This memoir, published in 1887, tells the story of William Madison Peyton, a prominent Virginia politician and lawyer who played a significant role in the debates over secession and slavery in the lead-up to the Civil War. Written by John Lewis Peyton, William's son, and Orlando Brown, a fellow lawyer and friend of the family, the book provides valuable insights into the political and social climate of antebellum Virginia. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.