By Kolkhorst H.R. No. 753 77R10019 MMS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Matthew Gaines of Washington County, state senator 1-2 and Baptist minister, was one of the foremost African American 1-3 leaders in Texas during the second half of the 19th century; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Born August 4, 1840, to a slave mother in Louisiana, 1-5 Mr. Gaines settled in Burton, Texas, following Emancipation; he 1-6 quickly rose to prominence as a politician and minister, and in 1-7 1869 he won a seat in the state senate, where he represented 1-8 Washington County in the 12th and 13th legislatures; and 1-9 WHEREAS, During his term of office, Mr. Gaines worked for 1-10 many progressive measures; he supported and voted for a successful 1-11 bill establishing a tax-supported public school system for all 1-12 Texans, and he worked and voted for the successful enabling 1-13 legislation that made possible the creation of Texas A&M University 1-14 in 1871 and Prairie View A&M University in 1876; he further sought 1-15 to advance education by sponsoring a successful bill to exempt 1-16 educational, religious, charitable, and literary associations from 1-17 taxation; and 1-18 WHEREAS, A vigorous champion of African American interests, 1-19 he worked unrelentingly for the militia bill in order to provide 1-20 protection for blacks at the polling places; after the measure 1-21 passed, he sought, without success, to secure the election of an 1-22 African American to the U.S. House of Representatives; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Mr. Gaines passed a bill authorizing his district to 1-24 levy a special tax for the construction of a new jail, in order to 2-1 protect newly freed slaves from mob violence, and he proposed an 2-2 unsuccessful bill that would have given tenant farmers, most of 2-3 whom were black, the first lien on their crops; and 2-4 WHEREAS, In consequence of his activities, Mr. Gaines 2-5 received numerous death threats and faced many attempts to smear 2-6 his reputation; the political maneuvering of his enemies and the 2-7 end of Reconstruction resulted in his ouster from the senate after 2-8 only four years, but he continued to be active in politics and to 2-9 speak out in many forums until his death in 1900; and 2-10 WHEREAS, Mr. Gaines was a courageous advocate for genuine 2-11 democracy and for the rights and interests of African Americans, 2-12 and the descendants of this remarkable Texan, who still live in the 2-13 vicinity of Washington County, have continued to contribute to and 2-14 enrich their community; now, therefore, be it 2-15 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-16 Legislature hereby pay special tribute to the life of Matthew 2-17 Gaines for his exceptional public service; and, be it further 2-18 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-19 prepared for the descendants of Mr. Gaines as an expression of high 2-20 regard by the Texas House of Representatives.