and all grants. the conditions whereof have not been complit•d with; :rnd nil ~rnnt:i or titles issued in ,·iolation of the laws of the con:mliation; nrnl all titlei:: that may be hereafter issued unless under the authority of this constiiutiou; and all grants that may hiwe hcen :mticlntecl, shall be null and void. Provided there be nothing herein conta:ncd to prejudice the grants of lands obtained under the colonization law. · SF.c. 16. \rtwre an -actual settler on lands hath obtained an order of survey from a commissioner lawful\y authorized to act ~~ sueh; the s11n·ey already actually made shall be valid, provided it does not interfere with any other actual settler.
SL.AVES.
SF.c. 1. All persons of color who w~re slaves for life, previous to their emigration to Texas, and who are now held as bondeJ ~ervants or otherwise, shall remain in the like state of servih 1 de in which they \\'Onld have been held jn the country from which they came; provided the person or slave be the bona fide property of the person holding the same, either by purchase or otherwi8c. Congress shall p11ss no law to prohibit em;grauts from the United States of Americn, from bringing their slaves with them, and hol<l- ing them on the same terms and by the same tenure.as they werP. hl'ld in the country from which they were brought. Congres:; shall have no power to pass laws for the emancipation of slaves; nor shall any person holding slaves be permitted to emancipate them, unless he remo,e them beyond the limits of this republic; unless, in case of meritorious conduct on the part of the slave, and bv the consent of the legislature first had and obtained. No ·free person of African descent shall be permitted to emigrate and reside in this republic, unkss by special act of congress, which must specify the person by name. Congress may by legislative acts compel the owners of slaves to treat them with humanity, and provide them with sufficient food and clothing; and may prevent their introduction as merchand:se. or from any other coimtry except that of the United States of America. Sr:c. 'a. In the prosecution of slaves for crimes, no inquest of a grand jury shall be necessary, but the proceedings thereof shall be regulated by law, except in capital cases; the general congreo:; shall have no power to deprive them of a trial by jury. AnY amendment or amendments to this constitution, may be propo·sed in e:ther house of congress, and if the same be agreed to by a majority of the members of each house, such proposed amendml'nt or amendments !-hall be entered on the journals wifo the yeas and nays taken thereon; and it shall be published at lea~t
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