6th Texas Legislature


The 6th Texas Legislature met from November 5, 1855 to September 1, 1856 in its regular session and one adjourned session. All 80 members of the Texas House of Representatives and about half of the members of the Texas Senate were elected in 1855.

Sessions

6th Regular session: November 5, 1855 – February 4, 18566th Adjourned session: July 7–September 1, 1856

Party summary

The 6th Texas Legislature was dominated by the Republican Party, a rarity in the state's history. Its defining feature was the Radical Republican control during the Reconstruction era, which passed landmark legislation aimed at fulfilling the requirements of Congressional Reconstruction. The party's power, however, was brief, and it was ousted by the resurgent Democratic Party in the following election.

Radical Republican majority

The legislature was composed primarily of Republicans who aligned with the federal government's Reconstruction efforts.
  • The party's control was a result of the enfranchisement of black American men and the temporary disenfranchisement of former Confederates, as mandated by Congressional Reconstruction.
  • Governor Edmund J. Davis, a Republican and former Union officer, worked with the legislature to consolidate Republican power and enact Reconstruction policies.

Officers

Senate

; Lieutenant Governor: Hardin Richard Runnels, Democrat
; President pro tempore: Jesse Grimes, Regular session, Adjourned session

House of Representatives

; Speaker of the House : Hamilton P. Bee

Members

Senate

Members of the Texas Senate for the Sixth Texas Legislature:
DistrictSenatorPartyTook office
1Solomon H. PirkeyDemocrat1855
2Johnson WrenDemocrat1855
3Robert H. TaylorDemocrat1855
4Malachi W. AllenDemocrat1853
5Jefferson WeatherfordDemocrat1853
6Jonathan RussellDemocrat1855
7M. D. K. TaylorDemocrat1851
8William Thomas ScottDemocrat1851
9James Winwright FlanaganDemocrat1855
10Elisha Everett LottDemocrat1853
11Robert Henry GuinnDemocrat1853
12William M. TaylorDemocrat1855
13Madison G. WhitakerDemocrat1853
14James A. TruittDemocrat1855
15James M. BurroughsDemocrat1855
16Henry C. PedigoDemocrat1853
17Mark M. PotterDemocrat1851
18Edward A. PalmerDemocrat1855
19Jesse GrimesDemocrat1855
20James W. McDadeDemocrat1853
21Elliot McNeil MillicanDemocrat1853
22William Harrison "Howdy" MartinDemocrat1853
23James H. ArmstrongDemocrat1851
24Guy Morrison BryanDemocrat1853
25John CaldwellDemocrat1855
26Samuel Addison WhiteDemocrat1855
27Henry Eustace McCullochDemocrat1855
28Edwin B. ScarboroughDemocrat1855
29Edward R. HordDemocrat1855
30Antoine SupervièleDemocrat1853
31Samuel A. MaverickDemocrat1855
32Isaac Lafayette HillDemocrat1853
33Rufus DoaneDemocrat1851

House of Representatives

Members of the House of Representatives for the Sixth Texas Legislature:

Membership Changes

The 6th Texas Legislature saw several changes in membership due to the deaths and resignations of elected officials. The Legislative Reference Library of Texas's database on past and present legislators can confirm these specific changes. During this era, state legislative vacancies were typically filled by a special election.

Resignations and related special elections

  • Jesse Billingsley: A member of the House representing Bastrop, Fayette, and Travis counties, Billingsley resigned from the 6th Legislature. He had previously served in the 5th Legislature.
  • George Smyth: Smyth, a Democrat who represented Texas's 1st congressional district, ended his service around the time of the 6th Legislature. A special election to fill the vacant seat he left behind would have been held to decide his replacement.