Matt Gaines in Debate, 1870

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In 1870, the Ku Klux Klan and other groups of bandits were terrorizing the Texas countryside. The 12th legislature took up the question of forming a militia to deal with the problem. This document is an excerpt of Matt Gaines in debate on the Senate floor in favor of the measure, which eventually passed. From the State Journal Appendix containing the Official Report of the Debates and Proceeedings of the Twelfth Legislature of the State of Texas, 1870.