Batt's Annotated Revised Civil Statutes of Texas . By R. L. Batts , Professor of Law, University of Texas. Vol. I. Austin, Texas: Eugene Von Boeckmann Publishing Company. Pp. xv-1164.

During the existence of Texas as a government, there have been numerous and radical changes in her constitutional and statutory law. In many respects, her jurisprudence is peculiar, and these peculiarities can be learned nowhere except in her own enactments and decisions. Elementary works and decisions of courts of other jurisdictions are, of course, helpful, but the Texas lawyer must get his information from the Constitution, statutes, and decisions of Texas. These are becoming very numerous. Since Texas ceased to be a Mexican province she has had seven constitutions, and several of these have been frequently amended. Her statutes are changed every two years, and the decisions of her seven courts of appellate jurisdiction are accumulating with a rapidity that taxes the energy of the most enthusiastic to keep pace with them. The volumes of reports comprise six series, some with few volumes, but others approaching a hundred in number. From this it is manifest that any book which serves as a tie to bind this mass of original matter together, and at the same time offers an intelligent key to its contents, and lightens the labor in comparing its several parts, and understanding them collectively and separately, must be very valuable to all persons interested in Texas law. This task has been undertaken and most creditably performed by Hon. R. L. Batts, Professor of Law in the University of Texas, in the preparation of his Annotated Civil Statutes of Texas. The work comprises all the present constitutional and statutory law, arranged topically in alphabetical order, as in the Revised Statutes. Each topic is treated historically. That is, every article of the Constitution and every Statute is given as it is, and in notes are given references to every prior statute on the subject, with date of its adoption and its substance, and in more important matters, the prior law is quoted. In addition, under each section are notes referring to all the decisions on the subject embraced in it. These notes are carefully prepared, and are accurate and short, presenting the real gist of the case in a few clear words. None of these cases are taken or cited from other digests, or even from the syllabi of the reports, except in a few unimportant cases, on points which have been fully covered. In all other instances, the text of the decision has been examined and the note made from it. So thoroughly and intelligently is the work done, that in the text and references to former constitutions, and statutes, and quotations from them, and in the notes and citations of the decisions, it may be truthfully said that all the Texas law, on any subject, is brought together in a form easily accessible and quickly covered, and full opportunity for intelligent comparison and study is afforded. There has been no digest work in Texas since the death of Judge Paschal which, in my judgment, is equal to it.

John C. Townes .

How to cite:
Townes, John C., "Batt's Annotated Revised Civil Statutes of Texas", Volume 002, Number 1, Southwestern Historical Quarterly Online, Page 86 - 87. http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v002/n1/review_9.html
[Accessed Mon Dec 1 18:21:10 CST 2008]