SF.c. 10. All persons who shall leave ihc country for the pur- pose of avoiding a participation in the present struggle, or shall rcfnsc to participate in it, or :-hall give aid or assistance to the present enemy, shall forfeit all right of citizensliip, and such lands as they may hold in this repuhLc. Sr,:c. 11. '('here shal~ be n tribunal cstablishccl by law, from whose decision there shall be no appeul, for the adjudication of all land titlt's with.in the republic; but no daim shall be confirmed by said tribunal until Congress shull have passed on the same; nor shnll congrnss act on any claim or grant wh(eh originated previous 1.o the adoption of this constitution, before the same shall be re- commended bv said h-ibunal for confirmation. SEC. 12. So soon as practicable there shall be established ,l lnnd office, under such regulations as congress may direct; pro- vided, however, tlrnt all those who nre entitled to lands under this constitution shall have a preference over all others. The public lands being the only resource and wealth of the republic, congress shall have no power to give or grant them away, except for a price to be fixed by law. Actual settlers shall have a preference of purchase at the minimum price, so as to include his improvement. on such terms as may be regulated by law; pro- vided, however, that nothin~ herein contained will prevent con- gress providing for the nrmy dming the present stmggle. Sr,:c. 13. All persons (slaves and Indians excepted) residing in Texas on the day of the dcc:la:-ntion of independence, shall be considered as citizens of the republic, and entitled to all the privi- leges os such. Every man of a family, being a citizen, shall have confirmed to him a leag11e and a lnbor of land; and every single man of twenty-one years of age and upward, and such volunteers as may serve faithfully for the term of six months, being citizens, shall have confirmed to him one third of a league of land. And all eitizens now actually settled on litnds, shall be privileged lo include their improvements in their location, over all other claims whatever, except tho;:e settlers who hove obtained possession of their seltlements hy lease or rent; and the citizens aforesaid, shall not be required to reside on the lands so confirmed to them, but shall have their boundaries plainly marked. SF.c. 14. All lands within• the limits of this republic. which are vacant or not held agreeably to law, shall belong lo and consti- h1te a fund for the use of the republic; provided. however, that nothing herein contained shall be l'O corn,trncd :;o a~ to prejudice the rights of citizens provided for in this c0Mtil11tion. Sr-:c. 1 !'i. Wherens. it is hclicvccl bv this convention that grent framls have heen committed in ohta=ulng gmnts for lands and ord- ers for i-urvcys in 'fexns. do hNchy rleclnre all sah•s of lands madP. by the legislature of Conh11il11 nnd 'T'cxn~. and ]orated in Texas, and all larnls, the locations of which are unnnthorized by law;
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