Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-03-10
lion, LANES L. ORR, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

branches of our National Legislature are pre-
sided over by comparatively young men. The
subject Of this sketch the Hon. James l.. Orr,
Speaker of the House of Representatives, is in
his thirty-sixth year. Mr.. Orr is Of Irish ex-
traction. His wltrrnal ancestor emigrated to
this country, and settled in Pennsylvania about
1870. Ills maternal ancestors came also from
Ireland about 1856. His grandfather, Jehu Orr,
Il native of Wake County, North Carolina, was
u brave soldier aud true patriot i'll the Rcvolu-
tonary War. Christopher Orr his father, was
IL highly respectable and successful merchant,
who devoted his means literally to the educa-
ton of his children. james j.. Orr was born
on the 18th day of Nav, 1872, at Craytonville,
Anderson District, South Carolina. He began
his studies when quite young at II country school,
from whence he was transferred TO an academy
at Anderson aud while there, engaged i'll the
ardent pursuit Of learning, he still found time
to assist his father rs Il book-kceper and sales
man, thus early blending habits Of practical in
dustry and usefulness with those Of research
and study. in his eighteenth year he was sent
to the University of Virginia, where, by constant
application, he acquired great proficiency in the
hig cher branches Of learning. laying deep the
foundations of future knowledge and usefulness,
while at the sanr time he won an enviable repu-
tation among his ielluwstudcnts by his manly,
generous, and honorable department.. He left
college in 1871. and devoted two years to gen.
era improvement, by mingling in society and
pursuing jutlicinus course Of reading In
1912 he entered the law-oHice Of Judge Whitner:
and in 1913, after passing highly crcditable
examination, he was admitted to the bar. lie
began the practice Of the law at Anderson, and
during the first year he also established and
edited newspaper called the AnHerSon GazeiIe,'
thus pursuing his IavoriIe system Of full mental
occupation, to the exclusion of Idle frivolties.
Mr.. Orr still found time TO mingc with and
became thoroughly known to, and appreciated
by his. ..elluw.ciizenS. As proof Of their regard
and confidence, hc was elected, i'll lSlI, when
little more than TWENTY-FIVE years old, to the
Legislature, from the Pendletnn District BY a
larger vote than any other candidate i'll the State
received. His career in the Legislature was
distinguished by usefulness through the exercise
of sound sense and good Judgment, rather than
by any attempts at brilliant display; and yet
his very first speech which wis in opposition to
q movement intended TO commit South Carolina
to the doctrine Or Notification in regard to the
tariff of ISL! gave him at once the reputation
of an eloquent AMI able debatcr, and placed him
in ii leading position. His speech was received
with applause throughout the State, and charac.
tcrizcd as lone Of the bulcst. plaineS, and
most sensible of the whole discussion" Mr..
Orr also Advocated with great carncsLneSs and
ability the choice of presidential electors by the
paopIe-thc practice beinG them as now, IN
South Carolina, to elect them by the Legislature;
thus. in defiance of custom anl pre- udicc Civ
ing a pledge in the beginning OF his career Of
his devotiohto popular rights .s''s,i
tn 1913 Mr.. Orr became Il candidate for Con-
gress. His opponent, who took the Held some
months in advance Of him, WAS il lawyer of great
talents and high reputation. They were both
Democrats, aud the contest resolved itself into
one of personal popularity After an ami
mated and exciting canvass. Mr.. Orr was
elected hy 100 ma jorty-a HattcrIng proof OF
the appreciation in which he was held: ami {.
hieh tribute to his ability and worth. From
that time tn the present he has continued to
hold his scat, being reelected at the close oI
each term without opposition.
When Mr.. Orr entered the l'lirty-Iirst Con-
,:rcss that h"'ly presented Il brilliant array Of
lalcrt. In the Senate We're Calhoun, Webster,
Cass @ pmrlas, and benton: in the House Win.
throp, Toombs, Stephens, MDowell, Baylcy, and
oilers of eminent ability. Among these the
you:lr statesman suDn assumed Il p Isiton which
srhlom, but w;ls always listened To with aiten-
ton, and rapidly won kiS way to distinction.
The prncpa speech made by him in this Con.
.lr.ss WAS ON the agitation Of the Slavery Qucs.
ton. which he earnestly deprecated. His speech
inr. and sound constitutional 'luctrrc.
1t was during tli5 Congress that the Compro-
mise Measures were passed. Most of their icl
1,N i0rr ot In pnt-
si,lcrcl Constitutional grounds. These meas.
ures were much condemned in his State and
when he returned home, in March, lS5l. he
f,r,nl formidable party orgamzc'l III favor of
secession from the Union by South Carolina
ahn. \ Constitutional Convention had been
called. and Il uaiority of the delegates elected
were u qyc,l to vnrr for secession. Mr. Orr
had b.rn opposed in the h"ginnng 10 the call
for this Convention. taking ground that if wrong
had been done 10 the South. it wils im"lilic iur
auv one State 10 attempt to redress it. The
delegates cIccte from lis own Congressional
district to this Convention Were two to one in
favor OF secession. lie did not hesitate never
thclcss to proclaim ollly his uppusilion 10 their
policy and. in II p.iblic speech III Pickens. few
llays after his rrlurn. he warned his constituents,
clnq,lrnlly and earnestly, against the disasters
: which would inevitably Inlluw. The Southern
Ei~his ASsuci;iiunS' which hal been formed
the previous winter determined nn holding
general convention in Charleston, which c0nvrn-
lion Mr.. Orr attended rs q delegate from Ander-
SON. This body was distinguished for its intel.
ligcnce and moral worth; and it was believed
that the extreme opinions of the ultra purity
were largely in the ascendency. Mr.. Orr intro
luccd the resolution upon which the minority
founded their report, and sustained it in patri.
otic, fearless, and manly speech. Only about
thirty members, out Of $50. supported his views.
He did not however, quail before mere numbers,
or shrink from his honest convictions. He
maintained his position his speech was pub
lishcd By the cooperation party, and circulated
throughout the State it produced the most
powerful effect; and in October following, Mr.
Orr and his colleague, Colonel Irby, were elected
to the Southern Congress- which had been pro-
; posed, by an overwhelming majority over two
talented and popular gentlemen, the candidates
of The secession party; the majority in the State
for Mr.. Orr's party being over S0OU! The vel
fare of the country was at stake, and the occa-
sion called forth all his energies and self.sacrii
cling devotion.
That the crisis was one full of alarm and dan
ger must be admitted even by those iarthest
from the scene, and most disposed to deny both
the right Of Il State to sccede; and that Mr..
Orr, in the very opening of brilliant political
career, hazarlcd his future hopes and prospects
to sense Of right and duty, entities him to the
regard of every true lover Of the Union. His
triumph was highly honorable to himself, and
! fixed him more firmly than ever in the esteem
and affections OF his constituents.
The Congressional career OF Mr.. Orr, which
n want of space prevents lis from noticing mere