The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-05-14
THE DEATH OF MINISTER ORR.
Letter from His Excellency, Governor
F. ], Moses, Jr.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT;

STATE OF SOQTH CAROLlNA, T
May 6, 1873.
The sad and startling announce
ment has reached this department
OF the death of the Hon. James
Lawrence Orr, at St. Petersburg,
in the ffty-lhird year Of his life. =.
A public career so eminent and
useful, closing so suddenly and in
a distant land, must excite pecu-
liar and mournful interest through
out the whole country. but especi-
ally in, the State where he was born
and where he had passed all. save
his last days. At such an hour and
in the fresh grief of bereavement,
all recollection of the contentious
and differences which necessarily
marked a life so prominent and so
full of independent and bold action
will surely be hushed, while every
patriotic heart will join in tribute
of proud respect for one who, in all
the stages of long public career,
was devoted to the interests OF the
State he represented and faithful to
the people from whom he sprung:
Few Americans have so steadily
remained in the public service, and
fewer still have succeeded so per-
fectly in securing and retaining the
confidence of the people in all the
offices which he has successively
filled. As member of the State
Legislature, when only twenty-one
years of age, and subsequently in
his rapid and brilliant ascent
through the long series of his civil
honors, as representative in Con-
gress, as speaker of the National
House of Representatives, as Sem
ator in the Confederate Congress,
as Governor of this State, as one of
the judges of our Circuit Court,
and finally as ambassador and min
ister,near the Court of st. Peters
burg, he conspicuously illustrated
his prudence, patriotism, integrity,
learning and fidelity.
His character was sound, robust
and independent; his public course
was clear, bold and unsulIied by q
suspicion Of venal and unworthy
motives. He was an ardent patriot,
sharing warmly at one time, indeed
in the local feeling which arrayed
him against the Federal Govern
ment; yet, when that issue was
closed, cheerfully, bravely and with
much self sacrifice renewing his
allegiance and service to the Union
of all the States, and steadily and
firmly maintaining the authority Of
the nation and the equal civil and
political rights of all our citizens.
He died alta distant post of duty,
in one of the most exalted stations
of our public service, far away from
his native State, which he loved
and had served so we'll, but happily
attended to the last by one men,
Der of his beloved household. TO
his stricken and mourning family
his loss will come most heavily, and
to them let our deepest sympathy
be given, but let the whole State
take notice that one of her most
eminent, useful and devoted sons
has fallen, ard that, in the death Of
Governor Orr, South Carolina has
met with a great and irreparable be-
reavement.
AS mark Of the public respect
due to so distinguished a public
servant, and especially as due from
this department to one of my most
honored predecessors, it is hereby
Ordered, That the offices of the
executive department of the State
government be closed tomorrow.
the 7th instant, in memory of the
late Governor and Judge James
L. Orr.
FRANKLIN J. Moses, JR.,
Governor of South. Carolina,