The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1870-09-01
An Important LetteF from the Hon.
lanes l. Orr -

? An Important letter from the Hon
: James L. Orr.
The letter by the Hon. James L
Orr Of Sonth Carolinia, ex-Speaker oI
the Q. S. House of Representatives
! which has recently been so severely
criticised in the columns of TH'
2 Charleston Nclrs and some other news
! ipapers, is a strong, outspoken declara-
: ton from this old South Carolina pol.
ftieian, STAKEHOLDER, and Rebel, (who
{ at the outbreak Of the war occupied q
/, position in tile State second to nonel
! in favor of the Republican party
The ex-Speaker says:
]. shall vote for Scott and Rams
ier Republican nominees for Cover
nor and Lieutenant-GO Governor.
, | cann0t vote for the nominees
of the Union Reform party, because,
in my Judgment, the purpose which
they propose 10 accomplish is entire
ly impractieable, and the nominations
made by their Convention will not
only accomplish no good results, hut
the consequences of the nomination
and canvass must be pernieiOus. The
aVOwed purpose Of the Convention
was to effect reforms In the 8dmiHis4
tratiOn of the State Government. In
some OF its departments sretrenchment
and reform is, doubtless, greatly need
!. ed4sOme of its offices are filled by in
competent and corrupt men, who
shOtIld be driven from the places they
occupy, More economy i'm the apprO-
priatiOns and disbursements Of public
money should he praetieed
How are these objects 20 lie attain
ed2 The only reforms In the State
Government that can lie successfully
accomplished, at least for many years
TO come, must be by and through the
Republican party and its OrganiZa-
tiOns. They have control OF all the
departments of the State Government
and have majority Of more than 3O,-
coo voters to preserve and perpetuate
that control. So long as an OPPOSING
party, disavOwing Republieanism, Is
organized in the State to defeat and
dispiaee them, 50 long will party ma
ehinery and appeals to party appli-
anees preserve its unity and suprem-
aey. II we want an illustration of the
strength and cOpstancy OF party or
| ganizatiOn In securing self=peFpetua-
ton, look to the State of Vermont for
80 years prior to the war, when 1t an
nually rolled up its 25,000, or more,
majority for the Whig party, despite
all the efforts Of the Democracy, aid
ed most of the time by Federal infiu-
enee and patronage. When you at
| tempt to reform party by destroying
it-whlOh Is the present mode of re-
form adopted-the first law of nature,
selfpreservatlon, appeals 10 each
member of that party to resist the new
movement, and avert its destruction.
Such an antagOnism has another most
baleful influence. The most active,
and Oftentimes the most unserupul- |
Gus partisans, eXaggerate the import |
anee Of maintaining party usage and |
discipline, and the great mass Of the !
honest portion of the party are thus |
diverted from careful examination |
int the fitness Of those seeking to |
represent them, and relieve them from
abuses and cOrruptions existing In the [
party. ef.aa
Ex-speaker Orr does not pretend to
justify all the things which have been
done by those now in power in the /
Republican organization in South Car
ollna. His position is that It seasier
to secure reform through the Repub-
lican party than In opposition 10 it
that the triumph of the Republican
party in any event is certain, and
that the effNts of good men should
therefore be directed toward the Sc
lection of tile best candidates from
among the eRepublicans. HeeOneluIes
with this statement Ofthe Republican
work in South Carolina.
That Notwithstanding the fact that
just cause of complaint may exist
against the Republican party for sins
of omission and commission, they
have done much to ameliorate the
condition of the white people of the
State, ameli0ratiOns which the
Legislature ef the State, in 1865 and
1866, refused to grant. That party has
secured a homestead to the head of
every family. Thousands Of women
and children in this State would have
been houseless and homeless, naked
aud starved, but for the benehoent
provision of the homestead enact
ment. Every voter thus protected
should remember, when he comes to II
cast his vote, who furnishes a shelter
in the sunshine and storm, over the
head of his wife and children, despite
the stale claims of heartless creditors.
That this same party has protected \
n Oh fr, ]
paying debts contracted for slave
property.
That this same party has been equal
to the humane progress Of the age in
Imprisonment for debt.
That this same party, whatever may
have been its extravaganza or i'm
providence, has raised the market val
ne of the bonds of the State from 90
cents, IN January, 1868, to about 80
cents at the present time.
If good and true men will consent (
to accept the Reconstruction acts of
Congress, and the legislation, Federal
and State, necessarily growing out Of
them; If they will accept the new con- ,
ditiOns surrounding us; If they will ,
affiliate with the Republican Organi-
zatiOn, especially in this State, we will
profit largely by what theyhaye done ;
and much can be accom- 1
plished to correct abuse and malfeas-
ance that may have grown up in the l
state of affairs surround (
ing US.
Believing no good result can flow
from the Reform movement, shall
vote for the nominees Of the Republi-
can party. Very respectfully.
JAMES l.. ORR.