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


anv gratitude, and has relapsed into the arms
Of The party which has opposed the Govern
neut throue bout the war. The only safety OF
she nation Il in the Senate and House OF tep-
reeentatiyes. Even out of this loomy period
OF encouragement, Is great as any since tne war
began. if they stand firm, We shall come cut pu-
ri6ed and victorious. But am oppressed by
il more than l Can tell you"
He never again entered the Senate IN m
Der where he had SO long and we'll laoo'ed ana
prssided, until his body was borne tblther by
hia borrowing associates, to receive The last
cad honors due to his pure and useful life and
his exalted station.
On the 28,h day of March, 1866, after a
service of fifteen years 10 the Senate, he died,
surrounded by his relatives and friends, and
sustained and soothsd by all the consultations
Of religion.
There are many passages OF his life worthy
of commemoratiOn, which the time properly
devoted to no. ices OF his charac er does not al
ov me to refer to. IL has been my purpose
ather to bring to your attention the leading
vents Of his life, and the times IN which he
bore . part, so that +" the hour and the man
might, a. they ttly should, reciprocAiIy Illus
trate each other.
A living French writer, profoundly versed
IN the philosophy of politics, and remarkable
when it so pIeases him, } for the clearness OF
his ideas, says Historic truth ought to be
NO less sacred than religion. Ii the precepts
of faith raise our souls above the interests OF
this world, the lessons Of history IN their turn
inspire US with the love CT the beautiful and
she lust, and hatred 20 whatever presents an
obstacle TO the progress of humanity these
lessons to be profitable require certain coudi-
tion.. IL is ne cessary that the facts be pro-
duced with rigorous exactress, that the
1I,t11- al he " al IL
losophcal.y, that the exciting interest of the
details of the lives of public men should not
divert attention from the political part they
PLAYED, or cause US 20 forget their proyldcnt!si
mission"
Guided by these evident truths, it remains
to estimate with critical business no less than
With affectionste remembrance, the character
and career of Mr. Foot. For our duties now
are historic purely The solemn and imposing
pageant of the burial Is past The voices CT
Divines and Senators, and Representatives
have been heard in euloges sucn as can be
bestowed only upon few men, He now takes
his place in history, among the heroes and
worthless who have been the creators OF histo-
", and surrounded with array of grea.
events profoundly significant of the progress
of the human race.
ss In the birth oil societies." says Mon es-
lquieu, it is the chief of the republics who
form the institutions, and in the sequel it is,
the institutions which form the chiefs of the
republic"
Mr.. Foot, l think, occupied middle place
among SUCH chiefs. He was lot III the high
grand sense,a leader chief, he on
the other hand las many men in high stations
are,l the mere creature of circumstances, float
ing upon the tide of public affairs.
He had not those indescribable resources OF
character ehich we give the of ge-
MUS. But ia was free, too, from those inn
practisble ncies which frequently deprives
genius of its utility. He had none OF that
trucking subserviency which will sometimes
barter a permanent good for a temporary tri
umph. He never sold the truth to save the
hour.
But, to plain, strong intellect, he added
the improvements Of considerable learning, of
cultivation, of discipline, and a constant and
industrious aim at excellence In ali MS acts,
With q purity of heart and sweetness and gen.
erosity of disposition, as charming as 1t is rare
he entered upon the performance of all his
duties, whether of friendship, in his profession,
or of State, with vigorous and hearty good
will that was a sure and just guarantee OF
success and popularity. He did not initi4te
revolutions or reforms, but in the shathing
scenes of the drama of life he always III
MS proper place, anu Ne always performed his
part, and never ovsracred.
"When vorkmen strive to do better than well,
They do eonfou nd their skill in covetousness.'
This he did not do, but he did not fail in all
his life of varied employment,-sch boy,
student, teacher, lawyer, legislator-to reach
and maintain high standard of excellence :;
and he, Justly excited by these qualities of
mind and heart. and by his unblemlshed pr
vate life, the afectionate admiration and es-
TEEN Of all classes of people. And thus he
passes into history with the loving remem-
brance of his friends, of his State, and of his
country, who will associate his worthy name
With all the amenities of intercourse, and with
the onward progress Of the great events of his
time.
10 his allotted place he makes up one of
the great company of men whose lives have
been bright examples for our admiration and
imitation. We trace the history of the
farmers boy, or the mechanics son up the
rugged steep of fortune, and rejoice over the
course -FOUR country's republican glory,) of the
poor doctors seitreliant son working his way
to the height of civil greatness-teaching the
valuable lesson, fraught will courage and con-
stsncy to every calling, that neither humble
ress of birth, nor absence Of fortune, nor dis
lance of opportunity, is sufficient to curb the
expanding force of talent and persistent indus
try, armed and purified by virtue. But the
high counsel
"Tu ne cede mails sed contra audentior ito
could be addressed to the true mariner on ly
it is the brave and patient alone who can prof
it by such examples.