Orlando Hubbs (February 18, 1840 – December 5, 1930) was an American carriage builder, ship's joiner and politician. He moved from New York to North Carolina in 1865, where he helped organize the Republican Party in the state. He served as a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1881 and 1883.
In 1865, Hubbs moved to New Bern, North Carolina and became engaged in mercantile pursuits. He took an active part in organizing the Republican Party in North Carolina.
Orlando Hubbs (1903)
From 1871 to 1881 Hubbs was elected as sheriff of Craven County. He ran for United States House of Representatives in 1880, an election cycle in which the GOP convention was divided over his party nomination.[1]Curtis H. Brogden, a former congressman, emerged in the campaign as an outspoken opponent of Hubbs. However, the publicity of the factionalism dissolved during the general election campaign, where Hubbs defeated Democratic white supremacist William H. Kitchin by fifteen percentage points.[2]
During the 47th congressional session (1881–83), Hubbs was dubbed as being one of four "carpetbaggers," and worked quietly on patronage for political supporters, in addition to pursuing matters important to his district.[1] In early January 1883, Hubbs was one of only seven House Republicans to vote against the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act,[3] legislation sponsored by OhioJim Crow Democrat George H. Pendleton to replace the spoils system (which Radical Republicans effectively used in the post-Civil War years to ensure civil rights for blacks) with a bloated bureaucracy controlled by Democrats to discriminate against blacks.[4] Under immense political pressure following the assassination of President James A. Garfield, the vast majority of Stalwarts which had opposed civil service reform ultimately voted for the Pendleton Act.
In the 1882 United States House of Representatives elections, Hubbs ran for re-election, though once again faced GOP factionalism. The party's district convention resulted in disorder and confusion, as both he and attorney James E. O'Hara claimed to be the actual party nominee for the general election.[1] Hubbs subsequently dropped out of the race in mid-October that year,[5] noting the disastrous consequences of the intraparty schism.[1] O'Hara then won the general election that year to succeed Hubbs.[6]
