"AN ACT," December 12, 1840

Summary: The Texas Congress made an exception to the law forbidding free blacks from living in Texas by allowing the Ainsworths and their families to remain.

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 Ainsworth, Abner Ainsworth, David Ainsworth, Aaron Ainsworth, Elisha Thomas, and all free persons of color, together with their families who were residing 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 12th December, 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), 2:648. http://texinfo.library.unt.edu/lawsoftexas