Pedro Perea, a member of a prestigious New Mexican
political family, followed in the footsteps of his
cousin Francisco, who served as a Territorial
Delegate in the 38th Congress (1863–1865), and in those
of his brother-in-law, Mariano Otero, who served in the
46th Congress (1879–1881). Like many other 19th-century
Delegates from New Mexico, Pedro Perea served
a single term in Congress before returning to a prosperous
business career in the territory. An obituary characterized
him as “an uncompromising Republican, broad minded,
careful and earnest in his desire to see New Mexico take
her place in the front ranks of the sisterhood of States.”1
Perea was born in Bernalillo, Sandoval County, New
Mexico—just north of Albuquerque—on April 22, 1852,
to José Leandro and Dolores Chavis Perea. Perea’s father
was a prominent merchant and a local politician; his
mother managed the family home. Perea grew up in a
wealthy household with eight siblings and three servants.2
He attended St. Michael’s College in Santa Fe; Georgetown
College in Washington, D.C.; and St. Louis University,
where he earned a degree in 1871. Perea returned to New
Mexico and he formed a merchandising business with
his brother that specialized in farming and ranching.3
Before formally entering politics, Perea used his status and
influence to secure funding to expand the Santa Fe road.4
Perea married Emelia Montoya, and the couple had one
son, Abel.5
Perea’s formal political experience began when he
was elected to New Mexico’s 27th Legislative Assembly
(1886–1888) to represent Bernalillo County as a member
of the territorial council. He served four two-year terms,
three of them consecutive (1886–1892, 1894–1896), and
focused on the territory’s financial and appropriations
issues.6 In 1890 Perea continued to pursue business
opportunities while serving as a territorial councilman,
eventually becoming president of the Bank of Santa Fe
from 1890 to 1894.7 Perea’s political career was closely
aligned with the Santa Fe Ring, a Republican faction
that dominated politics in New Mexico for much of the
post–Civil War era. Perea’s political patron was Thomas B.
Catron, a powerful lawyer and landowner who had been
an associate of Perea’s father’s in the 1870s and served as a
Territorial Delegate in the 54th Congress (1895–1897). In
1896 Perea served as a delegate to the Republican National
Convention in St. Louis, where William McKinley was
nominated as the party’s presidential candidate. One year
later, Perea, with Catron’s support, was considered for
a federal appointment as New Mexico’s governor along
with 20 other candidates. The administration passed over
Perea for Miguel Otero, Jr., the son of Territorial Delegate
Miguel Otero, Sr., and a prominent party operative in his
own right.8 Members of the Ring objected not only to
the administration’s choice of Miguel Otero for governor,
but also to the actions of the sitting Delegate, Harvey Fergusson, who proposed statehood for New Mexico in
the 55th Congress (1897–1899). Consequently the Ring
rallied behind Perea’s bid for Delegate to oust Fergusson,
which served as a check on Otero’s position, and helped
maintain the Ring’s political influence in Washington and
throughout the territory.9 Perea, enthusiastically nominated
by local Republicans, was endorsed as a “hard working,
efficient … and influential delegate, who will deserve
and enjoy the good will and favorable opinion of his
fellow members and the people of New Mexico.” Another
endorsement said the “interests of New Mexico require
that a protectionist be at the national capital to look after
the … territory, and Mr. Perea is that man.”10 Perea ran on
his business acumen and legislative experience, and as an
advocate for New Mexico’s farmers, miners, and ranchers.11
During the election campaign, Perea’s ethnicity became
a dominant issue. According to pro-Perea sources, the
Fergusson campaign would “attempt to raise the race
question during the campaign and will endeavor to incite
race passions and bitterness.” The goal was “to divide what
is called the Mexican vote … and then advise and induce
the so-called American voters to cast their ballots for
the Democratic candidate.” Pro-Republican newspapers
responded by vigorously defending Perea’s reputation.12 The
topic of race was particularly divisive in the southeastern
section of the territory known as Little Texas. A local Eddy
County newspaper presented voters with a choice between
“Pedro Perea, a full-blooded Mexican, and Hon. Harvey
B. Fergusson, the best delegate New Mexico ever had in
Congress.”13 Perea’s supporters responded in an editorial that
Perea was “a native of this territory, born in 1852, and his
ancestors came to this country over 200 years ago and have
been residents and leading citizens … ever since.” Citing
his education in U.S. schools in St. Louis, Washington,
D.C., and Santa Fe, supporters stressed that Perea’s “father
became an American citizen by absolute choice, in 1848.”14
The race-baiting tactic failed, and Perea beat Fergusson
with a decisive 52 to 47 percent of the vote.15 In an
editorial postmortem, the Santa Fe New Mexican noted
that Perea had accomplished the impossible and that his
victory was “only the second time the Republicans have
carried the territory since 1880.” The editorial also noted
that Perea overcame a “popular Democratic candidate
and a Democratic majority of 2,000 … in a four weeks’
campaign.” One scholar concluded that Perea’s victory
“reestablished the unquestioned political dominance of
New Mexico’s Old Guard Republicans” over Fergusson
and his Democratic supporters.16
Elected to the 56th Congress (1899–1901), Perea
served on four committees: Post Office and Post Roads,
Military Affairs, Private Land Claims, and Territories.17
This assignment contrasted sharply with those of his
predecessors; each had held a single seat that was pre-ordained
for New Mexico Delegates since the 46th
Congress (1879–1881): Coinage, Weights, and Measures.18
When Perea entered the House, New Mexico’s territorial
apprenticeship had been in existence for 54 years. Like his
predecessor, Harvey Fergusson, Perea took an aggressive
stand for New Mexican statehood. On the day he was
sworn into the House, Perea submitted H.R. 57, a bill “to
enable the people of New Mexico to form a constitution
and state government.” Referred to the Committee on
Territories, it languished and eventually died.19 Perea also
submitted bills for the establishment of roads and for
agricultural interests and private bills for constituent needs.
He convinced the federal government to restore Santa Fe’s
border to its area prior to the U.S. occupation of New
Mexico in 1846.20 Unfortunately, Perea’s initiatives were
crippled as a result of political infighting between Catron
and Governor Otero; they broke down completely when
Otero dismissed Perea’s term as useless and Perea accused
Otero of actively working against him.21 Perea did not run
for re-election to the 57th Congress (1901–1903).22
When Perea returned to New Mexico, Governor
Otero appointed him territorial insurance commissioner,
a position he held until his death. Perea died of acute
gastritis on January 11, 1906, in Bernalillo, New Mexico.
He was 54.23
View Record in the Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
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