May God bless the county of Augusta and may He raise up men, great and true, to serve and honor her in the future as John H. Peyton and her two other sons whose portraits adorn these walls served and honored her in the past.
When Major Elder resumed his seat he was greeted with loud applause.
COL. JOHN L. PEYTON'S REMARKS.
Silence being restored there were calls from all parts of the house for Colonel Peyton, who came forward in response to them and spoke in substance as follows:
He said he was taken entirely by surprise, but gladly availed himself of the occasion to thank Captain Bumgardner and Major Elder for their polished and eloquent speeches, and the lofty tributes they had paid to his father; he was pleased that his father's portrait would henceforth adorn the walls of this hall, which had so often resounded to his eloquence, and would be evermore displayed in the midst of a people he loved so well, and for whom he labored so faithfully. He confessed to a devout veneration for great and good men—the heroic masters in virtue, and felt a desire to exalt them as ideals, which would exert an influence to mould to their likeness those who earnestly contemplated them. Leaving out of view all other aspects of his father's character, he might be permitted to say that no man had a deeper or more inextinguishable thirst to promote human liberty and happiness, and such was his unselfish patriotism that it could be truly said of him that it ever was "his country first, his country last, his country all the time." [Loud applause.]
hon. john randolph tucker's letter.
Major Elder then read the following letter from Hon. J. Randolph Tucker.
Lexington, Va., July 18th, 1894.
T. C. Elder, Esq.:
My Dear Friend:—
I should be glad to be present at the presentation of the portrait of the late Hon. John Howe Peyton to the county of Augusta, and to hear the addresses appropriate to its presentation and reception, delivered by Capt. Bumgardner and yourself.