Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-04-20
Congressional.
EULOGIIS of SENATOR FOOT


I beloved
The little time hat dsps,d between bis rccease and the
funeral services here and the absence ~ one NJ my col
leagues a the House, who WAS Mr. fqots ielnodiaie
represent avc, were deemed sufficient reasons iur post
uoung the customary obituary tributes future
day To accordance with The notice then given row aek
that the Senate Tor short time lay aside It's Ordinary
businfss and allow aud others the melancholy salts
faction II expressing our appreciation " The character
.or'i.es and virtues 81 our departed associate icnd -
The last occasion OF this Kind, Va this chamber, was
early 30 The present session in memory % my amrntea
predecessor jldge Co'lamcr
No one of us e ever forget The eloquent Ard loving
words Of Mr. Foot Oh that occasion, IN dwelling upon
the meme ~ OF bis long mc friend and colleague As
We looked At his robust and mastuc f1im and listened
to his deep rich voice and solemn weghty words, how
little thought that iu So short time be, too would
have become only object Of memory and subject "
euii9gy ,..,.,. ...,-.-, o..
shall be called from this high place 20 the unseen world
40 one of us can tell How solemull are We reminded
that death comes a. chief 30 the night and how wisely
ate we cautioned" BE ye eso READY
Mr. p DOT was born in Cornwall, Addison County. Yer
mont ou the ION day u November 1907 have net
been able o learn anything be- relation to bic early fei
but infer that bis family condition such as make
all attainment and advancement in lie depend upon his
forts aud abors infer this from the fact that he
graduated from Middrbury COLLEGE about 1875 ot 1871
aud fomewhat later 10 life than usual Tor young
where the means q education are provided by Others
A0er ms graduation he sent some time IN teaching and
and a The same time in studying aT After his atmi'-
20 tht bar he commenced practice ia the town q
Rutland Vt, and hat continued 20 be his residence mp
o The time of bis death He was elected Repre- sentt
tive from The t-wu of Rutland 90 the Vermont House OF
Representatives In 1855 1886 1881 1888 and again in
the year 1851 and during the last three Of those
was Speaker Of the House. lie was memb,r n 'he
State Constitutional Convention ia 1856. 1hi,h made
the important alteration Zoe our State Constitution OF
changing The old legislative Council for Stste Senate
% also held the office of Prosecuting Attorney for hut
land County from 1856 90 ld42 I'm l6i3 Mr.. Foot was
elected the lover House Of Congress and ne ecced
iu 1884 but declined further election Ia 1850 De was
elected Co she Senate of thc United States, reccc TO
1856 and again 10 1862, and al the time II hs dtaih
was the oldest member in continuous service IN TINS
body.
Mr. Foot soon attained highly respectable position
a. LAWYER. lie was careful ana attentive the iutr
ess n his alients and always made fan and elaborate
preparation for the uid II his causes II hs life had
been devoted 20 his profession he would doubtless have
attained oigh rank As lawyer But Lis attention vas
early turned TO poll zeal life and his professional career
too broken ard deeuOry to enable him 10 attain the
highest distinction 10 It His ability and character we're
far better suited TO pubic and pnpmaf rather Wan
mere professional life he had been but vc1 ftw
years the bar and resident Of the town Of Rutland
when he chosen TO represent that town IN the state
Legislature 1t was quite rare al that DAY that go you
a was chosen to represent one Of the odest aud
most important towns IN the state and which contained
many leading public But he had already attained
high position as On able and popular speaker upon
public aud political questions and his the state
Legislature added 10 this reputation as a wise and
careful gsator IL vas as Speaker ~ ne vermont
House 4 Representatives thar be d played hat almost
wonderful aptitude and capacity as presiding eieer Of
a deluer2ute asseshly, which afffTWald made him 50
celebrated throughout the ua0n, wh'n he became the
presiding officer Of she Senate Of the United Stss,
perhaps he best presiding officer In the whole country
lie sreus almost so have Jeen made for The p1t iuun-
II is hue, majestic petton his dguinei department, hi
iul AND iich voice his easy aud graceful manner ell
conspIed O. make him useful and acceptable pres
ldstt over any ASSEMBLY HIS kuoHled8e ot paf'amen
ufy law aud usage very thorough but not so
probably than many others u Is superiority in his re
tptc appeared born 90 him His lnok preserved OrJer
the hphtas word alayed confusion The same grace o
person and dignity Of manner ATTENDED MIN always
every where, aud equally pleasing agreeable TO-
phi ate society the senAe door it bad nothing
hnuphtntss or arrogance but IVES kindly and beniguaut
II had doubtless much TO do with the almost universal
HIrr I'd Ia lac D tub
him.
