CHAPTER 5.

An Act to provide an appropriation for the payment of the mileage and per diem pay of the Members of the Legislature of the State of Texas.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That the sum of fifteen thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby appropriated for the payment of the mileage and per diem pay of the members of the Legislature of the State of Texas; also, for the payment of the per diem pay of the officers attendant thereon.

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That the Treasurer be, and he is hereby authorized and required to pay all darfts which shall be drawn by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, attested by the Chief Clerk of said House; and all drafts which may be drawn by the President of the Senate, attested by the Secretary of the same, for the payment of the mileage and per diem pay of the officers attendant thereon, out of any moneys in the Treasury appropriated by this act; and that this act take effect from and after its passage.

Approved, January 1, 1848.

CHAPTER 6.

An Act to provide for the disposition of the funds received from the United States.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas. That it shall be the duty of the accounting officer, on settling the accounts of James Bourland, late Collector of Customs for the District of Red River, to allow him such portion of the amount received from the General Government of the United States, for the forcible entry of the Texian Custom-house at Bryarly's Landing, in 1843, as was allowed to officers of the customs in cases of seizure under the laws then existing.

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Governor to pay said Collector the amount found to be due

him by the proper accounting officer, out of the amount received from the proceeds of said claim; and the balance, if any, shall be paid into the State Treasury.

Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That the nett proceeds of the sum of one thousand nine hundred and seventy-five dollars, received from the General Government, as an indemnity for the disarming of a portion of the command of Col. Snively by order of Captain Cook, of the United States Army, in 1843, after deducting therefrom the expense of collection and transportation to the City of Austin, shall be divided equally among the men composing the party disarmed: And in the event of the death of any of the men composing said party, the amount or amounts due such person or persons deceased, shall be paid to his or their legal representatives, on the affidavit of a member of the expedition, that the deceased was of the party disarmed: and in other cases the party applying for the benefit of this act, shall make affidavit that he was a member of said party, corroborated by the evidence of another member. Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That the expense of collecting and transporting to the City of Austin the moneys described in this act, be deducted pro rata, from the sums collected, prior to the division and distribution above provided for: and that this act take effect from and after its passage.

Approved, January 3, 1848.

CHAPTER 7.

Preamble and Joint Resolution of the Legislature of the State of Texas, requesting the Senators and Representatives, of Texas in the Congress of the United States, to urge the passage of a law for the payment of the volunteers called out from this State under the requisition of Col. S. R. Curtis.

Whereas, during the progress of the present war with Mexico, several requisitions have been made upon this State for troops. which have been promptly responded to by our citizens:

And whereas, those who went out under the call based upon

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the requisition of Col. S. R. Curtis, (then commanding at Camargo,) for two thousand six months mounted riflemen, to meet an existing emergency, have not received pay for their services:

And whereas, these men by their promptness in hastening to the place of rendezvous-in organizing themselves into a regiment— and in marching for the seat of war, under the almost universal impression that the state of affairs in Mexico was such that their services were most anxiously desired, have shown themselves possessed of that true spirit of zealous patriotism, in which rests in a great degree, the power of free governments to render themselves invincible without standing armies:

And whereas, the officers and members of that regiment incurred a very considerable expense in purchasing horses and arms for that campaign:

And whereas, their loss, particularly in horses, was necessarily considerable; from the fact that they received no forage, except for a few days at San Antonio, and that the country was generally burnt over by fires and drought, so that they were almost without grass their horses becoming thereby comparatively valuelessand that many of them, for want of means, were compelled to sacrifice them at sale, in order to be able to return home:

And whereas, it is necessary that the just claims of these troops to compensation should be presented to the Congress of the United States, therefore:

Section 1. Be it unanimously resolved by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That our Senators and Representatives be requested to urge upon the Congress of the United States, to make such an appropriation as will secure to that regiment a just compensation for their services and losses.

Sec. 2. Be it further resolved, That his excellency the Governor be requested to forward a copy of this preamble and resolutions to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress, to be by them laid before their respective Houses. Approved, January 6, 1848.

CHAPTER 8.

An Act to provide for Repairs necessary on Public Buildings in the City of Austin.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That such an amount of money, arising from the rent of the public buildings situated in the City of Austin, as in the opinion of the Comptroller may be necessary, be appropriated to repair said buildings: Provided, the amount of money so appropriated, does not exceed one half of the amount for which the said buildings may be rented.

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That this act take effect from and after its passage.

Approved, January 7, 1848.

CHAPTER 9.

An Act to provide for locating the Seat of Justice of the County of Austin.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That from and after the passage of this act, the County seat of Austin shall be at the place selected by the people at an election holden on the twenty-third day of December, one thousand eight hundred and forty six, on Thomas Bell's tract of land in said county.

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That all process heretofore issued, or that may issue up to the first day of February, 1848, shall be returned to the court house, at the county seat of justice of the county of Austin, as established by the provisions of the first section of this act; and after the first day of February, 1848, all process shall be made returnable to the court house of Austin county. Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That in order to name the county seat of justice of the county aforesaid, the Chief Justice shall cause an election to be holden throughout the county, at the usual places of holding elections, on the day of the next

general election of county officers, which shall be conducted according to law; at which time, the people shall declare by vote by what name the county seat shall be known; and the name having the highest number of votes, shall be the name of the county seat: and that this act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Approved, January 7, 1848.

CHAPTER 10.

An Act to admit Franklin B. Sexton, Asa H. Willie, and Josiah F. Crosby to practice law in the Courts of this State.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That Franklin B. Sexton, Asa H. Willie, and Josiah F. Crosby be, and they are hereby admitted to practice law in all of the courts of this State: Provided, that the said Franklin B. Sexton, Asa H. Willie, and Josiah F. Crosby, after undergoing an examination as required by law, be deemed qualified for admission: and provided also, that the said Franklin B. Sexton, Asa H. Willie, and Josiah F. Crosby shall not, by reason of their minority, be exempt from liability upon their professional engagements. Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That this act take effect from and after its passage.

Approved, January 10, 1848.

CHAPTER 11.

An Act the better to define the boundaries of Grayson County.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That from and after the passage of this act, the county of Grayson be, and the same is hereby bounded as follows, to wit: Beginning on Red River, at the mouth of Choctaw Bayou;