"Decree No. 138," October 1, 1830

Summary: The Congress of Coahuila and Texas passed more laws dealing with the tobacco trade. In this case, the legislators required stricter measures in examining tobacco and burning any that was of poor quality. Also stipulated that the executive enter into contracts designed to keep a steady supply of tobacco in government hands and stop all smuggling so as to ensure the government's monopoly in the trade.

The Congress of the State of Coahuila and Texas, to prevent the notoriously serious injury and abuse now suffered by the most profitable rent of the state, from the bad quality of the tobacco, and bad manner it is manufactured, has thought proper to decree as follows:

ART. 1. The executive shall appoint two competent persons to examine the tobacco in the leaf, received of the English contractors, which requisite shall be indispensably observed in future, on the receipt of any quantity of leaf tobacco.

ART. 2. The persons interested shall appoint two citizens, to join those appointed by the executive, in making the examination mentioned in the preceding article.

ART. 3. Should the tobacco result, on the aforementioned[sic] examination, not to be of the quality stipulated in the contract, it shall be deposited as the executive shall think proper, allowing the shortest possible period for removing it from the limits of the state; and should the removal not be effected within the time prefixed, the tobacco shall be burned.

ART. 4. The purchases of paper mentioned in article 27 of the regulations for the cigar manufactory, at least so much as is required for the operation of twisting, shall indispensably be of that made of linnen[sic] material.

ART. 5. The executive shall give the manufacturer the strictest orders to have the tobacco manufactured in the best possible manner, and shall even make him responsible, should the tusks or bunches fall short in weight.

ART. 6. On the supposition that, by national law, tobacco will continue to be a monopoly, the executive shall enter into seasonable contracts with the national executive, or with private individuals, so that there always being tobacco on hand in the state, the agencies of that department may be supplied therewith.

ART. 7. The executive shall dictate administratively whatever measures he shall deem proper to put an end to smuggling.

For its fulfilment, the Governor of the State shall cause it to be printed, published, and circulated.

Given in the city of Leona Vicario on the 21st of April, 1830.

VICENTE VALDES, President.

MARIANO GARCIA, D. S.

IGNACIO SENDEJOS, D. S.

Wherefore I command it to be printed, published, circulated and duly fulfilled.

Leona Vicario, October 1st, 1830.

RAFAEL ECA Y MUZQUIZ.

SANTIAGO DEL VALLE, Secretary.

Source Copy Consulted: "Decree No. 138," October 1, 1830, reprinted in H.P.H. Gammel, The Laws of Texas, 1822-1897, 12 vols., (Austin: Gammel Book Co., 1898), 1:264. http://texinfo.library.unt.edu/lawsoftexas