"An Act," Telegraph and Texas Register, March 6, 1844

Summary: Printed the text of an amendment to the Texas law dealing with runaway slaves. The new provisions allowed for a reward of fifty dollars for each captured slave and two dollars for every thirty miles travelled to apprehend runaways. The reward would be paid by either the owners or the sheriff at auction.

Supplementary to "An Act regulating the sale of Runaway Slaves," approved January fifth, one thousand eight hundred and forty-one.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Texas in Congress assembled, That it shall be lawful, hereafter, for any person, or persons, who may apprehend and commit to jail any runaway slave, or slaves, on or west of the San Antonio River, to demand and receive the sum of fifty dollars for each and every slave, so apprehended, provided, said slave, or slaves be so secured that the property come safely to the possession of the owner, to be paid upon the delivery of such slave or slaves to the owner thereof, or his authorized agent; and the person, or persons, apprehending such slave, or slaves, shall have a lien on the same, until the reward specified, as aforesaid, be paid.

SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That in all cases where any slave or slaves shall be apprehended and delivered to the owner at his residence, it shall be lawful for the person, apprehending and delivering such slave or slaves, to demand and receive, for each slave so apprehended and delivered, in addition to the sum specified, as aforesaid, the further sum of two dollars for every thirty miles he may travel in going to, and returning from, the residence of said owner, the distance to be computed over the shortest route travelled at the time, and to have a lien upon the slave, or slaves, for the payment of the same, as provided for in the first section of this act.

SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That the provisions of the second section of this act shall extend to persons apprehending runaway slaves in any part of the Republic, provided, said slaves are delivered by the apprehender to the owner thereof, at his or her residence.

SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That if no owner appears and claims any slave or slaves so apprehended, and the same be sold under the provisions of the act to which this is a supplement, then and in that case, it shall be the duty of the sheriff to pay over to the person, or persons, apprehending such slave, or slaves, the reward prescribed by the provisions of the first section of this act; provided, that the sheriff shall take, in writing, the testimony on which the claim to the reward is admitted, and that the same be filed in the office of the Clerk of the County Court.

SEC. 5. Be it further enacted, That this act take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Approved, January 27th, 1844.

Source Copy Consulted: "An Act," Telegraph and Texas Register, March 6, 1844, p. 1