New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-04-13

adopted in the belief that they would lead 10 general
good and not merely for the purposes Of party He hy
believed that the welfare Of the country could only be
attained By the perpetuaon Of the Union and in lis hour
Of peril he doubted its triumph lie doubted
that the patriotism of the country would find the means
10 IT, and when he died he found that his faith mad
been well placed. None could forget his presence,
his benevolence. his delcacy and dignity of manner.
None forget the noble history of his last moments,
pTegurcd so nobly III his erlogy on former col
league occasion less solemn ana no less sad
Mr.. FEssENDEN said it difficult 10 speak of one
long associated in this body and endeaed its members
by many and excellent qualities as helae Senator
Foot He could not but feel the difficulty of doing Justice
either 10 the 20 the occasion, and that difficulty
increased By long aud uninterrupted friendships but
difficult the task he could not, if he would, with
hold his tribute to the character and memory of one so
beloved held BY all Of his associates III the most affection
ate remembrance. The death Of friend said M Fes-
senden was so unexpected and his promise OF prolonged
life and continued usefulness seemed secure that II is
hard 70 realize that his place Is vacant and that We SHAH
him no more on earth. But Yesterday hes0od among
imposing IN the beauty and satcncss Of perfect man
hood his face beaming with kindness his whole aspect
digniticd and secure glowing with health and vgor To-
DAY all that mortal of friend and brother reposes IN
a distant grave watercd by many tears and yencrated
with sacred love, while the true and noble spHt
which once animated that frame has assembled
TO give account OF It's mission upon earth and to the
enjoyment, may well believe, Of the reward OF
wollspcnt life. An event like this becomes the more
startling when following closely upon another and scarcely
less impressive of the same sad character In
single session of the Senate within few short weeks we
hear the announcement that death has laid his ey ngcs
|
of this body at time when the loss OF such men Is most
severely felt That State has many noble and most wor
thy sons among whom She may choose for places OF trust
and honor but no state can give at once 10 hc uDnc
councils which time only bestowed, and that
fitness which experience alone perfectly secure. Mr.
Fessenden said that when mar, however eminent in
politics whatever claim he may have TO public confidence,
becomes member Of this body he has much To learn and
much to endure However well read he might be in pub
lie affairs. great difficulties must attend his efforts 10
render what he knew available or useful to
him. Few could dream of the ordeal 10 which
they about TO be exposed when they entered
such course how much courage they must possess
10 resist the temptation of that sensitive shrinking from
uudcSeryed of the evcrecung contest between
a national desire for appreciation and sense OF pubic
duty. He must learn to bear these censures unmoved and
walk steadily onward in the faith Of public duty sustained
only by the reflection that time do him justice, and
If that his individual hopes and aspirations and his
name among men shall be OF little account 70 MN "heh
weighed in the balance against the welfare Of the people
and the destiny OF the country To this ordeal the late
Senator from Vermont subjected for IL years, durng
the trying period of the counrys history. Through
all this period he conducted himself as TO gain for hi-
self the highest opinion Of all with whom he came III
contact with intellect broad and powerful IN MS grasp
enlarged by steady reflection, limited by no mario" or
sectional views Just and liberal IN spirit looking upon
his country as his mother, and loving win an te adoI
his Nought that could aid IN ~ Development
or advance its best interests failed 10 receive his sympathy
or support Seldom his deliberate Judgment 81 fault
To saw that he might not sometimes have erred would be
10 proclaim him more than human. To assert thai ne
never was wfully wrong erred but where Wise and
good men might have erred Is doing him no more than
all else was that whatever he did however he might act
no spot was left upon the perfect enamel Of his character
Nothing could stain his whitcnes In all that be did the
purity of his character shoue out brightly.
