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THE WAR IN TEXAS.
In the course of my observations, I have whole or in part, shall be permitted to reside permaseveral
times asserted, that it was the intention nently in the Republic, without the consent of Conof
the insurrectionists to establish and perpetu- gress; and the importation or admission of Africans
ate the system of slavery, by " Constitutional" or negroes into this epubli, excepting from the
provisi.In proof of this, I now quote e United States of America, is forever prohibited, and
provision. In proof of this. I now quote se- declared to be piracy.
veral paragraphs from the Constitution which SEC. 10. All persons, (.fricans, the descendants
they lately adopted. This extract is, taken of .fricans, and Indians excepted,) who were refrom
that part under the head of " General siding in Texas on the day of the Declaration of
Provisions," and embraces all that relates to Independence, [A great portion of the native JM exislavery.
We remember the proclamation of can citizens are, of course, excluded!] shall be
D. G. Burnet, the President of their assumed considered citizens of the Republic, and entitled to
government, issued a few months since, setting all the privileges of such. All citizens now living in
forth that their Constitution prohibited the Texas who have not received their portion of land,
" slv trade," c.* That "I proclanation " in like manner as colonists, shall be entitled to their
"la trade," c. * That ". . proclamation" land in the following proportion and manner: Every
was circulated for the special purpose of de- head of a family shall be entitled to one league and
ceiving the opponents of slavery in the United "labor" of land, and every single man of the age of
States and inlucing them to join in their seventeen and upwards, shall be entitled to the third
marauding' crusade. It will now be seen, that part of one league of land. All citizens who may
the meastire was a device of the most hypocri- have, previously to the adoption of this Constitution,
tical complexion. This extract will also be received their league of land as heads of families, and
found to contain much that is fully confirmatory their quarter of a league of land as single persons,
of what I have before stated, upon other topics shall receive such additional quantity as will make
connected with the general subject before us. the quantity of land received by then equal to one
league and "labor," and one-third of a league, unless
SEC. 6. All free white persons who shall emigrate by bargain, sale, or exchange, they have transferred,
to this Republic, and who shall, after a residence of or may henceforth transfer their right to said land,
six months, make oath before some competent au- or a portion thereof, to some other citizen of the
thority that he intends to reside permanently in the Republic; and in such case the person to whom such
same, and shall swear to support this Constitution, right shall have been transferred, shall be entitled to
and that he will bear true allegiance to the Republic the same, as fullv and amplv as the person making
of Texas, shall be entitled to all the privileges of the transfer might or could'have been.. No alien
citizenship. shall hold land in Texas, except by titles emanating
SEC. 7. So soon as convenience will permit, there directly firom the Government of this Republic. But
shall be a penal code formed on principles of refor- if any citizen of this Republic should die intestate or
mation, and not of vindictive justice; ard the civil otherwise, his children or heirs shall inherit his esand
criminal laws shall be revised, digested, and ar- tate, and aliens shall have a reasonable time to take
ranged under different heads; and all laws relating possession of and dispose of the same, in a manmer
to land titles shall be translated, revised, and pro- hereinafter to be pointed out by law. Orphan childmulgated.
ren whose parents were entitled to land under the
SEc. 8. All persons who shall leave the country colonization law of Mexico, and who now reside in
for the purpose of evading a participation in the the Republic, shall be entitled to all the lights of
present struggle, or shall refuse to participate init, which their parents were possessed at the time of
or shall give aid or assistance to the present enemy, their death. The citizens of the Republic shall not
shallforfeit all rights to citizenship, and such lands be compelled to reside on the land, but shall have
as they may hold, in the Republic. their lines plainly marked.
SEC. 9. All persons of color, who were slaves for All orders of survey legally obtained by any citilife,
previous to their emigration to Texas. and who zen of the Republic, from any legally authorized
are now held in bondage, shall remain in the like commissioner, prior to the act of the late consultation
state of servitude, provided the said slave shall be, closing the land offices, shall be valid. In all cases
the bona fide property of the person so holding said the actual settler and occupant of the soil shall be
slave as aforesaid. Congress shall pass no laws to entitled, in locating his land, to include his improveprohibit
emigrants fron the United States of .me- ment, in preference to all other claims not acquired
ticafrom bringing -their slaves into the Republic previous to his settlement, according to the law of
-oith them, and holding them by the same tenure by the land and this Constitution: Provided, That nowhich
such slaves were held in the United States; thing herein containied shall prejudice the rights of
nor shall Congress have the power to emancipate any citizen from whom a settler may hold land by
slaves; nor shall any slaveholder be allowed to rent or lease.
emancipate his or her slave or slaves, without the And whereas the protection of the public domain
consent of Congress, unless he or she shall send his from unjust and fraudulent claims, and quieting the
or her slave or slaves without the limits of the Re- people in the enjoyment of their lands is one of the
public. No free person of African descent, either in great duties of this great Convention: and whereas
the Legislature of the State of Coahuila aid he succeeded in March, eighteen hundred and thirty-five, under
obtaining a majority to sustain his resolution. But I which the enormous amount of eleven hundred
learned from one of the members of that body, that it was leagues of land has been claimed by sundry indiviviolently
opposed by some of them, and passed withduals some of om reside in foreign countries,
difficulty. During the discussion, a motion was offereda e of com resid in foreign countries,
to throw it under the table. This was strenuously advo- and are not citizens of the Republic, which said
cated-while one, in the fervor of his "republican" acts are contrary to articles fourth, twelfth, and
patriotism, loudly exclaimed: "T Throw it into H--" !! fifteenth o0 the laws of eighteen hundred and