Date of Award
8-1964
Document Type
Thesis open access
Abstract
James P. Newcomb's life spanned turbulent times in Texas. From the Nova Scotian's arrival in Texas in 1839 until his death in 1907, Newcomb witnessed many major changes in his adopted state. As he grew older, he played an increasingly important part in the state's affairs. Although intended to be a warts-and-all biography, this thesis concentrates on Newcomb's involvement with newspapers and politics from the time of his first venture in journalism in 1854 until his appointment as Texas' Secretary of State in 1870. Reconstruction receives extended treatment because it was during this period that Newcomb emerged from relative obscurity and assumed a leading role in the direction of Texas' political life.
As editor of three ante-bellum San Antonio newspapers, Newcomb wrote knowledgeably of Texas government, but he was not one of the state's guiding spirits. The theme of his papers was unionism, a cause which Newcomb championed until forced to flee to California in mid-1861. On the West Coast he prospected, married, and continued to work as a journalist. For several years he was associated with the San Francisco American Flag, an outspoken Union paper which first introduced Newcomb to Radical Republicanism. When he returned to Texas in 1867, Newcomb became co-owner of the San Antonio Express. His influence grew rapidly. Owing to his belief in the Radical Reconstruction cause, he lent the voice of his paper to the growing Republican movement in Texas. When Texas Republicans split, Newcomb cast his lot with the Radical faction led by Edmund J. Davis. Davis' election as governor in 1869 assured Newcomb's political and journalistic future as long as the Radicals remained in control. In 1870 he became Secretary of State and editor of the Austin State Journal, official organ of the Davis administration. Ahead lay four years of Radical rule for Texas, a rule so unpopular that it stifled Republicanism in Texas for a century. But in January, 1870, the Radicals knew nothing of ultimate defeat; they looked forward to a long period of peace, prosperity, and Republicanism. This thesis leaves them there-on the verge of success, on the precipice of failure.
Recommended Citation
Somers, Dale A., "James P. Newcomb, Texas Unionist and Radical Republican" (1964). Masters Theses. 1.
https://digitalcommons.trinity.edu/masterstheses/1