The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 70, July 1966 - April, 1967 Page: 153

Book Reviews

Senate and House Journals of the Tenth Legislature, First Called
Session, of the State of Texas, May 9, 1864 - May 28, 1864.
Compiled and edited by James M. Day. Introduction by
Neveille Colson and Walter E. Long. Austin (Texas State
Library), 1965. Pp. x-244. Illustrations, appendix, index.
$4.75-
This is no ordinary session which Governor Pendleton Murrah
called to grapple with fiscal and military problems. Depreciated
currency and the seemingly continuous conflict between Texas
and Confederate officials over the use of state troops presented
problems which could hardly be solved by statutory enactments
so late in the war, but the legislators did not have the historian's
advantage of hindsight. Men in Austin could hardly rewrite fiscal
policy established by men in Richmond, nor could they ever
convince congressmen in that faraway city that Texas was ever
needful of state troops to protect her vulnerable frontier from
Indians. Moreover, there was sentiment that Hood's Texas Bri-
gade had served heroically since the outset of the war and de-
served to be returned to its native state. Mexican border troubles,
also a continuing threat, seem to have escaped the attention of
solons at this session.
Legislators also concerned themselves with the plight of in-
digent families of Confederate soldiers. Rather than support them
with an income tax, however, they suggested that this matter
"second in importance to no one" should be solved in a singular
and "simple" manner--refer "the whole matter to the County
Courts where it properly belongs."
Students of Texas in the Confederacy probably have become
familiar with the format and editorial techniques which James
Day has employed in the presentation of the unpublished jour-
nals of both legislative houses in Austin during the conflict. An
innovation in this volume resulted from the editor's decision to
combine the journals of each house in a single publication. Iden-
tification of issues, participants, and the legislative body involved
can be simplified if the reader will acquaint himself with the
guidelines stated clearly in the Preface.
Reduction in printing costs is an obvious advantage resulting
from a single volume, but there is a bonus factor for the searcher.

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