The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-17

The career OF Judge j. a. Orr. which
The Times Dispatth presents in me ar
ticla printed below VIII he read with
interest by thousands throughout the
South. Judge Orr WAS born III the
Palmetto state, In Anderson County.
where arc now living many OF his rela-
lives, He graduated at Erskinc Col
lcge. Due West. and IN ls43 became q
resident OF Mississippi. in which State
he has won signal honors. He was a
conspicuous figure in Confederate coun-
ellis. and at the age OF eighty five finds
himself unique figure. in that he is
tho only surviving member OF tho Con-
fcderate Congress. His activities as
1urist. army officer legislator and dip
lonat nre interestingly related In the
following article taken from the Chat
tanooga Times.
Judge orr's EnrIy Life.
Judge ]. A. Orr, who. until his re-
iiremcni from active practice in the
present year, Ut the age of eighty
five. has been consistently designated
as the Ncstor OF the Mississippi Bar.
was born in Cray,onville. s G.. April
10, ISIS, and Is a son OF CHRISTOPHER
and Martha Mccain orr, both OF whom
were born In Anderson County. His
era 1dtather Ms captain Of draS o5iS
IN tho Continental service during the
WAR Of the Revolution. taking part in
the battle OF the Cowpens and other
engagements in South Carolina
In his youth Judge Orr was afforded
the best OF educational advantages.
graduating from Erskine College.
South Carolina. with the degree OF
bachelor o. arts. and later from Prince
ton College. New Jersey. receiving the
degree OF master OF arts.
He became resident Of Mississippi
in 1919. and when the civil War was
precipitated on divided country, he
was loyal to the Constitution and in
hercut rights OF the South ir,anifesting
his allegiance IN no uncertain way In
February, 1852. 10 was commissioned
by j. +. Benjamin. Secretary OF War.
10 raise regiment for the Confederate
army.
H. recruited regiment OF 100
men, and on Apr!l 2, 1859. vas unani-
inousiy elected colonel OF this regi-
ment, the Thirty-arst Mississippi He
vac n command OF this regiment dur
ms the entire Mississippi campaign OF
lho2-tS, Under IN, command OF Generals
Van Dorm. Pember,on and johnson.
remaining "s;h the regiment until
APRIL 1864, when he resigned 10 take
his scat IN Tie Second Confederate
Congress. TO which ne had been elect
Cd IN October. ~ the time Of the out
break OF the war Judge orr was a
largo land owner ana slave owner
OF Ch!ckasaw County. ana Was one .:
tae many citizens OF the State VINO ex-
pcrleaced 10 the FUN the losses wrought
By the great conflict which Frustrated
the energies o. tac iair South. lie had
the courage, however, To escounter "the
sings and arrows or outrageous for
tune" with i maximum of cQuan!mity
WAS true % the other valiant souls
Of Inc Lost Cause" and ne assumed
the labovs and responsibilities OF the
leadership, for which he was so emil
ncntly fitted. Judge Orr had amply
fortified himself :or the practice Of
law. in which ne had engaged at Hous-
twenty second year he was elected
secretary OF the Mississippi! state SEN
ate retaining this incumbcncy FOR two
years. As a member OF the Lcglsla-
ture in 1852, ne made his first fight
for the educational interests OF Mis-
sissippi, win which he has been for
so many years identified The Leg!s-
laturo Of 1852 bcsct by lobbyists
urging the immediate sale Of the
Chickasaw school lands, 10000 acres,
donated By the United States govern
ment TO the twelve northern coun-
ties which had originally belonged TO
the Chickasaw Indians. and which,
under the treaty, Were sold for their
benefit without the reservation of the
mated to the northern counties. in lieu
OF the sixteenth sections, We're mag
nifcently situated very fertile and
covered with timber, and We're re-
garded with longing eyes by the land
graboers.
Through the instrumentality of
Judge Orr, as chairman of the com
mittee on Chckasaw school lands. the
scheme of the lobbyists to sacrifice
them at that session of the Legisla-
ture was defeated. but it prevailed at
the very next session, of which Judge
Orr was not member. and the lands
were sold at prices greatly below their
value His experience with the lands
enabled Judge Orr, many yer IS after
ward, to save for the State University
more than 100000 in connection with
the naval reserve lands. In 1854 he
was appointed United States district
attorney for the Northern District of
Mississippi, and In 1855, having been
a delegate to the national convention
at Cincinnati, which nominated Buch
anan and Breckenridge, had canvassed
his district as presidential elector, and
voted that ticket.
Delegate to Secession Convention.
He was a delegate to the Mississippi
convention which dccrccd secession
Elk Chief Justice Woods said of this
convention: 1t can be truthfully af-
firmcd that in learning and ability, in
patriotism and In nobility OF individual
character, no such body had ever be-
fore or has ever since been assembled
within our borders" Judge Orr was
chosen a member of the Provisional
SOnSTGSS anu SaDoSquShliSs ny 1HS iiSo
choice Of the people, was elected TO the
Confederate Congress when Il perma-
nent government had been established
In this Congress, besides other services
he was prominent on the Committee
on Foreign Affairs. and on January %,
1865, made the majority report OF that
committee which led to the celebrated
Hampton Roads conference between
Vice-Presdcnt Stephens, Senator Hun
ter and Judge j. A. Campbell and
President Lincoln and Secretary of
State Seward In many articles writ
ten on this important event in Con-
tolerate history no mention has been
made of the movement of the friends
OF diplomacy to end the war in May
1864, and OF tho action Of the Commit