Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-10-24
than the votaries at the shrine of justice, of

more prominently IN the affiIrs of the Senate,
carrying in 1851 bills for the erection of the
Custom House at Burlington, and the Court
Houses at Windsor and Rutland, as we'll az for
the most useful and philanthropic object pro-
viding grant Of ten millions acres of the
public lands for asylums for the INDECENT in
sane. This last measure met the fate which in
late years too often oveTtsk kes acts in aid of
the suffering and down trodden. 1t
toed by President Pierce.
Reviewing the veto message IN a speech on
the Sd of May, 1854, be said, with most
.lust appreciation of the trus constitutional Of
tce of the executive veto, " so far the sim
pie question Of the policy or expadieucy of
measure is concerned it belongs properly-I
will not say exc xc'usively-to the legislative de-
partment; that except in rare aud peculiar
cases, II furnishes no jlstihaole consideration
for the interposltion OF the negative power OF
the executive. The exercise of this remnan5
of despotic power ought rarely TO be resOrted
to, and then only in of hasty aud ineon-
siderate legislation, and in cases of grant and
papsble injustice, AMI in cases of manifest iu-
fraction of the Constitution"
During the second sess on of the 331 Con-
gress he served on the committee on Puplic
Lands, Pensions, a9d Contingent Expenses.
And he exerted himself with MS usual vigor
to procure legislation needful for his constltu-
ents.
| On the bill providing for an improvement of
the breakwater at Burlington, his speech had
more than local bearing, as it rested upon
those broad and benihceut principles of poiit-
lcal economy relating to internal improvements,
cut Of which, in one form or another, although
always, until lately, opposed by the democrat
Ic party, has grown much of the material pros
pertv, aud consolidated unity of the people of
the tree states.
Iu the same session he urged upon Congress
the justice and pgopriety OF providing bounty
TO the volunteers in the war of 1912, basing
ns argument upon the same principles which
aave given to the heroic cltizen sodisry, who
in the late of the rebellion gave up with
enthusiastic PATRIOTISM and alacrlty, the occu-
| patons of peace, and the endearments of home
| 4ad family, to with their manhood and
| their lives the indvisible nationality of the
| government, some slight tokens of the graft
| Jude of that government which they have
| saved and redeemed 20 its original th9ory OF
justice, liberty, ard equal rights. In the
| course Of MS remarks, on moving an amend
ment to the regular bounty bill, providing for
| Tue Plattsburg volunteers, he said - 1t (the
| original bilD excludes those volunteers who
/ have rushed to the rescue Of the country at the
| lime of pressing enerse sency and impending
| danger, did the volunteers at the battle of
| Piattsburg. Tne farmers left their harvest in
| me fsld ali classes Of people left their en-
| ployment aud their homes, and went to the
Gene of danger and conh;ct, and
The victory was won, ana the fortunes OF tn at
day were saved to the country by those very
volunteers. These vo.unsers rendered quite
as signal and important service to tue country,
as many regular who has beeD paid by the
| United States"
In the 34th Congress he again pressed the
claims of the volunteers in the of 1912;
and, with signal ability, he maintained the
right of a liant officer, son of Vermont,
| (ien. B. ). Roberts) TO the honor OF first
planting the American flag upon the batteries
| of the Garlta, and upon he citadel of Mexico.
| He said, nat is as true now of the soldier
who made sacrifices and gained glory in the
recent battle fields, as 1t was then, = but, SIT,
his professional reputation belongs not to him.
self alone; 1t belongs not To his family alone;
it belongs TO the country, and empha icaliy TO
the State which gave him MS birth and MS ed
| ucation, and Is 10 a measure committed to the
keeping of the representatives from that State.
Vermont, sir, shed to- much blood upon the
battle field Of Mexico too many OF her youth
ful sons were left upon las plains and among
its mountain passes, to allow her 10 De unmind-
ful of the reputation of those who survive.
She made costly sacrifice to the spirit of
that war when her gallant and accomplished
Ransom fell before the walls of Chepultepec.
1t shall not be laid to my charge if shs makes
greater sacrifice by neglectlDg to vindioate
the well earned reputa ton of any of hsr sur
viving sons
In the spring of 1856 came on the Kansas
question, which marked another era In the
swift progress of events towards the great
Maelstrom of rebellion. | am informed by
Senator Pomeroy of that state, that Mr. Foot
engaged actively in that contest on the side of
freedom, and that he rendered most efficient
IasI - sbp nf no nth q
free constitution, but do not find in the Con-
gressional debates any speeches of his on that
subject reported.
In the same Congress he participated effect
ively in the debates the Central American
quest ion, opposing the claims OF Great Brit
ain TO the Mosquito Territory, and INSISTED up
cn her leaving that country and giving up her
protectorate over it, with vigor and pertinsc
lty that the present administration, 1t is to De
hoped, will initiate in respect to the French in
Mexico.
In the 35 h Congress he served on the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations. He advocated
the construction Dy government aid, of rail-
road to the Pacific coast on the route of Gov.
stevens survey, now known the northern
route; and ne proposed the project then ad
vanced for the acquisition of Cuba; and IN
speech, equal, think, TO any OF mis- efforts.
defended the conduct of Commodore Paulc-
Walker.
In tie 36ih Congress he wa. a memts,
of ths Committee Claims, and his name
Is connec,ed with much routine legislation.
La the 37th Congress which assembled
July 4tn, 1861, in special session on account
of the rebellion, ne served on the very impor-
tant Committee on Naval Affairs, with Hale
Grimes and Sherman, and wa also Chairman
of the Committee Public Building, but hav-
ing on the 19th of July bsen unanimously
elected President Of the Senate, pro tempore,
his labors necessarily devoted to the
hgSly responsible duties OF that office. altho'
he devoted much time to the business of the
Committee on Public Buildings, of which he
continued TO be chairman until his death.
At the third session of the 37th Congress,
he was again unanimously elected TO pre-.
side In the Senate. Aud in his discharge
of the duties of the Cnair he displayed a
dignity, promptness. urbanity and ability.
which has seldom been equalled and never
excelled.
In this and the succeeding Congress until be
died, although he did not enter much into de
bate mis- name is connected with the proceed
ings with many OF the leading measures made
necessary by the rebellion, and almost always
on the side Of the majority, although, with
| the true spirit OF Yer nonter and an honest
man, he did not fear or hesitate when hs
thought an administration measure to be clear
ly wrong, to oppose it, and vote against il, az
in the case of the legal tender act, and soms
others
Among his last speeches in the Senate wa,
one delivered oa the 18th of January, 1855
in favor of terminating tue Reciprocity Treaty
with Great Britain. 1t was brief but cogsn
and foroibe, and had, as l am told, much ct
L