Mr. BRowS SAID: When II siguihcd that public
av would be apart for appropriate commemorton IN
honor lately deceased senator from Vermont, had
designed preparing some extended tribute 10 attest my
warm regard for his virtues and my great appreciation u
his talents An indspositon however, that has pros
tated almost to the present moment will prevent my
doing as / would have wished. SIN, am not willing 10
let this occasion pass without any memorial word from
my lips Long years Sir, learned TO admire stead
fast devotion 10 free prncipeH Anna the thlck cohhc
OF impending revolution manifested IN the public NE al
Senator Foot there moral force, an undcmonstnye
herosm in his quiet methods Of persistence impressive
far beyond any pronounced mannersm; and u was only
when came 10 know him personally, m the relations Of
private intercourse that realized The force and beauty 81
his full orbed manhood. The reciprocal action of thought
and feeling often ASSOCIATED y The wear OF political
avocation was with him perfect accord Among the
first who extended to the hand Of welcome upon my
into this body he emphasized that welcome by
cordial manner, refined courtesy, unselhsh guild
ance and from that hour until the hour Of his departure
/ truly say that relied upon his friendship WIN
confidence absolute though II had been the growth
Of years II seemed though the animation OF hs noble
nature shone ont radiant from his person. that a
conntenance IN which blended boldness and sweet
ness gave true index of the spnt within. And such as
he seemed found him 10 be; man free from guile
pure in PATRIOTISM clear Of faith; upright punctua de-
beate and wise, with the wisdom which comes OF OBJ
seryaon which develops in action rather than argument
and which because IS ever characteristic OF
large type Of intellect. capable OF most moving speech,
graceful beyond most in clOcutiOn, he seldom
heard in the debates of this chamber and yet Will DO
said of him that few If any better fulfilled the proper du
ties Of Senator did more thoroughly the work assigned
him either by constituents or cOmpeers. Often chosen
TO preside here emnenty worthy of such dignity, pos
sessed Of voice rich melody, quick of apprehension
amid diverse questonngs rapid in Judgment yet modest
armation he became az last the oracle oil the Senate
whom all referred in disputed matters of parliamentary
ruling Obseryant scrupulousy obseryant of the forms
and ceremonies that has grown like moses around
the procedure Of this the most august debcraye body
in the world he yet deierentlal 10 duty
a. f,rr Iced "a adj
dominant element that ruled all else IN his evenly
balanced mind 1t rgd, answering sense OF duty
that would suffer no consideration to set aside It's cam
of duty which Iii the prime OF vigorous,
physical development he by too asduous devotion, sacr
feed his lief But Why do l say sacrificed his
beyond those beautiful gates which shope upon his
fading vision with earthly splendor into the eyerlast
ing abeaces Of light and love to dwell forever with his
God.
Mr. SUMNER Mfr. President there is truce in this
Chamber. The antagonism Of debate is hushed. The
echoes Of conflict have died away. The white flag is
hyng. From opposite camps we come together TO bury
the dead II is Senator that We bury, not soldier
This the second time during the present session that
we have been called to mourn distinguished Senator
from Vermont. II much TO bear such loss once
Its renewal now after brief period, is calamity
without precedent in the history Of the senate. No State
before has ever lost two Senators together.
Mr. Foot at his death the Oldest Senator IN contin
mons service He entered the Senate in the Con-
ress with the Senator from Ohio Mr. Wade) and myself
I'm, he was sworn in al the called in March, while
the two Others were in till the succeeding De-
cember During this considerable space OF time | have
been the constant witness 10 his life and conversation IL
i with a sentiment of gratitude that look back upon
our relations never from the beginning impaired or dark
cned by any difference. For one brief moment Inc seemed
disturbed by something that fell from Inc IN the uncon
Scous intensity Of my cOnyctOlS but ~ was Tor bnei
moment only and he took my hand with genial grasp
make haste also to declare my Of his personal |
purity and bis ncoHuptibe nature. such elements OF
character exhibited and proved throughout long service
render him an example for all lie is gone but these viz
tues " smell sweet and blossom in the dust"
i'll, ITa ta1eo