Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-04-19
Death of Senator Foot.
REMARKS OF HON, }. s. morrill,.

Senator Foot, delivered in the House of
Representatives on Thursday last com
menced by saying that never before in
the history of our government, has II
State been called upon TO mourn the
loss of both its Senators at a single ses-
sion OF Congress. He proceeded to
speak of the early history Of Mr.. Foot,
Of his surprising qualities as presid-
ing officer, and then alluded to his
speeches in Congress as follows:
His speeches, while in the House, on
the Mexican war, in 1916 and 1877, were
able and fearless eXpositions of its orr
gin and character, and received the
hearty approval Of large proportion of
the northern people. In the Senate not
all Of his speeches have been reported in
the Globe-Certainly one of his best
| never appeared, for the reason that he
retained the report for revision until it
was too late TO be inserted. His patri-
otism EMBODIED his whole country, and,
bidding defiance to all party ties, when
the honor and glory of his country
seemed imperiled, he reused all the ener-
gies Of his impassioned nature and
rushed to the rescue. His temper APP
peared in his speech in 1856, on the Cen
trail American question, when England
exhibited her Evolutionary ambition for
universal empire by pretensiOns con-
nected with Honduras. He said
Standing in opposition, as | do, to the
present National AdministratiOn-dif
I 4 AL
radically upon almost every question Of
domestic policy-I am the more happy
in being able to accord to it the tribute,
worthless though it may be, of my sim
cere and entire approval of the position
1t has taken upon this question. How
ever We may be divided among ourselves
however we may contend and wrangle
upon questions OF domestic interest and
OF policy, yet when it comes to ques-
ton with foreign power, wherein our
national honor and national interest are
concerned, as in the present instance, let
us exhibit to the world the beautiful
and sublime spectacle Of 8 great, unit
ed, harmonious peOple-a people hay
ing one mind, one heart and one pur-
pose"
Among the speeches reported, that
upon the Kansas Constitution, better
known as the 'Lecompton Swindle,"
was one Of his best and of marked ex-
cellence. The plot to force a pro.sla.
very constitution upon free people was
shown up with all it's revolving features.
Not frequent speaker in the Senate, he
was yet always listened to with atten-
ton, when he did speak upon any sub
ject and upon those subjects immedi-
ately contided to his charge he pos
sessed its entire confidence. Els recent
eulogy upon his deceased colleague was
not only worthy of the occasion, but
was q good specimen Of the Senator's
matter and manner, and when delivered
awakened responsive chords in the
hearts Of all hearers by its impressive
eloquence and chastened beauty.
As a speaker before q popular audi
e1ce Mr.. Foot occupied no mean rank.
His noble figure and full toned voice at
once arrested attention. Never begrudg-
ing preliminary preparation, his speech
es were clear, forCible, and well sue-
tanned to the end. His style never
lacked elevation, and without being
ornate was affiuent and scholarly.
Through admirable in temper, he could
yet employ inveCtive ut times with
crushing effect, and detained with the
daring impetuOsity of master who
felt able to ride and guide the storm he
was creating. But his great strength
lay in his absolute earnestness. His
voice gave forth no uncertain sound
No one ever heard him speak and went
away doubling as to his meaning or as
to which side OF the question he had es-
pOused. Having satisfied his own iudg-
ment that he was right he embarked
his whole soul and strained every nerve
in the effort to bring his audience to the
same conclusions with himself. He
was both sincere and positive, and ut
terly incapable of guile or double mean
ing. His integrity, moral and political,
was as firmly fixed as the mountains
beneath whose shadow he was born,
and there was never any doubt or specu-
lation upon any question as to where he
would be found. When he spoke, there
fore, he brought to bear, not only CO.
gent argument, but tue influence of a
true mantle weight Of an experienced
legislator.
Few who have spoken so we'll have
been able to content themselves with !
speaking so infrequently. He always |
appeared to underrate his own perform
ances, and never, believe, circulated |
any of his speeches in pamphlet form,
but he was generous and hearty in his |
appreciation and circulation of those |
made by others.
Mr.. Morrill, related the following in
teresting aud characteristic incident
He was man Of courage. When he
served in this House, belonging to the
old Wing party, the great, radical alb
olitionist from Ohio, Ashtabula district,
was also a member Anti-slavery SEN
timents in those days found little favor
anywhere, and here encountered fercest
hate and frequent violence on the part
of ave-holding representatives. Mr..
Giddiugs once told me that upon one
occasion, when he had uttered some un-
welcome truth about the institution of
barbarouS memory, one Of those cAival-
ric representatives rushed toward him.
evidently bent on mischief, and that
Foot at once sprang at his side, ready