Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-04-20

be forever engraved on the hearts of his
friends, than those Of the lamented Senator
Foot
without an enemy in the world. loving
God and glowing with affection for all those
who visited him in his last hours. with eyes
still beaming with all their wonted brillian-
cy. his unimpassioned words SO clearly ar
tieulated, 50 lovingly rendered. were ali cal
culated to touch every heart with wonderful
pathos-
Honored Senator, true Patriot. faithful
Friend, Farewell
Remarks of Senator Edmunds.
Mr.. President Were the aphorlsm of
the great dramatist true. that
1.-The evil that men do lives after them,
The good is often inferred with their bones, -
there would be little indeed LETT to remind
us Of him who has now 50 lately vanished
from the Council Chamber of the nation,
and from the vast and majestic edifce which
has grown into stature and beauty under the
enchantment Of his labors be would stand
with those described in the sad but beauti-
ful passage in the divine comedy:
"On earth they left no record in their day,
Mercy and jnstice had them in disdain,
Speak not Of them, but look and pass away. -
and his memory would pass with bis mortal
body from the knowledge of men.
But higher philosophy and better re-
lIgion teaches u, that however it be with
evil. the good that men do is not buried with
their bones, but lives after them, ever grow
ing, widening, elevating. never lost, and
casting its benefcent traits even into the lap
Of the future.
Whatever then may be the sphere Of use
fulness and good, to which a man Is called
or in which he moves, whether it be in the
l0itiest regions Of politics or ethics. or in
the cold and serene solitudes OF abstract
science, or IN the judicial administration Of
affairs, or in the humblest callings of humble
life, be his work well and faithfully done,
be his mission filled to completion, he has
earned an equal recOmpense. and has equal
ly won the yictor's crown.
Thus 1t has seemed 10 me that. on this sad
and sOrrOwtul occasion, | may leave to other
and more familiar tongues the pIaise Of Nj.
Foot IN his character Of Sen tor and legisla-
tor, and may fifty be excused from any phi
lOs0pnical analysis, or estimate. OF panegy-
rie Of him as compared with other eminent
men-leave 10 the future the task Of fixing
with impartial exGctness hi= place in the
high Temple OF Fame, among the heroes and
worthless who have gone before him to their
rest, and the rather, as nv heart prompts
me, and as the wishes Of the people whom
he has SO long and so worthily represented
would am sure direct. as hls home friend
and fellOw-citzen, dwell for little space.
as we mourn at his departure. upon his per-
sonal relations 10 his people, ami upon his
long life Of unblemished purity, and Of cor
dial and earnest love for anu pride IN his ma
tive State, and upon his constant and untlr-
ing ana successful efforts to promote their
welfare, and TO realize their WISHES upon his
love of his country, and Of man. Born 70
no ancestral honors, and marching forward
10 usefulness and influence only by the mer-
II Of his own vigorous but unaided endeavlr
be entered upon life in perfect sympathy
with the universal aspirations Of the people,
and so, as step by step be advanced from pu-
pill to teacher, from teacher leader, and
from leader to ruler, he was to them the type
and example Of republican social progress.
the representative man, and all the people
looked upon his success as their own, and
felt in his Advancement triumph personal
10 themselves.
Their aiectiOnate sympathy Of sentiment
was fully reciprocated by Mr.. Foot. lie
took up, as If by instinct, the feelings Of the
people, and never failed to assert them against
all antagonism. And these qualities Of his
mind and heart We're not limited to geo
graphical boundaries.
He believed IN the exhortatIon-
Serve thy country, and every other,
And wherever man dwells find brother
Whom God hath related to thee -
30 he was admired. and followed, and
trusted by the masses Of the people.
Whenever he was called upon for assist
ance, he individualized the case Of each an
plicant, and made II his own; his heart
warmed and his face lit up with joy at the
opportunity Of assisting any, however hum
bic, of his fellow citizens. and hundreds and
thousands will carry, through their lives the
pleasant remembrance Of his grasp and
smile, as he would dismiss them with en-
cOuragement and counsel. Thus he endearcd
himself 10 men individually.
HIS sense Of truth and Justice WIS oui:
and vivid, although his respect for SINGER
opposition was perfect, and 50 he was no
easily misled. Thus he obtained the conf
dence and respect OF those who could not
gam his aid, as well as Of those who were
the recipients of his favor.
His life was pure, generous and blameless,
free from all shadow OF suspicion or reproach;
and all who knew him had faith in his fidel-
ity to his principles, and to his State against
all pressure and all temptation.
And therefore, on all sides, there gathered
around their earnest friend hearty, patriot
&c men, the pride, the confidence and the at
tection- Of his whole people, who now mourn
his loss az an individual bereavement, as does
he who now addresses you, whose relations
with that noble man were of such affection
ate intimacy and good will as would make
him fifty turn away and weep rather than
speak the language of deserved eulogy.
In busy, useful light he has filed bis
allotted sphere, and discharged bis trust
with enmity toward none, with charity t.
ward all, he has lived and died.
Mr.. President, as we gather hope and VIE
dom even out Ol these sOrrOwful duties, let
us remember tina 1t Is good deeds, and not
the lingering years, that make up the full
true hfc Of man, and that crown him with
hIs last rewards.