South Carolina friend of Buchanan, Assistant U.S. Secretary of State in 1860, Ft. Sumter negotiator, CSA Colinel
South Carolina-- Statehood Granted: May 23, 1788 State Motto: While I breathe, I hope; Ready in soul and resource
Photography Book
James L. Orr (1822-1873)
Old established family, SC college, staff officer in Seminole War ’36, brother killed at Alamo ’36, lawyer, state House ’40-44, Col – 12th US Infantry in Mexican War, rides circuit, US House ’57-60 as Dem after cousin Preston Brooks, pro-secession, Commander of SC forces ’61, fights at 1st Bull Run, resigns to enter politics, SC Gov ’62-64, BG-Cav in ’65, insurance biz and politics until he retires.
David Jamison (1810-1890--64)
Milledge Bonham (1813-1890)
Planter who serves in the South Carolina legislature and helps found The Citadel Military Academy. General in State Militia and chosen as President of the SC Secession Convention. Serves as military court judge during the war.
Born in northwest SC, father survives Cherokee massacre to start cotton plantation with 30 slaves, strict Calvinist upbringing, Yale, famous law tutor, USS Chesapeake incident prompts public protest, into state politics, marries cousin Floride Colhoun with 1100 acre Ft. Hill estate, US House ’11-17, “warhawk” vs. Britain with Clay, Monroe’s Sec of War ’17-25, lifelong maneuvers to be prez, twice VP ’25-32 JQA then Jackson, AJ turns on him over ’28 nullification threat and ends his prez hopes, shifts to spokesperson for Southern interests and states rights, “slavery a positive good,” Sec of State ’44-45 (Tyler/Polk), favors Texas annex, US Senate ’45-50, head of SC firebrands, opposes 1850 Compromise & warns the North that disunion is imminent, dies shortly after final speech, along with Webster & Clay, one of big 3 in congress between 1811-1850.
William Aiken (1806-1887)
Elite family in Charleston, famous Moses Wadell academy, SC grad, lawyer, planter, states attorney, state senate opposing “nullification,” strong Unionist, legal battles vs. RB Rhett, opposes CSA , codifies laws of SC, dies during war.
William Trescott (1822-1898)
Planter, lawyer, fire-eater, state then US House ’53-60 as Dem, helps Brooks in Sumner caning, tries to choke Cong, Grow on floor, CSA gov and Col-20th SC Vols, killed in charge at Cold Harbor.
Expelled from college, duel with Wigfall in ’40 leads to need for cane, SC House, Mexican War Col, US House as Dem ’56, fire-eater, pro-Kansas ruffians, nearly kills Chas Sumner with cane on Senate floor, resigns, South hero, dies suddenly.
Politicians/Diplomats
Great wealth as cotton broker, banker, railroads, CSA Sec of Treasury, finances blockade runners
Born in Pennsylvania, he is educated in the south & in Scotland before opening a law practice in South Carolina and entering the state legislature. In 1833 he joins John Calhoun’s “Nullifier” Party and is twice elected to the US Senate (1833-42), the second time as a Whig. He resigns due to poor health and becomes president of South Carolina College in Columbia.
Southeastern States (Continued)
Father runs canal and railroad company, inherits Jehosee Island rice plantation, 700 slaves, state congress, Governor ’44-46, then US House ’51-57, loses Speaker job on 133rd ballot to Banks ’55, pro-Union, praised post-war for moderation.
Modest start, lawyer, state than US House ’21-34 as Dem, nullification leader with Calhoun, militia, SC Gov ’34-6, early states rights fire-eater, US Senate ’42-46, 40 of every 100 cotton bales go to tariffs, dies early of dueling wounds.
Planter, lawyer, Calhoun supporter, he serves in both houses of Congress and as Minister to Russia under Buchanan before becoming Governor of South Carolina. He is in that office when the state secedes in 1860 and plays an important role in the events surrounding the fall of Ft. Sumter, on the side of initiating military intervention.
Isaac William Hayne (1809-1890)
Modest family, law practice to state politics ’26-32, first calls for secession in ’30 over tariff, state Atty General ’32-37, US House ’37-49, changes last name in ‘38 from Smith to Rhett (distant ancestor), marries wealth, 2 plantations and 90 slaves, ’42 leads Blufton Movement to nullify ’42 Tariff, even Calhoun sees as too radical, Senate ’50-52, with Yancy, opposes 1850 Comp as not defending slave holder rights, resigns Senate when SC fails to declare secession, leads walk-out at 1860 Dem Convention that triggers party break-up, “fire-eater” famous for invective (Lincoln a “traitor to South,” Hamlin a “Northern octoroon,” Africans a “semi-barbarous race”), owns his own mouthpiece The Charleston Mercury, CSA House ’61-62, critical of Davis, moves to La post-war and dies there.
George Trenholm (1807-1876)
James L. Petigru (1789-1863)
Robert Rhett (1800-1876)
As Attorney General of South Carolina, he reads the Order of Secession at the Charleston Convention and acts as a key negotiator with Washington over the fate of Ft. Sumter, including delivery of Governor Pickens’ demanding its outright surrender.
George McDuffee (1790-1851)
John Calhoun (1782-1850)
William C. Preston (1794-1860)
South Carolina lawyer who serves five terms in the US House, the last as Speaker dedicated to supporting Buchanan’s attempt to drive the bogus pro-slavery Lecompton Constitution through Congress to admit Kansas. During the Ft. Sumter crisis, Orr is one of the southern negotiators in DC demanding that the fort be evacuated. When war breaks out, he forms a regiment, but soon resigns to become a CSA Senator. After the conflict, he is Governor of SC and Ambassador to Russia under US Grant.
Lawrence Keitt (1824-1864)
Francis Pickens (1805-1869)
Preston Brooks (1819-1857)