Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1880-06-03
HEnERY STUART fuaTE.

ry inflicted by striking the top o.
his head, when suddenly rising
against the sharp point at the bottom
Of q chandelier, under which lie had
been sitting. This accident happened
n Washington during his recent Wis.
itthere. Asa last resort, we Learn
| thai his physicians in New Orleans
| performed upop.his scalp a most ex.
cruciating operation, which, however
giving no relief, he resigned his posi-.
ton in the mint in that city, and came
4 home to die.
! Gov. Foote was born in Fauouter
county, Va.,Sept..2o, 1860. He was
| graduated Of Washington College, at
Lexington, Va, in 1919. He then
studied law, and was licensed Ia
practice in 1922. During this period
of his life, he and Mr.. Justice Swayne,
Of the United States Supreme Court
were room-mates in Warrenton, Fau-
ltquier county, Va. Inl824, he removed
to Alabama, and settled at Tuscum-
bia, where he remained two years.
practicing law and editing Demo
cratic newspaper In 1929, he re-
moved to mississippi, and established
himself at jackson. In 1847, he was
elected to the United States Senate.
taking his seatin December of that
year, when he was placed at the heal
OF the committee on Foreign Rela-
tions. In 1850, he toolr al active
part in favor of the so-called acom-
promise measures" In 1851, he be-
came the candidate of the Union par
ty for Governor of Mississippi, and
after an exciting canvass, was elected
over Jefferson Davis. Fe resigned
his seat i'll the Senate, and entered
upon his duties as Governor, in Jan
uary. 1854, he removed to California,
and in 1850 he supported Fillmore
for tho Presidency. In the spring Of
1858, he returned to Mississippi, and
settled at Vicksburg. In May, 1859
he attended the Southern Convention
at Knoxville, and made speeches
against disunion. which attracted
much attention throughout tie coun-
try. Shortly nfterward ne removed
to Nashville, where he married Mrs
Rachel d. Smiley now his widow In
1850 ,teftes'Y Yaiies had spoke here at
the Capitol; alta late houpa large
portion of the crowd followed Gov.
Foote to the Square, where he held
forth in vehement opposition. After
the secession of the State he was cleo
ted to the Confederate Congress,
where no continued to serve until
nearly the end of the war, after which
he made a brief visit to Europe, and
upon his returning, he remained for a
while ct Montreal, in Canada, whence
10 returned to Nashville. Several
Years ago he removed to Washington
where he opened a law office and met
with considerable success. He sup
ported Hayes for the Presidency in
1876, and received from him the ap..
pointment of Director of the Mint at
New Orleans, which office he held up
to his last Illness. N,
Gov. Foote led o long and eyentful
Life He wasr thoroughly loyal to the
code OF chivalry. He was engaged in
three affairs OF honor; first with Mr..
Winston, of Tuscmbia, when he was
slightly wounded in the left shoulder;
secondly, with the famous S. 8. Prem.
tiss, when he was again slightly in
jured; and, thirdly, with j. +. H.
!, Claiborne, when neither party was
hurt. tsr Ws
Gov. Foote was man of rare liter.
ary culture, Of great reading, and of
remarkable memory. His learning
was extensive and yayiedy and his con.
troll over it wonderfully ready. He
had fluent command OF choice and
felicitous expressions. He never fall
tered for an ldeaspor halted for a
word. His speech, if it had fallen
from his lips on paper, would, with
out connection, have been elegant in
composition. lie laid great stress
upon proficiency in the Latin classics,
in which ho was himself thoroughly
versed.
Gov Foote was as ardent adniirer
OF S. S. Pfentiss, with whom he was
reconciled after their difficulty, and
Daitiel Webster, He loved to talk
about them both, especially the lat
ter. He once took the writer seri-
ously to task for surmising that AL
exander Hamilton was q greater man
than Daniel Webster. He maintained
that no American had surpassed tho
greatnes of the latter.
Gov. Foote liked the society of
young men, to whom, indeed, his vi
yacity of temperament rendered him
congenial. His conversation was ex-
ceedingly Entertaining to theih. He
had, with distinction, acted many
parts in life. He had come, into con-
tact with many distinguished men,
and formed critical estimates of their
abilities and characters, and he had
looked into almost every subject of
human interest. And it cost him no
trouble to impart his "reminiscences
and his acquisitions to others.
He was genial and kindly in his in
.tercourso with his fticnds, and not
implacable toward his enemies, though
quick to take offense where he SUP
posed that offense was intended
Nashville American. a9s i lsT 81