Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-03-30
The Death of Senator Foot.

The Death OF Senator Foot.
The telegraph brings us the mournIul
news of the death of Hon SOLOMON FooT.
United States Senator from Vermont, at
Washington, this morning at O'Clock.
Though we have known for some time that
Mr.. Foot's Illness was of a very dangerous
sort. and Yesterday were advised of the prob
able near approach of bis end, yet the GER
tainty OF that sorrowful event comes upon
us with most painful weight We have
known Mr.. Foot personally for more than
| thirfy-eight years. During all that time his
worthy character as a man, and his ability,
his integrity, his patriotism, bis usefulness
as public man in the councils both of the
State of his birth, and Of the Nation during
period Of above thirty years, have all been
familiar to US. as they have been also known
and appreciated by many thousands Of the
active men of the present generation many
of whom, however. could not know, in adj
dition, az we did, and as We now sadly re-
alize, his genial qualities and worth as a
friend
Hardly four months has passed since
Vermont was called to mourn the loss
OF enc of her great men in the United States
Senate, Hon. Jacob Collamer, and now, so
soon, has his estimable and valuable COM
peer. Mr.. Foot, been taken from the scenes
of all earthly labors. The loss to the Ma
tion is very great the loss to the State is
heavy indeed. Judge CoLLAMER died at
home, during the recess of Congress. Mr..
FoOT died at Washington, where his active
life had been spent for most OF the past
twenty years, in the midst of the try
ing labors and responsibilities of the session
The intense anxiety which was ever pres
ent with him during his confinement, at the
peculiar and unexpected aspect of our pub
lie affairs, particularly in the action of Pres
ident JohnsOn-so different from what he
had hoped and striven for, so lraught as he
thought, with trouble for the future,-prey-
ed constantly on his vital energies, and
doubtless FASTENED the fatal termina ton of
his disease.
Senator Foot was born in Cornwall, Vt,
in the year ls02-was graduated with honor
at Middlebury College in 1896. During the
year 1897 be oficiated as Tutor of the Fresh
man class in the University of Vermont,
and was then member of our own
household. Subsequently he entered upon
the study of law, and was in practice for
some years in Rutland. He was first elected
as Representative from that town to the
General Assembly in the year 1888. He
was representative again in the years 1886,
I, s, and in lS47
He was Speaker of the House during the
years 1887, 1888 and lS47, and he has always
been spoken OF as the ablest presiding officer
which that body ever had. He was elected
Representative to Congress in 1913 and
served there two successive terms. He was
elected U. s. Senator in 1850, and occupied
that place from that time till his death,
being so thoroughly acceptable to the people
of this State that his election as Senator for
the third time by the Legislature of 1862,
lacked but six votes out of 2l3 in the House of
being unanimous one, and in the Senate
every vote was given for him. The instances
are rare where man has been kept in public
office. by successive popular elections for so
long a period as was Mr.. FooT-proof
enough, in community like Vermont, that
his substantial merit, and value as legisla-
tor were well known and appreciated.
1t would be an exaggeration to say that
in argument he showed the depth and
breadth of view on great questions of consti-
tutional law which were so conspicuous in
Judge Collamer. He rarely INDUCED IN
speeches of much length; but his positions
always showed sound sense and business of
comprehension, and they were maintained |
with clearness and force While no man |
was more decided in his opinions, he was
eminently courteous in all that be said, and |
as a presiding officer of the Senate-in |
which capacity be was called upon to act
more than any other person during hi. entire
senatorial career,-he was unrivalled. He |
was constantly member of important COM
mittees, and eminently industrious andreliable
in all hIs congressional duties He was an
honest man, of clean hands and pure record
he was an earnest man ardent in the cause of
freedom the national unity; man of strong
sympathies; identified with Vermont proud
of her; always ready to aid her sons and
soldiers always ready to maintain by
word and deed her best interests as a State.
He will be greatly missed by the citizens of
Washington, where his connection with the
care of the public buildings and of the af-
fairs of the District of Columbia made him
better known than most Of his associates.
Where, indeed, in all the circles in which he
moved will he not be missed? As he said
himself, IN his tribute to the memlr y of Sen
stor Collamer 1.-The loss of such a man is
indeed loss to the nation it is a less to
he State; it is a loss to society. But We
have only to know that it is Gods doings,
Ind abe still" His precepts and example
Ire left to ns. Happy will it be If we shall
" profit by them that We shall be ready, as
lie was ready, for the final summons"
The LIoUOR CAsEs AT WAsHNGros.-Mr. ,