M. Foot rot Of great originality. au
not Of any great public measure he originated. Hr
did not take much pant Ia the general debates IN ihr
Senate tpou general tjos hui be always hi,
seat oaoiul and Nachu Of all m' asures, with exceeu
Judgment Of what for the public Interest mem
Dor 4 the present Cabinet, who served ten years wiz
HIM IN the Senate said 70 me during Mr.. Fouts sick
ness, that he never knew man vlose votes were al
ways more consistently ugat than his When be clio
speak the Seuatc, il was generally with careful prepa
ton, and then be spoke wisely AID well, and Was lis
tend TO with great attention and respect He vas al
ways fathfll and prompt In his attendance on his COM
mttees, ~ making his reports and 10 the perform
Of every public duty. But u Wa especially in has duu
TO hs state and the people OF his state, thai hs watch
fitness energy, aud untng efforts mainly direct
ed. No interest Of Vermont allowed 90 suffer, OF
remain gsrde l. either IN Congress depart
ment Of the Central Government And SO with every
citizen Of the state having right, OF claim proper
quest upon any department. Of the Government Mr.
Foot made IL his special duty 10 bte 1t ft
loved and hOnored Vermont be proud that il wat
the place Of his birth More than once since became
his colleague he has mentioned the iat to me, that neY
er before va Vermont represented IN the Senate by two
: Of her sons born her own soil and be seemed to
dwell on HE idea sith great satisfaction.
During his illness ard after he became satshe he
should recover he loved to eak OF his beilB
ied back his native state Of bens buried u1der ia,
shadow Of her grand mountains and green hills, and
within he sound Of her waterfalls aud that his grave
wsuld be among his own people, whom lac loved ant
who loved him well. NJ. Foots real greatness and
the cause ct bis uuiyerA al pol uarity have not Je
named. come men are called great nom simple giea
action others by a few treat deed. Mr Foot
man bv reason Of his great hearts not single ac
Or stNeia acts Of great ttatestnanthip but lifetime
good and generous, and lnselhh deeds was W, 40 MA
him great and gave him such hold upou the hearts o
the people OF his STATE aud Others who knew bin.
HIS mental faculties were ola high order HE acquire
4 ments very respectable indeeoi his judsment
eEcelent h. had extraordinary gifts of person and ma
nersi but many men possessing All these M equal de
grce would never a-ttin tihe OF the honor and re
spe-t he did. IL bis generous, warm hearted low
and sympathy Tor his fe lows and his exhibition ofu t
them and for them at tim's that induced thsiF low
and respect far him You with the general eKi
bon Of sorrow for his dea here, whore he had eeu 81
long, and vas well known and 20 highly respected
but il was my HTt.ne 70 be one Of your committee q
attend his remains TO his old hone and among the mel h
bofs aud associates ofhis daily home life Had yol
witnessed the deep gloom and sadness that hung owe
the whole community che thN filed many ewes
we fulfilled our melancholy duty. you might well hay
exclaimed, Behold how they loved him ~ l. wing u
another part Of the State from Mr.. Foot. and our pur
suits for many having been different, had
much personal intimacy with hin until the c7mmsnce
ment Of The present session when became his colleague
From iha time 10 his death we lived IN the house
aud ill his sickness sat At the same table
why all loved and respected hn and shared tier sent
ments in the fullest manner The infinite pains he tool
T. make my position agreeable u make acquaiutu
Wih the course aud detail Of business IN tie Senate
the proper offices and department. flr everything IL
. sh the whole routine Of Lougres0t al dTu isry whic
, II is important for man know and still every mai
IS expected 20 hnd oct for mselfwas what did no
expect iom hun and probably should have received rou
no other But with has nature he hardly could hRy
avoided doing It The Circumstance of his sickness
death such that general publicity has been given
various interviews aud partings between him and val
ued friends. solemn and affecting in their
interest took my last leave II him the after
c noon before his death could not attempt TO de
scribe Il but shall never forget his afsctiorale Ia
glHgc, u HE solemn benedicuOn al parting
y mourn his loss h. with all who knew him bu
win al Who believe in the heaven hereafter doubt
thar loss Is his infinite gain his triumphant Chris
tan death was fitting end for loving and usoiai
lfs. Wen may all prey that lives aud death
may be like his Sofey Indeed has nay native State beer
snohCn her two most distinguished sons long her in
representatives in this body, where they represented he
, with no much ability, usefulness and credit both tab
away by death and each other that the 9TH RIM
effect VI the hfst blow had hard passed when the othe
came. God grant those who have survived aud succeed
ed them ay be enabled in degree to emulate the
AID usefulness 10 the state and people thus be
Ieayed
REMARKS OF SENATOR FRssEN DEN
NJ Presideaf--s In single sessio
;. Of she senate within few short months hear III
announcement that death has laid his ley fingers upo
e both Senators ium ofhe States Of this Unioneac
l. man Of eminent park Ia this BODY and at peri3
When he loss at their Wisdom, their experience the
that ia