"AN ACT," December 12, 1840

Summary: This law decreed that all members of the Ashworth family, free blacks who had resided in Texas before the declaration of independence, would be allowed to stay in Texas.

For the Relief of certain Free persons of Color.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Texas, in Congress assembled, That William Ashworth, Abner Ashworth, David Ashworth, Aaron Ashworth, Elisha Thomas, and all free persons of color, together

with their families, who were residing in Texas on the day of the declaration of independence, are, and shall be exempt from the operation and provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act concerning Free Persons of Color," approved fifth of February, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and forty; and that the above named persons, with their families, are hereby granted permission to remain in this republic; anything in the laws of the country to the contrary notwithstanding.

DAVID S. KAUFMAN,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

DAVID G. BURNET,

President of the Senate

Approved December 12th, 1840.

MIRABEAU B. LAMAR.

Source Copy Consulted: "AN ACT," December 12, 1840, reprinted in H.P.H. Gammel, The Laws of Texas, 1822-1897, 12 vols., (Austin: Gammel Book Co., 1898), 2:549-550. http://texinfo.library.unt.edu/lawsoftexas