Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-04-18
I'm Memory Of Senator Foot.

In Memory Of Senator Foot.
Below we print the euogies of the late Sen
asor Foot, delivered in Congress last Thursday
by Senators Poland and E!mund., and b,
Messrs. Morrill, and Woodbridge. Vermont
srs will pardon US for surrendering go much o
our space to these tributes to a most wise, ex
cellent, honest and just Senator. Other eulo-
gies were pronounced by Messrs. Sumner
Fessenden, Pomeroy. Brown Cragin, and Nc
Dougall of the Senate, aud by Messrs. Banks
Washburne. of Illinois, Dawson and GrinneIl, c
the House, but We are only able to give the
fitting and eloquent praises spoken by the Yer
mont delegation.
SENATOR ROLAND's EULOGY
Mr.. President: Two weeks ago this day i,
was my painful duty to announce TO the Senate
the death of my distinguished and beloved COL
league, the Hon. Solomon Foot. The little
time that elapsed between bis decease and the
funeral ceremonies here, and the absence OF
one Of my colleagues OF the House, who was
Mr.. FoOt'- immediate representative, were
deemed sufficient reasons fox postponing the
customary obituary tributes to some future day.
In accordance with the notice then given
ask that the Senate for short time Law
Others the melancholy satisfaction OF expressing
our appreciation of the character, services and
virtues OF our departed associate and friend
The last occasion of this kind, in this cham
Der, was early IN the present session, in memo
~ OF my lamented predecessor, Judge Cola
meH.
No one OF US will ever forget the eloquent
and loving words of Mr.. Foot on that occasion
IN dwelling upon the memory of hi. longtime
friend and colleague AS we looked st his
robust and majestic form and listened to his
deep, rich voice and solemn, weighty words
how little We thought that in SO short time
be, too, would have become only an object of
memory and a subject of eulogy.
Who next in this body of representatives
of States shall be called from this high place
to the unseen world? No one of US can tell
How solemnly reminded that death
comes as thief IN the night and how wisely
are We cautioned-"Bs We also resdy"
Mr.. Foot born in Cornwall, Addison
county, Vermont, on the 18th day of Novem-
Der, loO2. l have not been able to learn any
thing in relation to his early life but l infer
that hIs family condition was such as TO make
all attainment and Advancement In life depend
upon his own efforts and labors. | infer this
from the fact that he graduated from Middle
bury College about 1926 or 1927, and some
what later in life than is usual for young men
whore the means of education are provided BY
others.
After his graduation he spent some time 10
teaching, and at the same time studying law
After his admission to the bar he commenced
practice in the town Of Rutland, VT, and that
continued to be his place of residence up to
the time Of his death. He was elected Rep
Iesentative from the town of Rutland to the
Vermont House of Representatives in 1888,
1886, 1887, 1888, and again in the year 1S47,
and during the last three of these years was
Speaker of the House. He was member of
the State Constitutional Convention in 1886,
which made the important alteration 10 our
State Constitution of exchanging the old Leg
islative Council for State Senate. He also
held the office of Prosecuting Attorney for
Rutland County from 1886 to 1S41 In
1872 Mr. Foot was elected to the lower
House of Congress, and reelected in 1874,
but declined further election. In 1850 ne was
elected to the Senate of the United States,
reelected in 1856, and again in 1862, and
at the time OF MS death was the Oldest member
in continuous service in this body.
Mr. Foot very soon attained highly re-
spectacle position as a lawyer. He was care
ful and attentive to the interests of his clients,
and always made full and elaborate preparation
for the trial of MS causes. Ii his life had been
devoted to MS profession he would doubtless
have attained high rank lawyer. But his
attention was early turned to political life, and
his professional career was too broken and deS-
ultory to enable him to attain the highest dis
sinctIon in it. His ability and character were
far better suited to public and popular rath-
er than a mere professional life. lie had been
but few years at the bar, aud resident of
the town Of Rutland when he was chosen to
represent that town in the Safe Legislature.
II was quite rare at that day that so young a
man was chosen to represent one of the Oldest
and most important towns in the States, and
when contained many public men. But he
had already alta ned a high position as an able
and popular speaker upon public and political
questions, and his career in the State Legsla-
ture added to this a reputation as a wise and
careful legislator.
1t was Speaker of the Vermont House of
Representatives that he first displayed that
almost wonderful aptitude aud capacity as the
presiding officer of a deliberative assembly.
which afterwards made him so celebrated
throughout the nation, when he became the
Presiding Officer of the Senate of the United
States, as perhaps the best pres ding officer
IN the whole country. He seemed almost 10
have been made for the position His fine,
majestic person, his dignifed department, his
full and rich voice, hls easy and graceful man
ner, all conspired to make him a most useful
and acceptable president over any assembly
was very thorough, but not more So probably.
than many others. His superiority in this res
pect appeared born in him. His look pre-
served order the slightest word allayed con
FUSION Ihe same grace OF person and dignity
OF manner attended him always and every
where, and was equally pleasing and agreeable
IN private society or on the Senate floor it had
nothing of haughtness or arrogance, but was
kindly and oenignsnt. 1t had doubtless much
to DO with the almost universal personal love
and reverence felt for him by all who knew
him.
MIR. Foot was not man of great originality.
am not aware OF any great public measure
that be originated. He did not take much
part In the general debates in the Senate upon
general subjects, but ne always in his seat,
careful and watchful Of all measures with ex
ceiient Judgment Of what was for the public
interest A member of the present Cabinet,
who served ten years with him in the Senate.
said to me, during Mr.. Foot's sickness, that he
never knew man whose votes were ALWAYS
more consistently right than his. When he |
did speak IN the Senate, it was generally with /
careful preparation, and then he spoke viselv |
aud well, and was lstenedto with great atten-
tion and respect de was always faithful |
ana prompt IN his attendance on mis- commit
tees, In making his reports, and in the per
formance of every public duty But it was
especially in his duty to bis State, and the peo-
pie OF his State, that his watchfulness, energy.
and untiring efforts mainly directed -
No interest of Vermont was allowed to suffer.
or remain unguardsd, either 10 Congress, or in
any department of the General Govern
ment- And SO with every citizen of the
otate having right or claim or proper request
upon any department of the Government, MIR.
Foot made 1t his own special duty to see it