Matthew Gaines
Encyclopedia
Matthew Gaines was a former slave, community leader, minister, and Republican
Texas State Senator. He made valuable contributions towards the establishment of free public education in the state of Texas
.
, Louisiana
to a female slave owned by Martin Despallier. Gaines taught himself to read from smuggled books. After being sold from the Despallier family, he escaped from his new owner in Louisiana
to Arkansas
, and eventually made it to New Orleans, where he was captured and returned to his master. In 1859, Gaines was sold to Christopher Columbus Hearne, where he remained until 1863 when he tried to flee to Mexico
. He was caught again and was forced to work as a runaway slave in Fredericksburg, Texas
until the end of the war. After the emancipation, Gaines settled in Washington County, where he established himself as a leader of the freedmen, both as a Baptist
preacher and a politician.
in the Twelfth Texas Legislature
. He gained a reputation for being a guardian of the newly won rights of the African-Texans. Throughout his term, he addressed the issues of public education, prison reform, the protection of black voters, and tenant farming reformation. Gaines passionately and unflaggingly supported the forward movement that established the first public school system for all Texans and assisted in allowing Texas to take advantage of the federal Grant College Act, also known as the Morrill Act.
In 1870, Gaines played a strategic role in passing the Militia Bill, which created a state police force to combat lawlessness and to protect against voter intimidation. Even though his actions were sincere, Senator Gaines was generally a threat to the Democrats and even some Republicans found him troublesome. Gaines was elected to a six-year term to the Senate, but he only served four years. Denounced on the Senate floor by a Democratic opponent as a "flat-footer [sic] nigger" and threatened with death outside the legislature by racist whites, Gaines was indicted in 1871 on a charge of bigamy
, causing his seat to be challenged. He was removed from office despite the fact that the charge was overturned. In 1875, he was arrested for making a civil rights speech in Giddings
. He told his audience that "in the eyes of God, blacks are as good as whites; they should have pride and hold their heads up even in troubled times." Gaines continued to be active in politics and made his political views known in conventions, public gatherings, and from his pulpit. He died in Giddings, Texas, on June 11, 1900.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Texas State Senator. He made valuable contributions towards the establishment of free public education in the state of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Former slave
Matthew Gaines was born on August 4, 1840 near AlexandriaAlexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
to a female slave owned by Martin Despallier. Gaines taught himself to read from smuggled books. After being sold from the Despallier family, he escaped from his new owner in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
to Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, and eventually made it to New Orleans, where he was captured and returned to his master. In 1859, Gaines was sold to Christopher Columbus Hearne, where he remained until 1863 when he tried to flee to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He was caught again and was forced to work as a runaway slave in Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg is the seat of Gillespie County, in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census estimate, the city had a population of 10, 530...
until the end of the war. After the emancipation, Gaines settled in Washington County, where he established himself as a leader of the freedmen, both as a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
preacher and a politician.
Republican State Senator
In 1869, Gaines was elected as a Senator of the Texas's 16th districtTexas's 16th congressional district
Texas District 16 of the United States House of Representatives is a Congressional district that serves El Paso and the surrounding area in the state of Texas. The current Representative from District 16 is Silvestre Reyes....
in the Twelfth Texas Legislature
Twelfth Texas Legislature
The Twelfth Texas Legislature met from 8 February 1870 to 2 December 1871 in four sessions — provisional, called, regular, and adjourned.-Rump Senate:...
. He gained a reputation for being a guardian of the newly won rights of the African-Texans. Throughout his term, he addressed the issues of public education, prison reform, the protection of black voters, and tenant farming reformation. Gaines passionately and unflaggingly supported the forward movement that established the first public school system for all Texans and assisted in allowing Texas to take advantage of the federal Grant College Act, also known as the Morrill Act.
In 1870, Gaines played a strategic role in passing the Militia Bill, which created a state police force to combat lawlessness and to protect against voter intimidation. Even though his actions were sincere, Senator Gaines was generally a threat to the Democrats and even some Republicans found him troublesome. Gaines was elected to a six-year term to the Senate, but he only served four years. Denounced on the Senate floor by a Democratic opponent as a "flat-footer [sic] nigger" and threatened with death outside the legislature by racist whites, Gaines was indicted in 1871 on a charge of bigamy
Bigamy
In cultures that practice marital monogamy, bigamy is the act of entering into a marriage with one person while still legally married to another. Bigamy is a crime in most western countries, and when it occurs in this context often neither the first nor second spouse is aware of the other...
, causing his seat to be challenged. He was removed from office despite the fact that the charge was overturned. In 1875, he was arrested for making a civil rights speech in Giddings
Giddings, Texas
Giddings is the county seat of Lee County, Texas, United States situated on the intersection of U.S. Highways 77 and 290, east of Austin. Its population was 5,105 at the 2000 census. The city's motto is "Giddings Texas: Experience Hometown Hospitality"....
. He told his audience that "in the eyes of God, blacks are as good as whites; they should have pride and hold their heads up even in troubled times." Gaines continued to be active in politics and made his political views known in conventions, public gatherings, and from his pulpit. He died in Giddings, Texas, on June 11, 1900.