The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 33, July 1929 - April, 1930 Page: 310
344 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
by common usage, there came to be a carefully prescribed set of
instructions and laws. This change was brought about as the
natural consequence of growth; and was the composite result of
suggestions from the consuls, instructions from the Secretary of
State, and enactments of Congress. Since there is no available
source for the instructions issuing from the State Department,
those regulations can only be derived by inference.
The regulation providing the fee system of 5 per cent for moneys
received and 22 per cent for disbursements grew up during the
period of the first agency in New Orleans and was enacted into law
when the Mobile agency was created.80 Fees for passports and
certificates of character or intention were permitted until the
passage of the joint resolution81 of December 15, 1837, when they
were abolished to fit the needs of Texas.82 There were fees for
recording deeds, authentications, oaths and services of like char-
acter.83 The fee system as a source of income, however, was a
failure. One termed it a "mere pittance"; Edmonds, consul at
New Orleans, said the "fees of the office would not pay drayage
on mails.""
Another writer said, "In the present limited state of our com-
merce the office can be of no profit or benefit to any citizen of the
Republic."s5 The Cincinnati consul reported fees of $29.50 for
recording deeds as the sole income for the year 1841-1842.86
A law was enacted February 5, 1840, which provided a fee for
certificates of invoices,87 but it was repealed February 1, 1841.
On the recommendation of President Houston, an effort was made
8Gammel, Laws of Texas, I, 70.
"'Woodward to Houston, January 16, 1837, Letter Book, II, 52, Archives,
State Library.
82Secretary of State to Townsend, January 5, 1838, Consular Corre-
spondence, 1888-1844, Archives, State Library.
"8Bryan to Secretary of State, Report, July 6, 1839, Consular Corre-
spondence, LXI, Office of Secretary of State.
84Edmonds to Secretary of State, April 13, 1842, Consular Correspondence,
1888-1844, Archives, State Library.
85Daingerfield to Jones, Garrison, Diplomatic Correspondence of the
Republic of Texas, in Am. Hist. Assn. Report, 1908, II.
s"McGuffy to Secretary of State, Report, 1841-1842, Consular Corre-
spondence, 1838-1844, Archives, State Library.
"'Gammel, Laws of Texas, I, 623.310
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 33, July 1929 - April, 1930, periodical, 1930; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101090/m1/336/: accessed May 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.