x This Book and Balie Peyton 



turfman. His most notable gift was that for public 

 speaking; his most prominent traits integrity, affability, 

 courage and kindness; his strongest passion love of 

 country; next to that, love of a race horse; and next 

 to that, love of a horse race. 



In his first campaign for Congress he practically won 

 his election by his opening speech; at the end of his 

 second term, in 1837, he voluntarily retired; and although 

 he was but 34 years old he had distinguished himself 

 throughout the Union as an orator, and as a leader, bold 

 in initiative and inflexible in execution. Personally, 

 there was not a more popular man of his day. 



In dedicating one of his publications to Peyton, J. S. 

 Skinner said of him: "He is in his own spirit and char- 

 acter exemplary of what is best and most excellent in 

 men." 



"Few lives," wrote one of his fellow townsmen, "have 

 exhibited more of the excellencies of human character and 

 fewer short comings than did the life of Balie Peyton." 



"He had a richly gifted intellect," wrote another of 

 his contemporaries, "but his heart seemed always greater 

 and deeper than his mind. Free from all jealousy, he 

 gloried in the triumphs of his political and personal asso- 

 ciates and was always exuberant in heralding their achieve- 

 ments, while apparently forgetting his own." In his 

 "Reminiscences" he did not exploit his own achieve- 

 ments, and turf literature is much the poorer by his 

 modesty. 



In several Presidential campaigns his talents for public 

 speaking and statesmanship were drafted into service in 

 many states North and South. 



In New Orleans, he was made President of one of the 

 Jockey Clubs. Four Presidents of the United States, by 

 tendering him appointments, attested to his character 



