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


tentative on Friday, were exceedingly i'm
pressiye and interesting, and form a tribute
to hi= memory, of which the State may well
be proud. We s-ouli be glad if our limits
PERM tied US to publish them all at length,
but that viii be impossible. Wegive to day
Mr.. Eimunds maiden speech, and shall
make room for extracts from the others,
hereafter.
Remarks of Mr.. Morrill,.
Mr.. SpeaLer-Ncver before IN the history
OF our government has State been called
upon to mourn the loss OF both its Senators
at single session Of Congress. Vermont
weeps. for her Senators are not.
Ny colleague CMr. woolbridge) has 50
happily aud justly portrayed the history Of
I Senator Foot, while others have 50 gener-
ously acknowledged his worth, that little
more remains for me 10 contribute.
As a speaker before a popular audience,
Mr.. Foot occupied no mean rank His noble
figure and full toned voice at once arrested
attention. Never begrudging preliminary
preparation, his speeches were clear, forcible
and well sustained 10 the end. His style
never lacked elevation, and without being
ornate was afilHent and scholarly. Though
admirable ID temper, he could vet employ
invectlve at tunes with crushing effect. and
declaImed with the daring impetuosity of
master who felt able TO ride and guide the
storm be was creating. But his great
strength Law IN his absolute earnestness. His
voice gave forth no uncertain sound. No
one ever heard him speak and went away
doubling as TO his meaning or as to which
side Of the question he had espoused. Hav-
ing satisfied his own judgment that he was
right. he embarked hi whole soul and strain
ed tvery nerve In the effort TO bring his au.
dience 10 the same conclusions with himself
He was both sincere and positive, and utter
" incapable of guile or double meaning
His integrity, moral and political, was as
firmly fixed as the mountains beneath whose
shadow he was born, and there was never
any doubt or speculation upon any question
as TO where he would be found. When he
spoke, therefore, be brought 10 bear, not
only cogent argument, but the influence of
a true mantle weight Of an experienced
legislator.
As chairman of the committee on public
buildings, he had for long period taken q
deep interest in the work Of the Capitol ez-
tension His ideas were liberal, co-exten-
sive with the grandeur Of the nation, and
I be would build well and for all time He
I felt pride in the spleDdors of the struct-
ure, fondly contemplated the time when the
surrounding grounds should be enlarged,
and believed in the end the world would not
| be able TO show government grounds and
buildings more imposing or so appropriately
magnificent. 1t was the Capitol Of a nation
Of freemen What wonder, then, that he
/ should IN his last hour close the drama by
wishing to be raised in his bed that his eyes
/ might once more behold the rays Of the
morning sun glitterIng upon the majestic
dome and IllumIning those halls wherein he
had long been so noted an actor He was
modest man, and obeyed the Gospel precept.
mot to think Of himself more highly than
he ought to think" and esteemed others
better than himself. Few who have spoken
so well have been able to content themselves
with speaking untrequently. Tie always
appeared TO Underrate bis own performances,
I and never, believe, circulated any of HE
speeches in pamphlet form, but be was gen
eTous and hearty in his appreciation and
circulation Of those made BY others When
he served in this House, belonging to the
old Wing party. the great radical abolition
ist from Ohio. Asnlabula district, was also
q member. Anti-slavery sentiments in those
days found little favor anywhere, and here
encountered 6ercest hate and frequent yiO-
lence on the part Of slave holding represen-
taiiyes. Mr.. GIddings once told mt that up
on one occasion, when he had uttered some
unwelcome truths about the institution of
barbarous memory, one OF those chiyalric
representatives rushed toward him, evident
" bent on mischief. and that Foot at once
spreng at his side, ready TO meet the aggres-
sor. The promI tness OF this action and the
firm front Of Mr. Foot awed the wOuld-be-
assassin, and be retired TO his seat. NObO-
DIV, sand Mr.. GiddIngs, could doubt the mean
IN Of one or the other. The drhcate as
well as the difficult duty Of making Up the
various committees Of the Senate frequently
tell 70 his lot, and il was ALWAYS performed
with great discretion and fairness. Here his
modesiy was apparent for he never 60 carved
ar u leave the choicest part for himself. Mr..
Foot Was Industrious, meIhOJlcal. punctual
20 ali AZ continents, and never postponed the
work oi to-day Tor the greater leisure Of to-
morrow. hateyer ne aimed 70 do he aimed |
10 do we'll lie was proud Of Vermont, loved |
her history, and wore her honOrs worthlly. |
But he was not too proud to labor for the |
humblest Of Eis constituents, and be added |
luslre 10 his Stale AMI honor 10 the Nation.
Il II be God loves those who are ready for |
- Ills coming III such an hour as we think /
no or Ihust he takes while IN the full en-
nent OF all thcii sire 9Th and hopes, /
with mad and reputation as well as latin IN
ttc grace OF God undimmed, then was Sem
ator Foot fortunate, az be was happy. IN the
time OF his death Lilc was at lie acme, and
be filed as high space I'D the world as his
highes, ambition had ever coveted. He
had not tired himself nor was the world
tired OF his presence, but he seemed to see
as wIih heavenly vision a welcome await
ing hun in the new world to which be was
Fastening, ana exclaimed, - see 1t : see
II. The gates are wide open. Beautiful
Beautiful Senator Foot was pre-eminent-
ly a large hearted man, nursing no lima
tured lealousies in himself nor IN others
far less did he indulge in any malice, and
was the readiest man have ever known to
forget and forgive seeming neglect or &C.
tual injury Opponents never found his
tongue lubrIeated by the serpent's poison,
nor did friends ever find themselves ''damned
by faint praise - for be was lukewarm in
nothing, bot distributed praise and blame
openly. manfally, and with most refresh
ng JUNCTION. For his friends be was ready {
o make any sacrifices, and he obeyed their
,ebests with a cordial alacrity, never to be
orgOtten by those whom his position, ofhcial
II other. enabled him TO assist. Our volun- G
eer soldiers and officers, 30 suddenly called
rom industrial avocations to put down the !
Teat rebellion. received his homage and 0
enderest solicitude. OF these he fels the
cad were all martyrs, the Irving all heroes.