AN ACT, Defining the pay of Mounted Riflemen, now and hereafter in the ranging service on the Frontier. SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the republic of Texas, in congress assembled, That each and every mounted rifleman, who has entered the ranging service, and not otherwise provided for, be, and is hereby entitled to twenty-five dollars per month as pay, and the same bounty of land as other volunteers in the field. SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That the pay of officers in the above service shall be as follows: a captain shall be entitled to receive seventy-five dollars per month, a first lieutenant shall receive sixty dollars per month, a second heutenant, fifty dollars per month, and the orderly sergeant, forty dollars per month; the said officers shall also be entitled to the same bounties of land as officers of the same grade and rank in the volunteer army. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That all officers and soldiers, who have been actually engaged in the ranging service since July 1835, shall be included in this act, and shall receive pay for the time he is in service. IRA INGRAM, President pro tem. of the senate. Approved Dec. 10, 1836. SAM. HOUSTON. JOINT RESOLUTION For the relief of certain Persons. Resolved, by the senate and house of representatives of the republic of Texas, in congress assembled, That the president be authorized and required to take such measures as in his judgment will effect the release or redemption of our unfortunate prisoners, captured by and in the possession of hostile Indians, said to be on the waters of Red River, either by calling for and send ing volunteers against said Indians, or by purchase, treaty, or otherwise. IRA INGRAM, Speaker of the house of representatives. President pro tem. of the senate. Approved, Dec. 10, 1836. SAM. HOUSTON. JOINT RESOLUTION For the relief of Messrs. M'Kinney and Williams. SEC. 1. Resolved, by the senate and house of representatives of the republic of Texas, in congress assembled, That the president be, and he is hereby authorized and required to appoint a commissioner for the purpose contemplated in the 10th art.cle of the charter of the Bank of Agriculture and Commerce, granted to Samuel M. Williams, by the legislature of the state of Coahuila and Texas, in April, 1835, in order that the parties may exercise and enjoy their privileges under said act. SEC. 2. Be it further resolved, That the secretary of the treasury be, and he is hereby authorized and empowered to negotiate a loan from any bank or banks that may be established in this republic, of sufficient amount for the payment of al just claims held by Messrs. M'Kinney and Williams against this government; and that should the secretary succeed in negotiating said loan, then he shall give notice to Messrs. M'Kinney and Williams, to produce their accounts properly authenticated for settlement; and if, on inspection, said accounts be properly authenticated, then the secretary of the treasury shall forthwith proceed to discharge said account: provided, that if the secretary of the treasury should effect such loan, that he stipulate in the face of the bond or bonds which he may execute to said bank, on this government, that the notes of said bank shall be recoverable in discharge of said bond or bonds. JOINT RESOLUTIONS Authorizing the President to negotiate a Loan for twenty thousand dollars. SEC. 1. Resolved, by the senate and house of representatives of the republic of Texas, in congress assembled, That the president be, and he is hereby authorized and empowered to borrow twenty thousand dollars, for the purpose of purchasing ammunition and munitions of war; and that he be authorized to stipulate for such an amount of interest, payable at such time, as hc may be best able to contract for; and that the principal shall be redeemed at such time as may be agreed on. SEC. 2. Be it further resolved, That the president is hereby authorized to sell sufficient land scrip to raise the said sum of twenty thousand dollars, provided, that in procuring said twenty thousand dollars, no lands shall be sold for less than fifty cents per acre. SEC. 3. And be it further resolved, That all islands belonging to this republic shall be, and are hereby reserved for the government use, except the president be authorized specially by congress to sell them. IRA INGRAM, President Approved, Dec. 10, 1836. 9/25. 34/22 pro tem. of the senate. SAM. HOUSTON. JOINT RESOLUTIONS, Authorizing the President to issue Scrip to the amount of five hun dred thousand Acres of Land. SEC. 1. Resolved, by the senate and house of representatives of the republic of Texas in congress assembled, That the president be, and he is hereby authorized and required to sign land scrip to the amount of five hundred thousand acres, and transmit the same to Thomas Tooy of New Orleans, for the purpose of being sold: provided, that said scrip shall not be sold for a less sum than fifty cents an acre: and further provided, that should the bonds of this government, to the amount of five hundred thousand dollars, be previously sold, then, and in that case it shall be the duty of the president to recall said scrip, and forbid the further selling of the same. SEC. 2. And be it further resolved, That the said Toby, with the proceeds arising from the sale of said scrip be, and is hereby authorized and required to fulfil all legal obligations into which he may have entered as agent of this government, on the faith of the authority given him by the president" ad interim," for the selling of land scrip; and that he be authorized and required to pay all legal debts contracted on the faith of the same. IRA INGRAM, Speaker of the house of representatives. President pro tem. of the senate. Approved, Dec. 10, 1836. SAM. HOUSTON. JOINT RESOLUTION, Defining the duties of the heads of departments of the government. Be it resolved by the senate and house of representatives of the republic of Texas in congress assembled, That it shall be, and is hereby made the duty of the heads of departments, composing the president's cabinet, to wit: the secretaries of state, of war, of the navy, of the treasury, and of the attorney general of the republic, to reside permanently at the seat of government of the same, unless absent on leave of the president, and in conformity with the constitution and the laws; to conform to and execute the instructions of the president, whether general or particular: and to give respectively and collectively, such needful aid and counsel whenever required so to do by the chief magistrate of the republic, as may be requisite to a firm, wholesome and harmonious administration of the government. IRA INGRAM, Speaker of the house of representatives. President pro tem. of the senate. Approved, Dec. 13, 1836. SAM. HOUSTON. AN ACT, For the relief of Mrs. Mary Millsaps. SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representaives of the republic of Texas in congress acsembled, That any of the quartermasters or commissaries to whom Mrs. Mary Millsaps may apply, shall be, and are hereby authorized to furnish said Mary Millsaps and family with all the provisions and clothing necessary to their comfort; and if the quartermasters or commissaries to whom said Mary Millsaps shall apply, have not such necessaries in possession, he or they shall be, and is hereby authorized to purchase them on the account of the government, and render an account of the same to the secretary of the treasury. IRA INGRAM, Speaker of the house of Representatives. President pro tem. of the Senate. Approved, Dec. 13, 1836. SAM. HOUSTON. AN ACT, Locating temporarily the seat of government. SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representa tives of the republic of Texas, in congress assembled, That from and after the first day of April next, the seat of government for the republic of Texas shall be established at the town of Houston, on Buffalo Bayou, until the end of the session of congress which shall assemble in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty. SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That the president be, and he is hereby authorized to cause to be erected a building suitable for the temporary accommodation of the congress of the republic, and such other buildings as may be necessary for the accommodation of the different departments of the government, at the said seat of government: provided, the sum or sums so expended shall not exceed fifteen thousand dollars. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the seat of govern |