel, and by active and tfEclcnt-
effort, be labored for their relief. and We
may truthluliy say for him, &c When the eve
saw me then u blessed me When the ear
hearl me It gave witness 70 me, for deliy-
cred the poor that cried. the lathcrle-s. and
MN that had none to help him. The bless
ing OF him that was ready o. perish came
up mt, and ! caused tie widow 6 heart 10 |
sing for ""
Mr. Speaker, It Is a Curious thing TO live /
in this world " hen lts Creator launched I
It forth ia the perfection OF It's beauty, the |
morning stars sang together for Joy. Il was /
20 En- I.s. La
power, Tor man made ID the image Of God, |
into whose nostrils he breath the breath Of |
lite. Ii j. Jble to 1--we Tor the devel-pment |
Of the soul 1t is beautiful to appreciate
and ENJOY all the works of God, and all the |
endearing relations with which We are sur-
rounded. II l. glorious
''To have
Attentive and believing faculties;
To 20 abroad rejoicing IN the joy
OF beautiful ami well-created things;
To love the voice Of waters and the sheen
Of silver fountains leaping to the sea;
To thrill with the rich melody Of BIRDS
Living their life Of music; 10 be glad
In the gay sunshine, reverent in the storm;
To see a beauty IN the stirring leaf;
To find calm thoughts beneath the whispering
tree;
To see and hear and breathe the evidence
Or Gods deep wisdom in the natural world"
But more beautiful than life is the dea tn
II the Christian.
Mr.. Foot from the commencement Of his ,
ickness seemed to feel that be would die.
md when the final summons came he was
eady. .
His last thought was for his country, and
lis last desire to look out upon the beauti- 1
al sunlight and the noble edifce, where he
ad labored so long and where he believed /
he future safety Of the Republic rested /
nd then, as il fully satisfied, with eyes full
( radiance, he exclaimed, - | see it see
)! The gates are wide open Beautiful,
'eautiful g and the plastic form was stilled:
be casket was broken, and solomon Foot
ntered upon eternal rest. '
Mr.. Speaker, the life of good man like =
rat OF him We mourn is not confined to its :
Immediate and most apparent results Its h