Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-10-24

state, upon the Bench OF Vermont, and have |
given law not only to Vermont, but have con-
tributed largely to the jurisprudence of the
whole nation.
The Bar which had produced such Judges
was unexhausted of its strength. There were !
Fletcher and Mattocks, Adds and Adams, |
Allen and Marsh, Bates and Chapman, Clark |
and Royce, Bennett and Aiken, Bradley and
Kellogg. Coliarner and Cushman, Hebard and
Buck, Red6e.d and Uphan Peck and Dilling-
ham, and numerous other strong men, who had
either achieved reputation, or were fighting
their way to il.
Into this arena Mr.. Foot entered, and soon
attained a position, and reaped the harvest ot
success.
Without full means of forming an accurats
judgment, | think l may say, that he moro
distinguished d jury advocate than in the
trial Of eases reserved.
In the former, his fne personal presence,
his universal popularity, and his simple earn
estness and truth, could not fail to impress
jury most favorabiy.
Aud in the latter, his cases were always well
and lndustriously prepared, and bis arguments
forc!ble. But do not think he possessed in
the highest degree, that aggressive Intellectual
conbativeness, and analytical subtiety of mind,
wh;ch, fortified by learning, has produced the
greatest lawyers.
But this is no., perhaps, the plsce to discuss
at large the philosophy or the romance Of the
law. Suffice 1t to say, that success in it is, in
general, as In all other pursuits, attained only
by devotion to is udies, and attention TO It's
duties in the outset, and thenceforwsrd.
Mr.. Foot 50 attained il. The great Mr.. JUS
tice Butler, when in mature life ne cautioned a
youth of sixteen against being led astray by
the example of others, said, looking hack with
pardonable complacency 10 his own fortitude t:
:. If | had listened 10 the advice of some of
hose who called themselves my friends when
| YVES young, instead of being Judge of the
Kings Bench, should have died long ago
prisoner in the Kings Bench Prison"
In 1882 the rising young lawyer espoused
with great enthusiasm the cause of Henry Clay
as candidate for the Presidency, and prepared
the aole address issued by Convention held
a; Montpelier, to the freemen OF Vermont up
on that subject. lie thus entered upcn po
lltcaI life with that party which has, with most
rare Intervals, been composed of the large ma
lority of the citizens of Vermont, aad the legt
innate progress and growth of whose principles
has since opposed a bu lwark against in
reference with the largest personal liberty and
equality, as well as against The lattudinary and
separatlve doctrines of what called democ-
racy-
In those days hollow truce had been con-
ClUISA OS tue lhtsStuII Stul y oulASss OclNc
Liberty and Slavery, and the irrepressbls
conflict OF opposing Civilizations, had been
thus postponed untIl later day.
But the theories of government identica |
with the one side or the other OF that great
question, thus lett TO smother for mighty
conf .grstlon, were IN active contest.
On one side, based upon the grand idea that
the people were, under the Constitution, nation
allzed, aud that the interest of the whole
the IN crest OF every part, were the doctrine
of protective tariff, wnence only could come
the largest development of our resources
national currency regulated by the nauonai
| law and th- national necessities, and sy stem
| of Int rual improvements whereby easy and
constant Intercommunlcation between remote
parts OF the country, should make tte people
homogeneous, and identify their interest and
feelings.
GA ne other side were the opposite doctrines
of tree ;rade,-the se fish scheme OF that ciass
| whose occupation II was TO import foreign mer-
chandIse TO sell, and of that other Class which
| enjoyed, IL Thought, the kindly monopoly of
producing cotton sud tobacco for sale IN forxiS n
markets. ,-and the nigh State rights doctrine
OF local currency, and commercial regulations,
and means OF transit. The basis of these lat
ter doctrines was protessed Jealousy OF Gen.
Irslz-d power. But the real controversy was
rebellion and national victory the fair
fruits of which, after thirty year strugg ie,
some people, it is said, are seriously disposed
to turn over 70 the enemy.
As member. then, OF the uhig party, Mr.
Foot accepted It's prnolpes with real faith, and
defended anu pcopagated them with al his
pow-r,-stanGlns by them and tueir legitimate
! outgrowth, with an answering fidelity 10 the
END Of ais Ie
In 1888 he was elected to the legislature by
the people of Rutland. lie was again elected
in 1886. ln tnat same Year, also, he a
memoer of the constIlut ionai convention, which
a ooIIshed the governor S council and establish
ed the Senate, change now generally conced-
ed to have been eninenly wise one, but
which me with great opposition, anu was en-
/ tered upon with much miSgIving. Mr.. Foot
vas among the foremost advocates OF The
measure, aud contributed largely, perhaps,
as any one man It's success.
la 1887 anu 1888 ne was again a member of
the Hou,e, and It's Speaker.
| The duties of this office ne discharged with
admirable ease, dignity and correctness, so
that he became IN ths minds of the members
the model of great speaker.
In 1889 he married Miss Emily Fay daugh-
ter OF the late William Fay, of Rutland.
Tnis es,imable lady, however, soon died, and
he afterwards married Mrs. Anna Dana,
daughter OF the late Henry Hodges, of Ciaren.
don, in whose congenlal society, surrounded by
all that could make life happy, he passed the
remainder of his days.
In the great political revolution of 1S4O Mr.
Foot, in common with his party, supported
Ii aIrison and Tyler, who we're elected.
The whig party, then long in apparently
| hopeless minority, had seen the government
so conducted as 20 bring distress upon all the
producing interests OF the country, and ruiz
| upon Its citizens engaged in manufact uring
The public finances were in a state of after de-
rangement, and political corruption was com.
ing Co be looked upon by many as an amiabls
weakness rather than crime.
From its chronic weakness in the Southern
States, the leaders OF the whig party shoulc
have known that there was a fixed logical caus.
for its unpopularity there, in the fact, as the
highly cultivated and far seeking southern
Statesman saw, that its legitimate Tendencies
were hostile to the institution of slavery anC
they, in selecting candidates tor the chief office
in the nation, should have been sure that theil
leading and controlling political principle,
, were sound, and were not mere temporary
spasm of sense and virtue, produced by cur
rent events.
But blind to those considerations and Sc
duced by the cry of expectancy, the part,
, nominated Mr.. Tyler on the ticket with Gen
Harrison, and the wings went for Tyler
therefore, without a why or wherefore" Bu
, General Harrison had scarcely assumed thu
reins of government he died, and Mr.. Ty
Ter came Co the office of President, and tn
party that had elected him found itself be,ray
| ed and rendered perfectly powerless to put Il
, operation the principles upon which it had Car
ried the elections.
f In this state of parties and politics, MIR
y Foot entered Congress, taking his seat wit