ORR, JAMES L. 



PAEZ, JOSfi A. 



ORR, JAMES LAWRISCK, I.L. P., an Ameri- 

 can tMwm and diplomatist, born in Cray- 

 t.-nville. Anderson District, 8. C., May 12, 

 1822; died in St. Petersburg, Russia, May 5, 

 1878. He received a good education, but un- 

 til his eighteenth year was obliged to employ 

 a part of his time behind the counter of bis 

 father, a country shopkeeper. In 1840 he en- 

 tered the University of Virginia, whence be 

 graduated in 1842, studied law, and having 

 been admitted to the South Carolina bar, en- 

 tered upon the practice of his profession in 

 Anderson, where for several years he edited a 

 village paper. In 1844 he was elected to the 

 State Legislature, and reflected in 1846. In 

 1848 he was elected to Congress from the 

 Second District, and was reflected until March 

 4, 1869, serving as Speaker from December, 

 1867, to March, 1869. While in Congress his 

 principal speeches were upon the agitation 

 of the slavery question, and its dangerous con- 

 sequences to the Union. A member of the 

 Southern Rights Convention in May, 1861, he 

 opposed the policy, while maintaining the 

 right of secession on the part of the several 

 States. At the close of his congressional 

 term he announced his intention of retiring; 

 forever from politics, but frequently addressed 

 the public from that time until the breaking 



out of the civil war, always opposing the agi- 

 tation of the slavery and secession quest 

 On the 4th of July, 1854, Mr. Orr, witli 

 phen A. Douglas and others, addressed a 

 Democratic meeting in Philadelphia, Inking a 

 strong stand against the Know-nothing ; 

 and by his able arguments inducing members 

 of the Democratic party, including many pub- 

 lic men, to withstand its insidious and seduc- 

 tive principles. When the war broke out in 

 1861, Mr. Orr sided with the South, and \vus 

 appointed one of the commissioners to \Mt 

 Washington in behalf of South Carolina. Pur- 

 ing the war he organized a rifle regiment, 

 which he led for a time. In 1862 he was 

 elected to the Confederate Congress, serving 

 until the close of the war. In 1865 he WHS 

 appointed as Provisional Governor of South 

 Carolina under President Johnson's plan of 

 reconstruction, serving until 1868. He was at 

 this time a Conservative, and soon joined the 

 Republican party. In 1870 Le was cl-ii. i 

 Judge of the State Circuit Court, serving un- 

 til his appointment as the successor of (!nv- 

 ernor Curtin, minister plenipotentiary at St. 

 Petersburg. In 1866 he was a delegate to the 

 Constitutional Union (known as the " Arm-in- 

 arm ") Convention at Philadelphia, and in 1872 

 to the National Republican Convention. 



PAEZ, Jost AirroNio, a Venezuelan pa- 

 triot, born in Aranre, province of Varinas, in 

 1790; died in New York City, May 6, 1878. 

 He was brought up among the herdsmen of 

 the plains, and when eighteen years of age be- 

 came overseer of the cattle-estates of a wealthy 

 Spaniard. In the beginning of the struggle 

 for liberty he fought on the side of the royal- 

 ists, bnt in 1810 joined the patriots, and in' bis 

 first campaign was promoted to the rank of 

 sergeant of cavalry. Three years later, on 

 the approach of Bolivar to Venezuela, he was 

 offeree a captain's commission in the Spanish 

 army, bnt refusing, he again joined the patriot 

 forces. Twice he was captured, and narrowly 

 escaped death. In February and June, 1816, 

 he defeated the royalist commander, Don 

 Rafael Lopez, bat the results of the campaign 

 were not generally favorable to the insur. 

 Toward the close of this year, Paez was made 

 commander of the revolutionists, with the 

 rank of brigadier-general, and he again de- 

 feated Lopez, aim capturing the city of Acha- 

 naa, and recovering A pure, Varinas, and 

 OsMnare. He totally routed the Spanish 

 army <m January 28, 1817, and soon aft IT 

 acknowledged the authority of Bolivar, and 

 thenceforth they acted in concert. In 1819 Paez 

 wMnii-od to the rank of general of division for 

 his services at Ortiz. The battle of Carabobo, in 

 1981, which secured the independence of Co- 

 lombia, established his military reputation, 



and Bolivar offered to make him general-in- 

 cliief of the army. His capture of Puerto 

 Cabcllo in November, 1823, ended Spanish 

 authority in Colombia. On the formation of 

 the new Government he entered the Senate as 

 representative of the department of Venezuela, 

 and devoted himself to study in order to make 

 up the deficiencies of his early education. At 

 the same time he was an active politician, 

 leading the Federal party. In the execution 

 of a law requiring the enlistment of all citizens 

 in Caracas, Paez gave so much offense, how- 

 ever, tlint the House of Repn -cntatives deter- 

 mined to impeach him. I'nwilling to submit 

 t<> this, Paez put himself at the head of the 

 military, and of the party opposed to the Con- 

 stitution. A rebellion followed, bnt Bolivar 

 returned and recognized Paez as commander 

 in Venezuela. The troubles continuing, in 

 September, 1829, Venezuela was declared in- 

 dependent, and Paez was chosen as its first 

 President. Two insurrections disturbed the 

 new republic, but Paez quickly suppr. 

 both, ami was presented by his Congress with 

 a golden sword. In 1839 be again became 

 Pn-iilrnt. Ho led the revolutionists against 

 the usurper Monagas in 1848, but was unsuc- 

 cessful, and, having been captured, \vns im- 

 prisoned in Valencia, and afterward in tin' 

 fortress of Son Antonio, in the island of Cn- 

 innna. Upon being released by order of Con- 

 gress, ho camo to the United States as an exile, 



