The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-10-07
Sketch of Hon. L. z. Peyton Of
Misscurf .-IS26-lS63,

tinguished OF our statesmen and men OF
business may be enumerated many, very
many, eminent scholars and men of the
highest degree of learning, who at the
same time possessed the requisite require
ments for business transactions. In this
category was the late Robert L. Y. Peyton
of Missouri distinguished scholar and a
practical business man of the first order.
1t was, indeed, to the supremacy of his
talents, the strength of his intellectual
attainments, his financial knowledge and
decisive judgment, that he was indebted
for the high positions conferred upon him
by the people Of his adopted state, and the
great influence he welded among his con-
stituents an influence so extensive and
powerful that it recalls the words of one
who said. Man was born to have dominion
over the earth and to subdue it, but it is
by the intellect alone that he can doso.n
Robert Ludwell Yates Peyton was born
in Frederick county, Virginia, about the
year 1925 he was descendant of Henry
Peyton Of Acquia, in the County of West
moreland, Colony of Virginia.x Shortly
after his birth his father and family le-
moved to Ohio and settled in Butler
County, where he died in 1884 man of
unexceptionable morals, clear head, sound
judgment, and political energy, Wing of
the ole. school, the friend Of such party
leaders as Henry Clay. John J. Crittenden,
Thomas Corwin, Daniel Webster, Robert
G. Winthrop, and William G. Rives but
the Wing principles of the father we're not
transmitted to the son. The latter was
educated in the schools Of Ohio, and early
displayed such qualities that his teachers
formed the highest hopes of his future.
After successful academic career he was
entered as law student in the University
of Virginia in 1842, and at the end of his
first session, a somewhat unusually short
period, was graduated as a Bachelor of
Law. In the university. where the writer
was intimately acquainted with him, he
occupied high position as scholar and
gentleman. was noted for the modesty,
dignity, courtesy, and kindliness of his
demeanor, for his delicate sense of honor.
his firmnesS and the influence he acquired
and never lost over his fellow students.
Shortly after leaving the university he
went to reside at Harrisonville, Cass
County, Missouri, where he was admitted
to the bar, and within year, says John H.
Peck, one of his early pioneer friends,
secured lucrative practice. For more
than fifteen years he rode the circuit,
acquiring an enviable reputation in the
courts of the State as a sound and learned
lawyer and eloquent advocate, and secured,
as the fruits Of his industry, handsome
addition to his estate. In Western Mis-
souri, and Eastern Kansas-his practice
came from both States-he was regarded
as legal luminary of the highest order, in
those days of border troubles was the man
who, by firmness of character and an I'M
deviating pc rseverance, advanced COM
prehensiye and successful policy of dealing
with the political questions which then
agitated the people of Missouri and Kan
sas on the slavery and other exciting ques-
tions. 1t may, indeed, be truly said that
by his unbending course at that time he
obtained results of the utmost prac zeal
Importance which largely COL
tributed to prevent a civil war Oh the
border. The Rev. /. T. Leonard. of the
Southern Presbyterian Church, a resident
in 1885 of Mount Sterling. kentucky. but
who. was long citizen Ct. ass County,
Missouri, and intimate friend Of our sub
ject, writes MIR. Peyton greatly dis
tinguished himself in the border troubles
of 1S54-5-6. 1t is but just to all parties in
Missouri to state the attempts to colonize
Kansas by forced emigration from the
Northern States was resisted by Mis-
sourans as menace to the peace and
security of institutions guaranteed by the
Constitution of the United States... AT
Democratic convention assembled in the
court house in Harrisonyille, in July, 1855,
| Mr.. Peyton delivered speech of great
power aud eloquence. Few men could
sustain themselves as he did on the occa-
sion." At one point he waved paper
over his head and broke into an impas-
stoned outburst of eloquence somewhat in
these words: '3My countrymen, the i'm
mortal patriots of the Revolution are look.
ing down from their abodes above upon
you. The eyes Of the world are upon you
Yet you do not comprehend the gravity Of
the situation. You have eyes and see not
ears and hear not. Men cry peace. peace
and you believe in peace because no SOUND
of war is yet heard-no plundering army
yet trample5 these fields, no ruthless
soldiery yet disturbs the fond mother O.
the tender infant, no hlreling robbers havt
yet violated your homes or applied the in
cendiary torch at midnight to your dwell
lings. False and delusive belief Mari
my words Unless we take in the situa
tion at once and become united-unles
the South presents a solid front to he
enemies-is united, knit together in soli
phalanx, we are lost The invader wi
come like the barbarians of old from IT,
North, and before another harvest sweet
f over these peaceful fields, tramping 20
delivering you and your posterity over t
the soul-piercing agonies of tyrany an
oppression The reporters note-takin
pencil was here laid aside, for his speec
: from this point to its conclusion was s
eloquent, so fascinating, that the audienc
could do nothing more than gaze with raI
t attention upon his beaming countenanc
! and listen to the thoughts that breath
and the words that burn. y as they fell frol
: his lips. His words were prophetic an
' worthy Of Patrick Henry. AS all impa
e stoned defamation, we'll sustained with
$ Demosthenic fire, his speech was,' say
: Mr.. Leonard, worthy of an endurin
record.'' Although Robert Peyton was
high-bred man, upon whom Provident
had conferred the advantages of birth an
: fortune. and from his studious habits, r
i served in his manners, at times almo
arctic in his demeanor. he had such syn
pathy with his fellow-men that he BEGAN
3 extremely popular with the people, al
e acted as kind Of medium for bringir
the two extremes of society together, Il
4 zenith and nadir of life. 1t may we'll
l. said that the strang hold he secured upt
q the masses was due to the great powers