The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-05-28


fortunate disagreement with the
Chief Executive of the Confeder-
ate Government, like fratricidal
strife, diminished, I have no doubt,
the efficiency of both. 1t were
bootless now, as we'll as. inappro-
pirate, to inquire into the merits of
this controversy. 1t is not as pol
iticiah that l take pleasure in con-
templating this great and good
man. We were not agreed in our
opinions, and yet, sir, 1 always &C
corded the fullest measure of faith
and trust to his wisdom and po-
litical integrity. Much that makes
our present condition tolerable is
due to him, and I do not hesitate
to say now that if his counsels had
prevailed more than they did, we
would have escaped many Of the
misfortunes that have befallen US.
You, Mr.. Chairman, his imme-
diate predecessor in the office of
Governor of the State at the close
of the war, can well understand
and appreciate the difficulties which
he encountered. You, sir, we'll
know the consummate skill with
which he averted many of these
which seemed to be inevitable
His zeal for the public weal-his
abnegation of self-his methodical
arrangement-his rigid and system
attic economy-his untiring industry
all stand out in bold contrast with
much that preceded, and [ regret
to say, with more that has succeeded
his brief and difficult administra-
ton. I have heard him say, and I
believe truly, that he had but little
of ambition left. Having held the
third office in the gift Of the people
of the whole country, / believe that
his acceptance of all minor Offices
was for the good of the people, and
not for himself. After the expira-
ton of his Gubernatorial term, he
was elected Judge Of the 9th Judi
cial Circuit. 1t was time of great
confusion-the deluge had come:
old things had passed away; all
things were new. He carried to
the Bench the desire, the capacity
and the official boldness to admin
lister the Law, where the Law would
give relief, and to invoke many Of
the powers of the Lap-maker when
lin his judgment it was necessary to
do so. AS a precedent, it was dan
gerous in the highest degre; but
looking back over it now, I can see
nothing in it to regret, and much to
commend and approve.
Judge Orr was not student, in
the ordinary sense Of the word.
He was not a man of books. He
never was a great lawyer; in the
very nature Of things he could not
have been. Lawyers arenot ready
made. The Vlgiati amos Latcubra-
tones had been neglected; and yet,
paradoxical as it may seem, the
country was startled on his ascend
ing tile Bench, to see a great Judge
who had never been a learned
lawyer.
Macaulay has said in one of his
essays that it has been determined
after centuries Of effort and expe-
rience, and by means Of which. the
administration of justice in Eng
land has attained as nearly perfec-
ton as it is possible, that the issues
to be tried should be presented by
the most ingenious and learned
counsel, if need be, with most So
phistical arguments, before ajudge
capable of tearing away the sophis-
try and discovering the:truth. That
sophistry is so much like truth,
that whilst it deceives the weak,
points out the truth to him who is
able to discernit. Like the poln-
ters to the land corner, which,
though not the corner itself, lead
the exp ert surveyor to the object
Of his search. This was the. Sc
cret of Judge Orr's success upon
the Bench. A well prepared case,
snaIyzed and fully presented from
sides, resulted almost always in a
Just and luminous decree.
But sir, he. has gone out from
amongst us, and it is more to our
credit than to the increase OF his
fame, that we have assembled our
selvet together to-day to pay this
tribute to his memory.
1t is well to pause for a moment
in this tumultuous, rushing race,
and take serious thought of "What
shadows we are-what shadows we
pursue" -.
To-day, with sad hearts, to the
slow and solemn time of the fu-
neral dirge, we march, as it were
to the grave Of our friend; to-
m ,rrow the business of this Court
will be resumed, aud the battle OF
life will be renewed. 1t is well
1t is well
"And the stately ships so on