The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-04-25

of the late Senator Foot -
Mr. WOODBRIDGE. Mr. Speaker, but
few weeks ago the distinguished Senator
whom we now mourn arose from his seat
in the Senate and pronounced a most
eloquent and impressive eulocy upon his
colleague, who had been gathered TO his
fathers in the fullness of his years, crown
cd with private worth and public honor
And now before the cypress leaf is wilted
or the first gushing tear is dried, we are
called, in the providence of God, TO
freshcr grief for him who SO freely mingled
his tears with ours at the death of Judge
Collamer, whom none knew but to honor
and love
AT that time Mr. Foot was apparently
in perfect health His constitution was
unimp aired.by any exposure or excess, and
his splendid and almost unrivaled physical
development gave promise of many years
of vigorous and active life, for he possess
cd
"a combination and form, indeed,
Where every god did seem to set his seal,
To give the world assurance of u man.
In speaking of the life and character of
Mr.. Foot, l shall simply attempt to do
justice Unqualified praise Of the dead is
never either in good taste or truthful
Human character is never perfect at
best it is only good in parts.
Mr.. Foot was born in Cornwall, IN
the State of Vermont, in 1902. lie
graduated at Middlebury College with
distinguished honor in 1876, and the same
year became principal Of The seminary at
Castleton He was tutor IN the Univer-
sity of Vermont in 1927 and again,
from 1928 to 1881, principal of Castle
ton Seminary, and by his earnest efforts
and marked executive ability gave such
an impulse and character to the institu-
tion that it ranked for many years among
the first of the classical schools of Yer
mont. In the midst of his faithful and
arduous labors as a teacher he devoted
the time usually given to recreation and
the refined pleasures of social life to the
study of the law, and in 1881 was admit
ted to the bar in Rutland, and immedi-
ately commenced the practice of his
profession. For five years he was
member of the Legislature of Vermont,
and for three years Speaker of the House
of Representatives. From 1886 to 1912
he was prosecuting attorney for the coun-
| ty Of Rutland lie was member of the
constitutional convention which establish
ed the Senate as a co ordinate branch of
the Legislature of Vermont, in which
body he actively co-operated with his late
colleague, Judge Collamer. From lS43
to lo47 he was a member of this body,
and declined a third election. In 1850
he was elected Senator of the United
States, and occupied the position until
the day of his death
Such is brief recital Of the public and
Official positions occupied by Senator
Foot, embracing period Of nearly a
third of 4 century. Born of highly res
pectable but comparatively poor parents,
he was by force Of circumstances thrown
| upon his own resources, and early in life
acquired independent habits Of thought
and action. Without any of the adven-
titious surroundings Of wealth or station
or patronage, without any Of that extreme
brilliancy Of genius which now and then
star,lcs and dazzles the world, he looked
upon life as a great reality and upon sue
cess as the reward of labor. He was
rather sold than snowy. lie lacked
genius, but possessed talent and judgment
| His qualities did not shine forth like the
greater lights in the heavens, but there
was in them a proportion and harmony
which gave moral grandeur to the man.
Hence Senator Foot was what we call
a self made man. | do not attribute TO
him any particular credit for that. The
term ''selt-made man is much abused
one. There is no royal road TO greatness.
Every man who comes to be power
reaches it through personal effort The
scholar is self made, and becomes "A
scholar through patient and cxhausine
labor and reflection. The professional
man is self-made, and 50 is the merchant
and the artisan, That Senator Foot
succeeded where a weak will would have
failed Is doubtless true, and hence the
| greater honor 20 the man. AS a lawyer,
Mr. Foot was not learned. As a states-
man, he never seized upon new theories
or ventured upon untred paths. As a
political economist, he never originated
new ideas or developed old ones with ex-
traordinary power; and yet, without
question, he was one of the safest states
men and most judicious legislators of the
age.
lie did not resemble the mountain,
towering TO the skies, barren and useless
from its height, but rather the lesser
eminence, whose summit is crowned with
the forest, and whose slopes wave with
the yellow grain. He did not resemble
the terrific shower which destroys by its
violence, 80 much as the gentle rain
which the earth drinks and then dresses
herself in new life and beauty.
God granted Mr.. Foot one of the
greatest of earthly blessings, loving,
praying, pious mother, who early instiled
into his mind principles of reverence to-
ward God, obedience to authority, and
love of truth; and through long public
life the great leading characteristic of his
mind, and perhaps the highest power of
his character, was his devotion TO truth !;