Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-11-02
In Memory Of the HOnOred Dead.

In Memory OF the H0nored DEAD.
The people of Augusta county will
without doubt be much gratified if the
Judge and Board of Supervisors shall
concur in meeting the request SO cor
daily presented last week in regard to
the placing of the portraits of the emf
nent citizens on the walls of the court
room then mentioned in the proceed
ings of court. The legality of the mat
ter has been referred to. About that
there can hardly be any doubt.
Commencing many years ago, the
portraits of the Governors of Virginia,
the living as we'll as the dead that
could be obtained have been pla sed in
the State library at the public ex-
pense.
Many counties in the State have
done and are doing the same thing as
that now proposed in honor of Mr..
Stuart and Judges Shelley and Fultz.
In the courtroom of the county of
Pittsylvania, there is full length life
size portrait of Whitmell p. Tunstill,
who though he died whilst yet com
paratively young man had achieved
an eminent distinction in his county
and in the State. In the Legislature
and with the people of the south-side
especially, he was in the front with the
| champions of progress and INTERNAL
improvement.
About as handsome thing, as the
people through their organized loca,
governments can do, is to place memen
toes before the public, and, especially
before the generations to come, by
such enduring testimonials of dis
tinguished worth, as history viii
cluster around the names of those it i:
proposed to honor in this way.
No legal difficulty existed in the
minds of the State officers, nor none il
known to have arisen as Pittsylvanis
and other counties have honored theil
distinguished dead this way. We are
sure we express the sentiment of the
people of the great county of Augusta
as in the completion of the design they
honor themselves as they honor the
memories of those they hold SO worthy
of sacred and enduring tributes of re
spect.
Since the above was in type it has
been suggested that portraits be OBJ
tanned of John Howe Peyton, Chap
man johnson and the late Judge
Briscoe g. Baldwin, who was on the
bench of the Supreme Court many
years and at the time Of his death. Il
appears that the surviving relative:
and friends of the deceased mentioned
in the proceedings of court and Of the
others now named, will relieve the stu
alton as a strict construction of law
may embarrass the ma tier and furnish
portraits of the deceased
Judge Stout will now present the
matter to the Board of supervisors
and soon the public will, it is hoped
find this noble movement completed
We subjoin the following correspond
ence between Judge Stout and Colone
John L. Peyton which is conclusive as
to the portrait of his father.
Staunton, Oct 30, 1892
| Colonel John L. Peyton:
MY DEAR COLONEL-In accordance
with the wishes of the bar and people
of the county generally, it is the pur
pose of the county court to place in the
courthouse, if they can be obtained
portraits of all of our eminent lawyers
of the past. Among the most dis
tinguished of our jurists was your
father, Hon. John Howe Peyton-dis
tinguished alike for his varied abilities
as scholar, lawyer and statesman
| the extent of his learning and The
purity of his private and public morals
| For nearly forty years he displayed his
great qualities Oh this theatre to the
| admiration and advantage to the pub
| lie, and trust, you may be able to ac
cede to my request, and supply copy
| life-size, of his portrait. | am, very
truly your friend,
JOHN W. STOUT, Judge.
Staunton, Oct 81, 1892.
Hon. John W. Stout,
Judge of Augusta county:
MY DEAR JUDGE-I have had the
honor to receive your kind and court
eous note asking for copy of my
fathers portrait to be placed in the
court house among those of the emf
|nent lawyers of Augusta, and beg to
say in reply that it will give Inc great
pleasure to comply with your request.
| have the honor to be, judge, with
great respect and esteem,
Your friend,
J. L. PEYToN.