The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-14
The Sentiments of James l.. Orr and
Montgomery Blair.


IT has been some years since Southern
orator OF secession proclivities has favored
Philadelphia audience. We had almost learned
to believe that the time was past when the
planter would be received with cheers by Penn
sylvania. 1t has been many months since the
rich tones of the South Carolina gentleman
have been heard upon our streets, and we
suppose, as a stranger, we should bid him well
come But it is difficult for our population to
forget those who have been instrumental in
bringing about all our suffering. And among
these instruments was Hon. JAMES. L. ORR, of
South Carolina, delegate to the Convention,
who addressed public meeting last night.
We have read his speech, as published, with
some care, feeling, as we did, natural anxiety
TO see how repentant (?) Rebel would address
an assemblage of residents of the most loyal city
of the land. The impression left upon our
minds from its perusal may be an unjust one,
but we cannot diVest ourselves of the belief that
Mr.. ORR sought to be crafty, and that all his
sentiments were prepared in conference before
hand. They have not the true ring of honesty
about them. They are not the unguarded ex-
preston of an open heart; but they seem to us
stlted and elaborate, and are strongly suggestive
of deception. We propose to glance at one or
two of his sentiments as reported.
The Governor, after assuring his hearers that
the submission of the South was general, and
that they intended in good faith so to act as to
obliterate the past (omitting, however, any
mention of the Memphis and New Orleans
rots), proceeded to speak on the subject of the
national debt. He said
"Although your public debt was contracted in
a war against that section from which come, |
should feel that any reputation OF that debt
tarnished my honor 1t is the debt OF the Govern
ment. Its Obligations are TO be met in good
faith, and say 10 all asserting the contrary, That
am an fdyOr OF acknowledging all debts con-
trGCted by yom Government, or my GooeTnment,
for WhGteUer purpose"
Now this utterance may be all right. 1t may
be the declaration of desire to pay our debt
and our debt only, and, influenced by desire
to unite conflicting interests, the Governor may
have meant that "your Government and my
Government" are one and the same. But fol-
lowing the strict construction OF the English
language, and supposing the Governor to be
familiar with the rules of syntax, we must take
him to mean that he favors the payment of the
| debts of two distinct Governments, one of
which is ours and one OF which was his; in
other words, that he favored tine assumption of
Rebel debt as well as the loyal Indebtedness If
such was MS meaning, III VIII De Weu lor us TO
have 1t distinctly understood, as our people
| would like to examine into the propriety OF
adding to our burden some two thousand mil
lions more. 1t would be well for us to have the
thing perfectly understood. We mean to do the
Governor no injustice, and would sincerely
regret did we unintentionally place him in a
false light, but we hold him only by his words
as published, and until he corrects them, we
suppose they will have to be placed to his
responsibility.
The concluding passage of his speech is pecu
liar. He appeals to us to kill all Tadicalism be.
cause we were the first TO respond to the call for
troops TO defend our flag. The Keystone State
was ever foremost IN its defense of the Union
and its bitter and undylng hostility to treason
why then should il be expected that we should
take by the hand those who have not yet
washed the blood of her sons from their hands? +?