The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-08-17
The Letter OF Judge Orr upon the Poltt-
tcal Situation.

A certain indulgence is properly due to
the man who, in better days, has done the
State some service. The past has claim
upon the present, and that claim has always
found, in this State, frank and generous
recognition. Upon this ground, if upon no
other, weshould have been induced to allow
the political letter Of Judge Orr-printed in
another column-to appear without COM
ment, had he confined himself to an explana-
| ton of the solid reasons which induced him
to take, just at this moment, the political
leap which for more than two years had
been in preparation. II was expected OF
Judge Orr to declare his adhesion to Scott
aud Ransier, and now that there is no doubt
of his position, his closest friends are re-
lieved from some embarrassment. There is
no disappointment or modification about it.;
but when Judge Orr in defending himself,
attacks the Union Reform party, and invites
the people to walk ''very quietly and very
'conscientiously" into the ranks where Scott
is captain and Whittemore is second in COM
mand, this paper is forced to maintain its
own position, and to uphold the cause OF
decency, honesty and truth.
1t is not denied thut Judge Orr has an un-
doub.ed right to concoct political address
upon any and every convenient occasion.
While the newspapers continue to print, and
the people continue to read, political pro-
phet may well continue to write. And yet,
we are tempted to ask, what reason has
Judge Orr for supposing, as he evidently
does, that his counsel is either desired or
valued by the people whom he betrays?
In November, 1866, Governor Orr bitterly
denounced the Fourteenth Constitutional
amendment, urging the General Assembly
to preserve their own self-respect, and the
respect OF their posterity, "by refusing to be
ssthe mean instruments of their own shame" J"
Four or five months later he swallowed the
whole amendment, General Sickles included,
at one gulp; but, at the same time, exhorred
the people to have nothing to do with the
South Carolina Republican party then pro-
posed to be formed. Is the earlier repudia-
ton of the Fourteenth amendment, or its
later deglutition, Judge Orr's claim upon the
good opinions of the State? In April, 1867,
Judge Orr, at the anniversary meeting OF
the Charleston Board of Trade, declared
that Congress ''made mistake when they
"extended the suffrage to the colored man, !"
and said that '.if you open the door for oil
'sto vote, you give an opportunity for bad
''ren to use their influence" Now, he pro-
claims his support of Scott and Ransier.
Upon which OF the two utterances does
Judge Orr rest his claim to popular favor !?
Seeking already for the suffrages OF the
freedmen, Judge Orr, upon memorable oc-
casion, delivered an Incorporate address be-
fore the Reconstruction Convention, which
address, ifforgiven, is not forgotten. Surely
this cannot be the reason why Judge Orr
cracks the whip over the backs Of men, the
latchet of whose shoes he is unworthy to
loose
The people Of the State have been chari-
tablein the extreme. They did not blame
Mr.. Orr when he accepted Office as Judge
under the Scott administration. 1t was
thought that ne might, on the bench, promote
security and discourage lawlessness. And
no one doubts that Judge Orr has been a
hardworking and Jealous judge. But he
aud Scott became fast friends. The satel-
lites OF the Ring boasted that they had
caught the biggist sh in the political pool,
and that the new Judge would talk out. in
due time. It was soon admitted that Judge
Orr was the tool, or the accomplice, OF the
Ring in more than one railroad transaction
of no doubtful propriety. The people began
to whisper that it was still true that men
had their price. And in the case before US
the terms OF the bargain are we'll known.
Judge Orr gives to Scott and Ransier his
public support; and Scott and Ransier, if
elected, will support Judge Orr for election
to the Senate OF the United States.
There is nothing, we maintain, in the late
political career OF Judge Orr, nor in his
personal conduct, that should entitled his
opinions to weigh in the scale for one mo-
ment against those Of Carpenter, Butler,
Kershaw, and their supporters. The whole
sad story is told in these few words: A
man who has ruined himself, in both public
reputation and private esteem, now exerts
his whole power to compass the ruin OF his
people.