Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-05-08

The telegraph yesterday morning in
formed us of the death of James L. Orr,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni-
potentiary from the United States to
Russia. He died at St. Petersburgh,
Monday night, of inflammation of the
lungs. 1t appears that he had been i'll
from cold for some time, but his death
was wholly unexpected. The loss of
this valued and trusted public servant, at
this time, is national calamity. 1t is
but few months-it seems but days
since we were congratulating the Presi-
dent and the country on the peculiar
fitness of the appointment. There was
a surprising unanimity in the expressions
of the press and people, of all parties,
upon the wisdom displayed in making
Governor Orr Minister to Russia, not
only as a recognition of his statesman
ship, his integrity of character, his per-
sonal requirements and his ability and
legal acumen, but also on account of his
residence in South Carolina We do not
intend to enter into the particulars of
his biography, further than to state that
Immediately after being admitted to the
bar in 1843 he entered public life and
remained, with hardly an interval, there
in until his death. He was member of
Congress from 1848 to 1853, being
Speaker of the House in 1857 and 1853.
1t was during his speakership that the
opponents of slavery first obtained a
majority in the national House of Rep
resentatives, and although himself an
ultra-Southern politician and statesman,
he was an honorable man and impartial
presiding officer. 1t was due, in great
measure, to his integrity and fairness, to
the faithful discharge of his duties and
his correct decisions, that the Opposers
of the extension of slavery gained their
first triumph. Notwithstanding the ella
NOR and demands of his colleagues, he
persisted in being faithful, just and
to express the idea without circumlo-
cution-judicial officer. We published
in detail, a few weeks age, an account
of the proceedings of that day, illustra-
ting this phase of his character. He
was, as we have said, an ultra-Southerner
in his views he honestly believed in the
right of secession and notification, for
he had been born and educated in the
school of Calhoun, yet still he was, in a
certain degree an Union man. He says
himself, as late as August 1860, that he
had never made or sought preteXts for
destroying the Union, and adds Il have
profound and abiding affection for the
Union of our fathers, and deeply deplore
the existence of the causes which are
rapidly tending to its destruction. Dur
ing the whole of my Congressional car
eer, | sought to tranquilize sectional
strife" He in the same letter advocated
and defended the right of secession. He
was man Of firm and decided convic.
tons, and therefore, two years before
writing the letter referred to, foreseeing
the result of the presidential election of
1860, and knowing that South Carolina
would then secede, he refused to be re-
turned to Congress, considering his al
legiance due to the State rather than to
the Union. He would, while in Con-
gress, engage himself in no plots against
the government. He would occupy no
doubtful position. Being of this temper
and character, he could not, with honor
and integrity, after the questions so long
at issue had been decided by the wager
of battle, profess a divided allegiance,
and when he accepted the situation, :"
he did it heartily and in good faith He
allied himself with the Republican party,
engaged himself actively and honorably
in the work of reconstruction, was
elected Governor of South Carolina, and
has now, at the comparatively early age
of tifty-one years, closed a long and
eventful career in the service of his
country.