Senatorial Sketches

Mr. Foote, Chairman of the Committee on Commerce and a member of the Committee on Ways and Means and of the Railroad Committee, is one of the soundest, most practical and useful men in the Senate. It is true that you do not see him so often figuring in the daily reports, as a speechifier, as many others. But whenever it is reported that Mr. Foote spoke, whether his speech is reported or not, you may always know that the speaking was to the question and to the point. Not a syllable against time, not a windy word for Buncome’s sake, has he uttered since the commencement of the session. It is pretty generally understood, in fact known, I think, that the most voluble members of a legislative body are not always the most valuable; and that a man may have a tongue propelled by exhaustless power and have no other power pertaining to him in, as well as out of, a State Senate. The position assigned him as Chairman of the Committee on Commerce was a judicious appointment and one fit to be made. That Committee have endeavored principally through the influence of the Chairman, I have understood, to inaugurate a reform in the usury and interest laws of this State. Whether the measures, or any of them succeed or not, is not text of their wisdom. – That the public good demands a reductions in the rate of legal interest there can be no doubt. Brokers and venal dependants may theorize and “large liberty” men my swagger, but still the stubborn fact remains that no community ever became rich and prosperous while the law smiled with approbation upon the greedy avarice of money lenders, by allowing a higher rate of interest than legitimate enterprise could pay. He who protects, or would protect, honest industry from burdens too grievous to be borne and yet holds that a man should pay his debts, is a better friend of the poor than the canting hypocrite who whines his lying sympathies in dolorous demi-tone, but insists that the poor man shall have the blessed privilege of paying ten per cent per annum until the interest swallows up the principal of the latter sort, Mr. Foote is not one; and of that sort are not the “Kingdom of Heaven.”

A position on the Committee of Ways and Means is one, above all others, where clear headed practical working, business men are wanted, and the right man was placed in the right position when Mr. Foote was appointed a member of that Committee. Those who pay but little attention to the details of legislation may not bear in mind that the working members of the Committees, especially the important Committees, bear the burdens and are really the influential men of a legislative body.

I take the venture of predicting that the impress of his views will be found stamped upon the Railroad legislation of the State before adjournment; legislation not hostile to railroad enterprise, but conservative of the general welfare.

Personally Mr. Foote is a popular man with his brother Senators and with the people of the Capital. Unassuming in his manners, the conviction takes unconscious possession of one becoming acquainted with him that he is thoroughly honest, conscientious and kind-hearted; that there is no guile within and no pretense without. He is a merchant; forty seven years of age; has been twenty years a resident of the state and was born in Vermont. He is of medium or average weight and heighth; light complexion, light hair and whiskers, (and in those respects as well as others, resembles the majority of the good of all ages) regular features and a blue eye that tells the whole story. Religiously, a Christian of the Congregational school.

Des Moines Register. TRAVELER.

– Published in the Burlington Weekly-Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 12, 1862