 The following year all those who had been living in Texas at the time of independence were allowed to remain.On the other hand, the legislature created political segregation; it classified free residents with at least 1/8 African heritage (the equivalent to one great-grandparent) as a separate category, and abrogated their citizens' rights, prohibiting them from voting, owning property, testifying against whites in court, or intermarrying with whites.As planters increased cotton production, they rapidly increased the purchase and transport of slaves.