Parker be Authorized to dispose of them in A simclar manner and that due Returns be made by Both to the Governor
D. C. Barrett J. D. Clements Alexr Thomson G. A. Pattillo
[2005)
[BRYAN to GOVERNOR and COUNCIL]
No 8
Agency Office New Orleans February 4 1836
· His Ex the Governor & Hon Council of Texas Gentn
We had the honour of addressing you by mail under date of 2d enclosing Duplicate of Jany 31st. 1 now enclose duplicate No 7 of Feby 2d, to which I would particularly refer you, as showing the situation of my accounts, the William A Turner will said on the 7th inst with letters and Invoices as named, within ten days we shall despatch another vessel with provisions &c for the army, probably under convoy of the Brutus-I have advices via Havana that Santa Anna, had been deserted by many of his friends, & that insurrection had taken place in the southern provinces, & that it was not probable he would be able to carry the war into Texas, it is however like all Mexican news, & cannot be considered as official. From the many representations made to this office we are compelled to call the attention of the government to the act of 27th December 1835 laying a duty on tonage. By section 3d it is made the duty of the Collector at Galveston to publish in N York & New Orleans notice of the Tariff, & by section 16th it is enacted that it shall be in full force from & after the day of publication. The fair construction of the law would be that vessels sailing from N York or New Orleans previous to the promulgation of the Law, were not liable to tonage duty public notice not having been given of the passage of the act. The same remark will apply lo duties upon merchandise but not with equal force, as the value of merchandise must have been propolionally increased by the act, while the Freight or Charter of a vessel is in its nature positive, & independent of contingencies. I observe that port charges have been levied upon vessels who could not have known of the act of December 27th at their time of
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