Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1865-11-11
- Correspondence New York Herald,
Judge Paschal's visit to Fort War
rem.

IL
oAS, or Texas.
BosroS, Oct. 6.-lIaving received let
ter at Washington, from Judge John H.
Reagan, late rebel Postmaster deneial nh.
der President Davis, in which he expressed
desire 10 see me, obtained phss from
the Secretary Of War, and extended my
visit from New York to this city.
Yesterday morning | went down in the
Government boat to Fort Warren, where
spent the day with Judge Reagan and late
Vice President Alexander II. Stephens. AS
this latter gentleman and myself grew up
in the same neighborhood in Georgia, and
rs myself and Judge Reagan had served
in the same canvass against the Republican
African slave. trade secession Issue, | could
not have remembered subsequent political
differences against them If would.
/ was politely received by the officer n
command of the powerful fortress, which
will not pause 10 describe, and conducted
Immediately to the room OF Judge Reagan,
without other question than to know If |
would return in the early boat or spend the
day. Having answered that | would not
return until evening, the officer left me IN
undisturbed intercourse with the untortu-
nate prisoners the whole day. l found
Judge Reagan in excellant health, | may
saw robust His face isa little blcached by
clos, confinement before his enlargement;
but his frame seems to have expanded and
his whole physique TO have gained new
strength. lie was cheerful and took more
philosophic view of his situation than could
one man in thousand under like circum-
stances.
Iquestion whether so many months of
his time were ever so studiously and profit
ably employed as those during his solitary
confinement He has read great deal,
which he seems to have matured well; has
written out his early memoirs, which, as a
man who had to buffet against misfortunes
and the want of early opportunities, cannot
fail to be interesting; has written some es-
says upon government and an address to
the people of Texas, which he forwarded
thu ongh the authorities to Gov. Hamilton.
AS it may have reached the public prints,
or may yet do so, will not do Judge Rea-
gan the injustice Of trying to repeat the
contents from memory.
cannot be mistaken, however, when
say that Judge Reagan takes more COM
prehensivc view than thousands who have
retained their liberty. lie not only cheer
fully .'accepts the situation" but he rscog-
nizes and accepts all the logical conclusions
deducihle from that situation. He main
tains that the contest of opinion had as
sumed that form when the arbitrament of
war could not be avoided; that the South
claimed the right to secede; thathe was not
one of those who thought it peaceful rem
edy, but expected terrible war, and ad-
hercd to his section, intending TO abide the
consequences. He makes no technical,
constitutional or legal qubbles, but says,
awe stakcd all and lost ALL The Govern
ment offers to restore to the great masses
their rights minus their slaves.
While he thinks this is hardship to the
loyal Union men, no one else has right to
complain. lie advises all to regain citizen
ship and restoration Of their rights under
the Constitution, in good faith, as soon as
thew can. And he advises that in future
they accept the logic of events, and do at
once, what he thinks it inevitable will have
to be done ere long--lhat is, to change the
organic law TO suit the altered situation to
| adopt free State Constitution, and to rat
| ify the amendment of the Constitution OF
the United States, and to leave no further
room for agitation. While he would dis
franchise no one now entitled to vote, he
| would in future extend the privilege to ev.
cry intelligent nan of every color who
could read and write lie would also ex
tend to the freedman equal rights in courts.
He does not think it possible that these
measures can long be avoided, andhe would
have them adopted at once. He proposed
other minor amendments Of not so great
importance. This latter view understand
to be purely for quiet and repose.
While Judge Reagan claims to have al
ways been conservative man, and hopes
ere long to be pardoned, or at least released
from prison, he does not propose to enter
into political life, but to exert himself for
the support of a dependant family. He has
found public life neither the road to wealth
nor happiness. Indeed, he thinks, that
those who were active in the secession
movement ought to yield public affairs to
the better judgment of those who opposed
it. He says the doctrines of secession, and
all political claims founded upon them, have
been conquered and must be surrendered
My conversation with the Judge was long
frank and free. | stated TO him frankly
! that could not have embarked in the worl;
of resistance, because | would have had a
consciousness that was violating the '.su-
preme law of the land.n In our running
conversations the Judge gave me many an
inside view of the workings Of the rebel.
lion, about which will not say more than
that the mental hallucination was as great
in high quarters rs low.
/ found Mr.. Stephens the same feeble
emaciated frame which he always was
His figure is bent and his face wrinkled
but his eye is keen and his intellect unim
paired. lie suffered much before his en-
largement, and while lie recognizes that h
is imprisoned as the second chief of thu
rebellion he feels keenly that men ns inhu
ential as himself, who had given their who'll
lives to the work Of destroying the Union
have been overlooked, while he, who only
Welded after the work was accomplished
was held prisoner. reminded him tha
the judgment of society was always severei
upon the seduced than the seducer. Mr.
Stephens conversed pleasantly about thu
men, things and antecedalts Of our youth
fnl boyhood. He looks wi h distrust upoI
the exceeding activity Of the secessionist
in the work of restoration. lie remember
them as the men of 1860.
A Union man all his life, he now hnd
. himself distanced by those who bore dow
I the Union element. Mr.. Stephens has tn
constant companionship Of his brother
7 Judge Linton Stephens.
L did not know the disposition Of I'd
Government towards these distinguishes
~ l. -