Answer :
Final answer:
The conditions of slaves in Texas according to the committee of the state legislature were grim and deplorable, as the influx of American settlers and slaveholders contributed to the growth of slavery, despite Mexican laws intended to limit it.
Explanation:
The conditions of slaves in Texas according to the committee of the state legislature can be inferred as grim and deplorable. This conclusion is based on historical context and various documents that illustrate the harsh reality of slavery in Texas during the time it was legal. For instance, the population of the Lone Star Republic, which includes Texas, nearly tripled between 1836 and 1846 due to American settlers, including slaveholders, moving to the region. By 1840, nearly twelve thousand enslaved Africans had been forcibly brought into Texas. Legislative actions like the ban on slave trade in the nation's capital, while preserving slavery, and the implementation of a robust federal fugitive slave law also contribute to understanding the conditions as unfavorable.
Moreover, although the Mexican province of Texas had clear laws against slavery, under the new constitution guaranteeing liberty and equality, prohibiting slavery after constitution promulgation and barring any import of slaves six months thereafter, the actual conditions under American settlers, who were typically unlike the tejanos due to issues such as slavery, were far from this ideal. Reflecting on the expansion of slavery and increased opportunity for American slaveholders in Texas following its annexation, it's apparent that the intended conditions and realities for slaves were at odds and heavily tilted towards systemic exploitation and maltreatment.
