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

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lite or to give any thing like al
ANALYSIS of his character, but th'
heartis ever ready to drop a tea
upon the bier Of a friend so Ions
known, so much respected and 81
well beloved!
Judge Orr and myself were
nearly of the same age. We be
came acquainted in early youth
We were admitted to the bar abou
the same time. I practiced will
| him on the Western Circuit anc
afterwards before him as. Judge
met him in political meetings, il
the Legislature, in the Convention
of September 1865, and elsewhere
We were brother soldiers in thu
Confederate army, and there was
never for a moment any abatement
of our:friendship up to the hour O.
his death. 1 Remember we'll tne
first time I ever saw him, full o:
life and hope, at a military encamp
ment at Liberty Hill, Edgefeld
when, a mere boy, he was already
distinguished as the chief staff
officer of AlIor-General McDuffie.
who being something Of a martinez
was called Old Frederick, and his
youthful Adjutant "young Fritz
Judge Orr was in many respects
a very remarkable man: [ was two
years his senior, but he always
seemed to be older and wiser. As
in life so in death be has gone be-
fore! He has been taken from Us
at the early age Of fifty, and yet in
that short space he occupied more
offices of honor and trust than any
contemporary who can be named
This itself is remarkable fact, es.
pecially when we consider the
stormy times in which he lived
He entered the Legislature at q
very early age, and we cannot recall
that he was ever afterwards, tol
any length Of time, out of public
employment until the other day at
the distant hyperborean capitol Of
the Muscovite, far away from home
and friends, he died in the service
of the country! He was several
times a member Of the Legislature
member of Congress, where he
was Speaker OF the Honse of Rep
resentatives-member of the Seces-
sion Convention Peace Commits
sioner to Washington with Mr..
Barnwell and GOV. Adams = after.
wards Commissioner to Mississippi
Colonel Of Orr's Regiment Of
Rifes-Senator in the Confederate
Congress-member of the Conven.
tlon Of 1865 - Governor of the
State of South CaroIina-Judge OF
the 9Th Judicial Circuit under the
new Constitution - leader Of that
portion of the Republican party
which boHed the regular Convention
in the interest of reform, honesty
and good government; and finally
Minister Plenipotentiary OF the
United States at the magnificent
Court of Alexander, Gar of all the
Russias! He was fortunate enough
to be able to serve the State before
the war-to serve he State during
the war-and to serve the recon
structed State after the war, which
can be said of very few others
The question has been asked why
he could adapt himself to such
changed conditions Of the State
Was he a mere time-server? Far
from it! I knew him well, and
here declare that I believe he never
had an impulse of the heart but tor
the good of his country. LIE was
one of those who believe that In
public offices that should be done
which is expedient. and he always
acted as he thought best for hls
people. lie was accustomed to re-
mark that Of all the nations Of
modern times England had the
wisest statesmen, and that in Fin.
gland public policy was but another
name for enlightened expediency'
Others Of US did not always see as
he did, and he was sometimes
charged with inconsistency; but
solemnly believe that in all things
he was animated solely by the love
of his country. lie was not deIolc
of what has been called "the last
infirmity of noble .minds,' but his
ambition was not for selfish ag
grandizement-not to raise himsel:
upon the ruins of his country, bu'
to identify himself with her pros
perity and glory, and thus deserve
the appreciation of his fellow-cltl
zens, which was always very swee'
to him! He was emphatically {
popular man, not because he was {
demagogue, but because he had
trusting feeling cf fellowship will
the masses. He was the tavorlte o
the people, because he was in tn
strongest sense one Of them, pos
sessing all their thoughts, wishe
and hopes; springing from them HI
never lost sympathy with them
was always devoted to their inter
ests-was their true exponent, AM
might with propriety be called tn
great Tribune of the people!