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THE
OLD ROMAN
by Archie
P. McDonald, PhD |
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"...
John H. Reagan ...
one of Texas' leading political figures in the 19th century ...
The "Fort Warren Letter" made Reagan unpopular with fellow
Texans who were determined to resist Federal requirements as long
as possible, but several years of Radical Reconstruction convinced
many of the wisdom of his unheeded advice. They likened him to Cincinatus,
who had led Rome¹s legions, then lost popularity when he opted for
peace. Thereafter, Reagan was affectionately called the "Old
Roman. ... " |
My
friend Ben Procter wrote a wonderful biography titled Not Without
Honor: The Life of John H. Reagan. Reagan was one of Texas' leading
political figures in the 19th century, and here is part of the story
you could read in Ben's book.
Reagan was born in Sevier County, Tennessee, in 1818. His rural raising
denied Reagan much education until he left home; then he attended
several academies and seminaries before settling down to the study
of law. He migrated to Nacogdoches, Texas, in time to participate
in the Battle of the Neches, near Tyler, in 1839, that resulted in
the removal of most of the Indians from East Texas.
During the 1840s and 1850s Reagan became active in politics. He served
as the first judge of Henderson County, in both houses of the Texas
legislature, and represented the Eastern District in the US House
of Representatives.
Reagan supported the secession of Texas in 1861, and when this was
accomplished he resigned from Congress and soon won appointment as
postmaster general of the Confederacy by President Jefferson Davis.
Only Reagan and Secretary of the Navy Stephen Mallory held their posts
continuously throughout the Civil War, and, at the end, Reagan was
the last cabinet member remaining with Davis when they were captured
near Abbyville, Georgia.
For the next 22 months Reagan was held in Fort Warren, in Boston harbor.
In August 1865, while in prison, he sent a letter advising Texans
to accept the terms of Reconstruction as quickly as possible to get
it behind them. The "Fort Warren Letter" made Reagan unpopular
with fellow Texans who were determined to resist Federal requirements
as long as possible, but several years of Radical Reconstruction convinced
many of the wisdom of his unheeded advice. They likened him to Cincinatus,
who had led Rome's legions, then lost popularity when he opted for
peace. Thereafter, Reagan was affectionately called the "Old
Roman."
Reagan continued to serve Texas and the restored nation often and
well before his death in 1905. He was returned to Congress, representing
the First District, and chaired the House committee that produced
the Interstate Commerce Act in 1887. Reagan returned to Texas in 1890
when Governor Jim Hogg asked him to chair the Texas Railroad Commission,
and held the post until he retired in 1903.
The "Old Roman" was buried in Palestine.
All
Things Historical
May 12-18,
2002 column
A syndicated column in over 40 East Texas newspapers
(Archie McDonald is author of Pioneers, Poke Sallet and Politics with
Bob Bowman. It is available through the East Texas Historical Association,
Nacogdoches) |
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