JOINT RESOLUTIONS.

CHAPTER I.

JOINT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONERS TO RUN, MARK OUT AND FULLY DEFINE THE COUNTY LINES OF SAN JACINTO COUNTY.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That the Governor of the State of Texas be and is hereby empowered to appoint commissioners to run, mark out, and fully define the county lines and boundaries of the county of San Jacinto, and that the lines and boundaries so marked and defined shall be and are hereby declared to be the lines and boundaries of the county of San Jacinto.

SEC. 2. That this joint resolution take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Approved October 13, 1871.

CHAPTER II.

JOINT RESOLUTION INSTRUCTING AND REQUESTING OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO URGE UPON CONGRESS THE REIMBURSEMENT TO COTTON RAISERS OF THE COTTON TAX IMPOSED UPON THE PRODUCTS OF THE SOIL BY ACT OF CONGRESS IN 1864, 1866 AND 1867.

WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States with the view (as was alleged) to increase the internal revenue of the general government, enacted certain laws, to-wit: one approved on the thirtieth day of June, 1864, which levied a duty of two cents per pound on all cotton, the growth of the United States; another approved

thirteenth July, 1866, fixing in lieu of the foregoing a tax on cotton of three cents per pound; another approved on the second day of March, 1867, reducing the said tax from the first of September, 1867, to two and a half cents per pound; and,

Whereas, at different times, by regulations of the Treasury department, and at other times by military orders, special taxes were levied on cotton, sometimes at specific rates per pound and at other times payable in kind; and,

Whereas, the collection of the aforesaid taxes and duties were rigidly enforced to the great detriment of the agricultural interests of the cotton growing portion of the United States where said cotton was (with the exception of a very few bales) grown, and often terminating in the bankruptcy of the producer; and,

Whereas, the Constitution of the United States guarantees to the several States equal distribution of taxation, and in which an export tax is prohibited, and as a tax upon the production of the soil was without constitutional warrant, especially as its application was limited to but one article of production, and therefore not uniform; and,

Whereas, the constitutional right of Congress to enact such laws was always exceeding doubtful and now ascertained to be so by the late decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, in the case of Farrington vs. Saunders, wherein the court stood equally divided four to four; and,

Whereas, the people of Texas, colored as well as white, are interested in the return of this money, and jointly look with solicitude to the action of those who control the destinies of our country, acting in their official capacity,

Be it therefore resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Texas, That, in view of the facts as herein set forth, Congress is earnestly requested to restore and refund to the parties respectively interested all moneys so, as aforesaid, collected of the people of Texas, under and by virtue of the aforesaid acts and supplemental acts and orders relative to said taxation of cotton; and be it further

Resolved, That the Senators in Congress be instructed and our congressional Representatives requested to do all in their power to aid in having said money restored by the government of the United States to the parties from whom it was collected.

Passed November 1, 1871.'

CHAPTER III. ›

JOINT RESOLUTION FOR THE RELIEF OF JAMES H. SKINNER, SHERIFF OF HENDERSON COUNTY.

WHEREAS, On the eleventh day of September, 1871, at the city of Austin, one hundred and sixty dollars in United States currency, revenue of the State of Texas, collected by James H. Skinner, sheriff of Henderson county, on the tax assessment of the year 1871, was stolen from Hon. W. B. Stirman, by whom it was being sent to the Treasury, without fault of said sheriff or his said agent; therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Texas, That James H. Skinner, sheriff of Henderson county be, and he is hereby relieved from any and all liability on account of the loss of said one hundred and sixty dollars, and that the Comptroller of Public Accounts is hereby authorized and required to credit said sheriff by the aforesaid amount in the settlement of his accounts.

SEC. 2. That this resolution take effect and be in force from its passage.

Passed November 13, 1871.

CHAPTER IV.

JOINT RESOLUTION TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF PRINTING THE REPORTS OF ALL OFFICERS WHO ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR OR THE LEGISLATURE BY SECTION FIVE OF AN 1870.

ACT REGULATING PUBLIC PRINTING, APPROVED AUgust 13,

SECTION 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That the sum of four thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be required, be and the same is hereby appropriated out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to defray the expenses of printing reports delivered to the present Legislature by the Secretary of State.

SEC. 2. That this joint resolution take effect from and after its passage.

Approved November 29, 1871.

CHAPTER V.

JOINT RESOLUTION PRESCRIBING THE DUTIES OF THE INSPECTOR OF THE STATE PENITENTIARY.

Be it resolved by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That the Inspector of the Penitentiary be and he is hereby authorized to receive and disburse all moneys belonging to the State, appertaining to the penitentiary, and generally to do and perform all things which the Financial Agent of the State was formerly authorized or required to do. And for the faithful performance of this duty the Governor shall require of such inspector a bond payable to the State of Texas, in such an amount as may be fixed by the Governor, which bond shall be approved by the Governor.

This joint resolution shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Approved December 2, 1871.