The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-11-04
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.
JUDGE ORR I'm NEwBERRY.

JUDGE ORR IN NEWBERRY.
Our distinguished felow-citizen seems to have
added largely to his we'll earned aurels as judicial
officer by his receut.yisit to Newberry The cfti-
zens and mem bers of the bar are highly pleased,
as We learn through private sources, and at the
conclusion of the Court resolutions of the most
complimentary nature were adopted unanimously
by the legal fraternity correspondent OF the
Charleston Courier, writing from Newberry, gives
AN account of the Court at that place. from which
we make the following extracts:
j.. The sr ecial term of the Court of Common Pleas,
which was ordered for this County in July last, by
Jndpe Rutland, began here on the llth inst, and
is lust drawing TO close. Newberry belongs TO
Judge Boozrrs Circuit, but he has never been
here since his election to the bench, Judge Rut-
land having held the two last Courts for HIM, by
order of the Chief Justice. The law and Equity
Dockets had not been reached for years, and the
great accumulation of civil cases made 1t neces-
sary to have special term for their trial exclusive
". At the request of the bar Judge Orr consent
ed TO hold this Court, and began his labors here
at the time above stated. To clear these dockes
were considered an herculean task, but the Judge
has dispatched the business rapidly, and has
made nearly clean sweep of the Law Dockets
On the Issue Docket alone there were about 5OO
cases. and on the Inquiry Docket many were mol
transferred, but were disposed of on the cnA OF
the latter Many of the cases tried were OF the
most i'm portant character, not only on account OF
the amounts in dispute, but because OF the Princi'
Piles involved.
The correspondent then furnishes the details OF
two important cases I" in which great interest was
taken. and in both of them the Judge delivered
charges to the Jury distinguished for ability and
learning" The first was a suit brought upon
note given for services as n substitute IN The Con-
federate army during the war, in which Judge
oRn held: That The net of the plaintiff in hiring
his services to unite in making war against the
United States, was an illegal net, and that no con
tract could be enforced in the State or Federal
Courts TO compensate him for such services; that
no court could or would enforce any contract to
recompense q citizen for violating the laws Of or
his allegiance to, the Government creating such
court that the re-establishment Of the laws OF
the United States over the seeded States and the
supremacy of their authority had rendered all acts
done during the war to destroy or to aid and abet
in destroying the Government of the United
States or in resisting its authority, Illegal and all
contracts to that end void and that the contract
made by the defendant is not invadated oy rea-
SON of ANYTHING meritorious in his conduct-he
being particeps crimins and ungracious'y setting
up such defence, but from considerations of pub
lie safety and policy to the citizen and Govern
ment. The jury followed the instructions of the
Judge, and found for the defendant.
The other case involved the question as 20 when
the emancipation proclamation of President LIN
COLIN took effect in which it was ruled by the
Judge that slavery in the insurrectiOnary States
was legally abolished by the aforesaid Proclama-
tion, taking effect in January, lS63-that the sub
sequent conquest of these States had retroactive
effect which rendered that proclamation operative
and of force at that time
We quote again from the correspondents
In both of these cases Judge Orr, in his charge
TO the iury discussed the question at issue with
marked ability. Touching us they did upon inter-
national law, he entered field which was pecu-
arly suited to his mnd to his habits Of thought
and training in the past. He showed himself
thoroughly conversant with the SUBJECT Ill manu.
and if all did not agree with him. those who diff
tered with him conceded to him ability aud learn
ing in his argument
In the DISCHARGE of his laborious duties during
this term Judge Orr has sustained the character Of
an able and enlightened jurist. BY common con-
sent, rare administrative talents have always been
accorded to him, but in the Court here he has ex-
hbcd the highest qualities that ndorn the bench.
An almost intuive apprehension of the legal
points involved in the before him, u ready
application of general principles wonderful ap-
titnde in analyzing and simplifying the most COM
plcated quest ions of law and iact-a felicitous il.
iustration of principles, and broad practical
common sense in dealing with the affairs of life
all these traits lie has displayed in the most emf
nent degree But what has most endearel him to
the people has been his true appreciation of the
changes which have taken place in their condi-
tion and his application of the principles of JUS,
tice to those changes. While he has maintained
the law, he has endoavored to harmonize them
with the principles OF true statesmanship For
these reasons he has won the good will OF persons
of every class ard condition. doubt whether
there can now be found in the State man whom
the people-the whole people-would conhde more
than in Judge Orr as counsellor and leader in
political affairs. But suppose that be has no as-
piratons in that line. and is content to serve the
State in the station which he fills 1t re-
mains to be seen whether he will be permitted to
enoy his judicial honors long, or be transferred
% somo othor scene of usefulness and honor