Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-10-25

am quite sure she has but one son who
could utter the unnatural sentiment
without modification or reproach to
her"
In these congresses the cotempora-
ries of Mr.. Foot were Hamlin, Win
throp, Adams, Hale, King, Wise, Rhett,
Stephens, Garrett Davis, Vinton, Gid
dings, Douglas, Jacob Thompson,
Toombs, and Andrew Johnson of Ten
nessee.
Among such associates and rivals, he
acted with honor to himself and to his
State, and although not endowed with
all the qualities of great leader, he had
none of the vices which too often dis
figure the characters of such men. AL
ways courteous, patient and industrious,
he far excelled in usefulness and solid
merit, many who bore parts more con-
spicuous and commanding.
He declined an election to the Both
Congress, and resumed the practise of
his profession at Rutland. In the same
year be was again member of the
Legislature and was again the Speaker
of the House, bringing to the discharge
and onerous duties of that important
STATEN, the same pre-eminent qualities
that afterwards distinguished him as
president pro tenn. of the Senate of the
United States
From that time until he was elected a
Senator in Congress in the fall of 1850,
he successfully pursued the practice OF
the law, strengthening his hold upon
the good will OF the people by the dill
gence and integrity of his professional
career, and by the purity of his private
life.
He took his seat as Senator from
Vermont in the sd Congress, in Decem-
Der, 1851, his colleague being, then, the
late Hon. Mr.. Upham; while on the roll
OF the Senate were the now famous names
of Clay, Douglas, Cass, Houston, Sum-
ner, Wade and Seward, and another
name not famous, j. Davis OF Missis-
sippi. During this session of Congress
/ find no record Of his entering into de.
bate, but he appears TO have served in
dustriously on the committee on Pen
sions and with his constant fidelity to
principle, and faithfulness to the senti-
ments of his constituents, on the Goth OF
March, 1852, he voted with the small
band of disciples OF liberty and pro-
gress, Dodge Of Wisconsin, Hale, Seward,
Sumner and Wade, against the intoler-
ant and tyrannical Democratic majority,
which determined to lay upon the table
without reference or debate, a respectful
petition of American citizens, praying
that some measure might be inaugura-
ted looking to the extinction of slavery.
During the second session of that
Congress he served on the committee on
Post Offices and Post Roads, and also on
that on Revolutionary Claims.
After recounting Mr.. Foot's long and
useful services in the Senate, Mr.. Ed
munds said:
Among his last speeches in the Senate
was one delivered on the 18th of JAM
uary, 1865, in favor of terminating the
Reciprocity treaty with Great Britain.
1t was brief but cogent and forcible, and
had as l am told, much effect in the alb
rogation of the treaty.
! Aside from his Senatorial duties, he
was prominent delegate to the Union
Republican Convention of 1864, which
I'LL ALAhSOih1hht
Mr.. johnson for the Vice Presidency,
and he was an ardent advocate of the lat
ter to succeed Mr.. Hamlin. 1t was one of
the few serious mistakes of his lifetime,
! but he lived long enough to regret it..
Early in March, 1866, when confined to
his house by the illness which resulted
in his death, and when many still hoped
that the President would yet prove his
fidelity to the principles upon which he
was elected as declared and expounded
by his own lips, Mr.. Foot said to friend
who had called to see him: "There is
nothing to be hoped for from the Presi
dent he has deserted his principles, and
turned his back upon the only men to
whom he owed any gratitude, and has
relapsed into the arms Of the party
which has opposed the government
| throughout the war. The only safety
Of the nation is in the Senate and House
Of Representatives. Even out of this
| gloomy period Of Encouragement, as
great as any since the war began, if they
stand firm, we shall come out purified
and victorious. But 1 am depressed by
it more than lean tell you"
He never again entered the Senate
chamber where he had so long and well
labored and presided, until his body was
borne thither by his sorrowlng associates
to receive the last sad honors due to his
pure and useful life and his exalted sta
ton.
On the 28th day OF March, 1865, after
a service OF fifteen years in the Senate,
he died, surrounded by his relatives and
friends, and sustained and soothed by
all the consultations of religion.
"In the birth Of societies" says Mon.
tesquie "it is the chiefs Of the republics
who form the institutions, and in the Sc
Quel it is the institutions which form
the chiefs of the republic"
Mr.. Foot, think, occupied a middle
place among such chiefs. He was not
in the high, grand sense a leader or
chief, nor was he on the other hand las
many men in high stations are) the mere
creature of circumstances, floating upon
the tide Of public affairs.
He had not those indescribable re-
sources OF character to which we givethe
name of genius. But he was free, too,
from those impracticable fancies which
| frpguentlv denri 70 ppnius oF its utilitv