On motion of )fr. Childress, the same was, referred to the com- mitte on militnn· nffnirs. On motion o( ilr. l'olter, Resolved, That all persons (slaves nnd Indians excepted) residing in Texas, on the dny of the declnrntion of independence, shall be considered as citizens of the republic, and entitled to all the privil- eges as such. The citizens of Texas shall be entitled to, and nre here- by confirmed in their lnnds, in the following manner and propot·- tions, vi7.: e>ver_y man of fnmily shall be entitled to a league anrl n labor of: lnnrl, and every i;ingle man, of the age of twenty-OM yenr;;, shall he entitlP.cl to a third of a league of land; which several portions of land, the persons entitled to the same, shall be privi- leged to locate on any vacant lands; and all citizens now settled :n Texas. shall, in the location of their lands, be entitled to include their settlement in preference over all other persons or claims, what- ever; except tho;;e from whom such settler may lrnYe received his settlement, by rent or lease; and it shall not be obligatory on the settler, to live on his land, but he shall have the lines plainly marked. Ancl, wherea~, there ii, good reason to believe that many fraud- ulent grants of lnnd, or grants the condition of which have never been complied with, Jun-e be~n locnted in 'l'exas: therefore, Be it orrlnined, that the first congress which slrnl! convene under the constitution, shall e~tabli~h s11eh tribunals as it in their wis- dom may think propl'r to adjndicate and determine, withQut the right of appeal or futme J.itigation, the validity of the above men- tioned g-ranti:; provided, howewr, that in no case whatsoever, shall llDY of the nbove mentioned grants interfere with the actual settler, in the occupancy of the land, or being a citizen of Texas, may rightfully clnim it ils his head right, under thjs conc;titution, or the colonization hnvs of the Mexicnn government. ProvirlC'd, flrnt nothing herein contained, shall deprive any citi- zen of Texas of rights already Yestcd by the laws of the land. It ;;hnll be the dnty of congrc!'s to provide for the volunteers who have ~o faithfully S<'Tvecl TE>xas in the fiehl, or who may hereafter ~e1w against the> enemy, hy setting apart SQ much of the mo5t valuable portions of the public lands, as will answer that purpose. In the event of the death, without will, of any person entitlerl to lan,J under the comlirntion, or the colonization laws of Mexico, his children, or nl'xt of kin, shall inherit his land, each and every pe1·::on holrling or clniming land in Texes, either in their own name or by agent, within !'ix months from the date of the decla!u- iion of indeprndenee. become citizens Qf this republic; and reside during the war, \Tithin thl' limits of Texas, unless nbsent on pub- lic husine~s, or on Jenn· acrording to law; and in eYery cnse of failure to comply with this reqnirement, the individual so failing shall forfe>il to the republic nll interest, right and title, in and t'1,
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