Mr.WASHBURNE, of Illinois. Mr.Speaker, on becoming a member of the HoRep in the 33rd Congress in the month of December, 1853, I 1st made the acquaintance of SOLOMON Foor, then a Senn tor in the Congress of the U.S. from the State of Vermont. I had known something of his previous political history and was aware that he had enjoyed, in a high de ree, the respect and confidence of the people of his native State. To possess the confidence and receive the support of the citizens of Vermont is no meager or indifferent compliment. No State has ever guarded more carefully the selection of its representatives in the national councils; for within my recollection no man in either branch of Congress from that State has ever proved faithless to liberty, or has ever had the stain of dishonor or venality upon his gar merits. It is in the Green Mountain State that there is to be found the type of the truest democracy, resting upon the immutable basis of universal intelligence and public virtue. In no State can be found a loftier patriotism, a more ardent love of liberty, and a more undying hatred of slavery than among the constituents of the late distin goished Senfrom Vermont. When mad ened treason raised its parricidal hand to tear down the fabric of our Government, and the torch of civilWar was lighted, the people of no State rallied with greater alacrity and enthu siasm than the people of the State of Vermont. Her brave and hardy sons filled all her high ws s and by wnys; they came forth from her hil s and valleys, and from all the gorges of her ever green mountains, and marched with the rapidity of the eagle to the defense of their imperiled country, and to vindicate the honor and the glory and the unity of the Republic. I say, sir, to have been honored and trusted by such a people to the extent that Mr. Foor was honored and trusted, is one of the highest compliments that could have been paid to a public man. As has been stated, he entered the Senate in 1850, and being twice reiilected, served continuously till the time of his death. Hence, he served through the most exciting, and turbulent period of our whole legislative history, and was a participant in the revolution ary scenes which, to the philosophic observer, were the omens of that terrible civilWar that has drenched our country in blood. I saw him in the Senate in the 33rd Congress, one of the little band of courageous and patriotic men who resisted with unsurpassed ability and eloquence the repeal of the Missouri compro mise. I saw him when the slaveholders, in the pride and insolence of their power, undertook to “crush out” in the Senate every aspiration for liberty and every noble and elevated sentiment of freedom; when treason, upheld by a perfidious and treacherous Executive, stalked through the Senate Hall with brazen impu dence, and when the allcrics howled their applause of traitors. ndaunted and undismayed, while all the political elements were lashed into fury around him, he bore himself in a manner becomin an American Senator, and courageously ving icated his own opinions and the sentiments and convictions of his own liberty loving constituents. From his long association and thorough acquaintance with the southern Seriutors, Mr. Fooi early fathomed their wicked desi ns and their treasonable purposes, and from t 6 moment those purposes ound an utterance in the hostile cannon that opened upon Fort Sumter, his heart and soul, his thoughts, and his ener gies were all given to his country. With a loy alty so devoted and uncompromising, with a love of country amounting to a assion, be everywhere denounced treason no its aiders and abettors with the most vehement indig nation. At the time of his death he was the oldest member of the Senate in consecutive service. Every year increased his reputation and confirmed his character as a steadfast friend to his country, an enlightened statesman, and a wise and incorruptible legislator. He was a man of education and intelligence, of a vigorous intellect and an enlightened understanding; of giant strength and an imposing presence, he was a r enuine specimen of n Vermonter. As Presiding Officer of the Senate for a long period he distinguished himself by his romptness, dignity, urbanity, and fairness. e brought to the dis charge of all his duties a conse ientious devotion to the best interests of the nation. Active, industrious, vigilant, no duty to his constituents and the country was ever left unperformed, and so prompt and regnlar was he in attendance upon the daily sessions of the Senate that it could be said ofhim as the historian says of the younger Cato, “he was always 1st at the Senate and went out last.” Mr. Foor bore aprominent part in all our legislation during the war for the Union, and his influence an vote were always given to the most energetic measures, and those best calcu lated to strengthen the hands of the Government in its gigantic task of saving the country. To the Administration of Mr. Lincoln he gave a warm and even an, enthusiastic support. I had occasion to know of the strengt of his attachment to that distinguished man, and to know how gratefully his friendship was reciprocated. Mr. Lincoln had not, in the whole length and breadth of the land, a more earnest and sincere friend; and no man steed by him, through all the perils and difficulties of his Administration, with more unflinching devotion; and the people of Illinois will cherish this remembrance with gratitude and when the time came for the representatives of a great and heartstricken people to pay the last tribute of respect and affection to the memory of their martyr President, it was fitting and properthat Mr. Foor, the Pater senatus, should, as the chairman of the JtCommee of the 2 Houses, be charged with the management of the proceedin s. Profoundly anxious that the ceremonies 9 cold be worthy the august occasion, he entered on his duties with zeal and enthusiasm. He devoted himself with untiring energyto the accom plishment of the purpose. No man understood better than he did what belonged to such an occasion, and he gave his personal attention to all the details and saw for himself that nothinv which was necessary to be done was left unione. The day was cold, stormy, checrless. At an early hour Mr. Foors duties commenced. The crowd was great and the ressnre for admittance was tremendous, and he had to exert himself to the utmost to see that order was preserved and that the arrangements were properly carried out and all who were present know how admirably and satisfactorily everything passed off. Though it was my fortune to be associated with him in that duty, it is but just to say that all the credit of the successful management of the ceremonies belonged to him. After the proceedings were over exhausted and over come with fatigue, Mr. lioor went to his lodgings, and that night was attacked with the diseasewtheh terminated his life. lsaw him at his rooms 2 days after he was taken sick and he then believed himself so far recovered that he would be enabled to go with me the next mornin to call on the distinished citizen who do ivered the eulogy an to convey to him the resolution of Congress requestinga copy of the some for publication. He was not, however, able to go, but sent his colleague in the Senate, Judge Found), in his place. On the next day, Friday the 16th day of February, the late Senfrom Vermont:1 cared in the Senate for the last time and made iis final report as chairman of the JtCommee of arrangements, and his last motion was, that “the report and accompanying papers be printed.” He continued to take a dee interest in the publication of the Eulogy and the proceedings connected therewith, and the last official act of his life was to approve a pertrait of Mr. Lincoln, which is to be the front ispiece to the volume of the published proceedings. Mr. Speaker, when we contemplate the great changes that have taken place among the public men who were ssociated with ilr 001 when he 1st entere the Senate, and since the time when you and I 1st entered these Halls, we are admenished how fleeting and evanese ent are all things human. How few are left to struggle on but yet a little longer, to buffet the waves and encounter the storms and the tem pests of political life: "Apparent rarinuntes in gurgite vasto." O Vermont mourns the loss of her faithful and devoted public servant, and the nation shares in her grief. He followed, alas!too soon, him who had so lately been his colleague. The mournful accents of eulogy pronounced in this Chamber upon the illustrious Collainer had scarcely died away before we were called upon to follow to the grave his companion, adviser. friend, so long associated with him in the service of the country. These 2 great American Senators, both alike eminent for their Christian virtues, their eminent stutesmaiiship, their devoted patriot ism, their long and useful public services, and their unsullie integrity, have passed away, and the places on earth that have known them will know them no more forever. They have gone, but they have left to the country the richest legacy in the recollection of their well spent and honored lives.