The Portland daily press., 1873-05-07
Beath of Minister Orr.

1t was but a few days since that cable des-
patch announced that the health of Hon.
james L. Orr,our Minister to Russia, was great
ly improved. The announcement of his death,
which took place suddenly at St. Petersburg on
Monday, will greatly surprise the country Mr.
Orr had been hut a short time at his important
diplomatic post, and he probably succumbed to
the changes of an unwonted and ungenial cli-
mate, his disease being inflammation of the
lungs.
Mr.. Orr was born in Craytonville, S. c., May
II, 1922, and was therefore at his death yery
nearly ffty-one years of age. He spent part
of his boyhood behind the counter of his father,
who was country shop keeper, but he man
aged to fit himself for college. In 1910 he en-
tered the junior class of the University of Vir-
ginia where he graduated in 1872 The next
year he was admitted to the practice of the
law, and established himself at Anderson,
where he edited the Anderson Gazette. In
1874 he was elected to the Legislature, in which
he served two terms. In the latter he acquired
considerable reputation for opposing the pro-
posed nulifcation to the tariff act of 1872 In
1S48 he was chosen a member of Congress, and
served there continuously down to March 9TH.
1852 His course was Southern, with marked
indications of independence. He opposed the
whole series of compromise measures of 1850,
except that for the rendition of slaves.
AS a member of the State convention which
met at Charleston, May, 1851, to consider the
proprety of Withdrawing South Carolina from
the Union, in consequence of the alleged ag-
gressions of the North, he was one of the mi
nority who opposed secession on the ground of
its inexpediency, although at that time he ad-
mitted the existence of the right of secession.
The project failed through the want of two
thirds vote, and the failure was attributed to
him as much as to any other man. In Con-
gress he supported the Kansas-N Nebraska bill
In the opening of the 35th Congress he was
chosen Speaker of the House, and served with
ability and acceptance.
On his retirement from Congress in 1859 he
modified his belief in the efficacy of the Dem
ocratic party to save the Union or even itself.
And yet he was was carried away momentarily
by the whirlwind of secession which swept
through the South on the announcement of Mr.
Llncoln's election. As member of the South
Carolina State Convention which met in De-
cember 1860, he recorded his vote in favor of
the immediate and separate secession of South
Carolina. He was also one of the three Com
missioners dispatched by South Carolina to
Washington to treat with the Federal govern
ment for the surrender of u S. forts in Charles
ton harbor. With this misson-which was of
course a failure-Mr Orr's prominence during
the rebellion seems to have vanished He prob
ably found himself in little accord with the
jeff. Davis cabal, which ruled everything with
high hand, and he may have foreseen earlier
than those around him the ultimate result of
the contest. At all events as soon as the war
was over he was one of the most prompt of the
Southern leading men to take stand in favor
of submission and reconciliation. In 1865 he
was chosen Governor of South Carolina, and
in his inaugural he emphatically repudiated
the right of secession, and declared that upon
all contested questions between the South and
the government, "the God of battles had pro-
nounced an irrevocable judgment" None ac-
quiesced more heartily in the emancipation
policy At the meeting of the Constitutional
Convention of the State in 1867 he gave in his
adherence to the cause of reconstruction in the
most explicit terms. Indeed, he ever after
wards acted cordially with the Republican par
ty, supporting Gen. Grunts election and ad-
ministration by voice and pen. When, there
FORE the mission to Russia became vacant by
the retirement of Gov. Curtin, there was gen.
eral expression of qualification as it was an
nounced that the President had conferred the
honor upon Gov. Orr. He would have filled
the place with great ability and to the eouul
satisfaction OF the two countries, had he not
been thus cut off In the prime of his manhood