Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-02-20


be was ardently attached, and this was
an opportunity not to be neglected.
So he at once began to misinterpret
this innocent remark, hoping to con
fuse her, but quick as flash she re
tOrted that she supposed he had al
eye to business, and had only tried to
help him like a dutiful wife. All this
seemed so ludicrous considering | was
a poor young lawyer on tOtteriDg legs
that we all INDUCED in a hearty laugh
and thought it great fun
Right happy were the fine fellows
that afterwards won those girls, foI
in addition to all their personal and
moral and mental charms they had
had such a housewifely training from
their mother as must needs make hem
thrifty and happy homes.
When indulging these pleasing re-
Elections in the life and character of my
dear old friend, am apt to ask myself
what it was that he lacked of winning
the largest measure of national and
lasting fame.
| can scarcely conceive of truly
great man without having the blood OF
All honored ancestry flowing in hit
veins. Mr. Peyton did not lack that.
1t is hard to estimate a man to be OF
to the State in time of war either in the
Cabinet or in the field. Nor did Mr.
Peyton. He was a gallant soldier III
rhe only war his country was involved
in during his fighting age.
AS a lawyer. Chief Justice Marshall
has been heard to class him as superior
TO Story, Kent and Webster, and in do
ing that he must have rated him AZ
next to himself Let us see, then, what
there was ID himself and his surround
ings and his fortunes that prevented
him from reaching the same altitude
rs some others of the great advocates
and jurists of the generation he belong
ed to- OF all the men of his age who
cast the greatest lustre on the legal
profession in any of its department.
never saw but two, Henry Clay and
Daniel Webster. | read every word
hot from the press and fully reported
that either of them uttered after
came to the years of discretion and it
was part of my meat and drink. Mr..
Clay and Mr.. Peyton were the product
of the same soil, in close neighboring.
if not adjoining counties. In age they
were only one year apart. In COM
plexion and stature they were closely
alike, but Mr.. Peyton was the hand
souer and more robust. In the matter
of early training and education their
advantages were as unlike as may be.
yet it would be hard to decide whose
opportunities were best adapted to
| draw out and improve their natural
gifts. Mr.. Clay was never at college.
while Mr.. Peyton was graduated at
Princeton. But Mr.. Clay was brought
up in the court house at Richmond in
| the Augustan age of Virginia and lis
tened to Patrick Henry at the most
inpressionable time of life. Mr.. Web
ster was four years younger and of New
England parentage, his father coun
~ Judge and a patriot of the Revolu
ton. He. like Mr.. Peyton, was college
bred: his form was massive and tall. his
| C mplexion swarthy; his eyes had u
brilliant flash. They all three grew up
while the aroma of the revolution was
eiil in the air and the shadow of Wash
| ington was long. Mr. Webster's man
n-r of thought and speech was grand:
like his native mountains, ponderor s
and ornate, but often married by quo
tations in Latin. The spoken language
of Peyton and Clay was simple and ia
tural and pure, and they drew their
| wine from their own casks and were
content to see it sparkle without drugs.
| Mr.. Peyton first discovered that the
constitution grappied the citizen re
CARELESS of the State. MIR. Webster Dor
| rOwed this discovery, eXpounded 1t III
the Senate, made himself immortal and
and taught us to know we were ma
ton. Mr.. Clay's persuasive powers
were phenomenal, and by the use of
them in the Senate he held the Union
together till the West had grown up
and it was safe The equal of either in
the strength of his mind and the great
ness of his conceptions. what was want
ed to Mr.. Peyton that the Others pos
ST ssed to win for himself like imlnOr-
tality The opportunity did not come
to him. and he scorned to go after it.
AS wise man in business. he altogeth
er surpassed them. All were large land
holders. They became deeply involved
in debt and had to be helped. He was
prudent in affairs, was totally without
| vices and had the pleasure to help 9th
er-. AS powerful in argument, as loft y
in character, more winsOme than
Webster, scarcely less so than Clay,
what was it he lacked to be as useful at
they? 1t was seat in the q. s. Sen
ate Why was he never a Senator in
Congress?
He was the staff of Mr.. Jefferson in
his old age and in politics his pupil
and Mr.. Jefferson was the apostle
whom Virginia loved. His favor was II
fortune in that State, and had only to
be boldly invested to reach any posi-
ton. In the American Senate he would
have neutraliZed the poison that seized
on the southern mind and compelled il
to felO de Sc. In the Senate and he
would have so trained the generation
that has just passed that Virginia had
not been a battle field and had not
been afterwards enchanted. With him
in the Senate in these formative years,
the government would never have re-
ceived the fateful lnrch which leaves
us now little choice but the empire or
gaunt anarchy to look forward to.
Whose fault was it, whose misfortune
that he missed the grand spring board?
| Was it his or rather was it Virginia's
He was happy in his law office without
a rival. Happy enough among the
grand men and women of West Au
gusta" whom Washington had so loved
and honored. Happy enough in his
beautiful and aniable family. Happy
enough in his farms and his herds SO
| large, and SO beautiful and fruitful.
| Too content to desire office, too patri
otto to refuse it. he accepted what was
offered him and did what he could TO
promote human happiness. Too high
spirited, too brave and too noble TO
brook the iron rule of Jackson, he
broke away from him and Virginia
went wandering after strange gods.
She selected kites to represent her,
when she might have chosen an eagle
1t was the turning point in what had
been a grand and noble history. She
ceased at once to soar in the upper
strata of national politics in search of
highest honors, and became content TO
skim the surface and catch flies 1t
was her loss, not his, that John Howe
Peyton was never United States Sena-
tor He needs no pedestal to uplift
him. He stands out like a great rock
in a level plain. Great without Office,
Il beacon light to Virginians yet to
come, he was a noble type of a great
and glorious race.
A Good Recommendation.
La FAYETTE, IND-"A Mrs Jas.
Fay, living near this city, claims to i