The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-06 00:00:00

TEXAS.

Mr: O'CONNELL wished to ask the Noble Lord
the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, as the treaty with
Texas had not been laid on the table, if he was pre-
pared to state whether any provision had been
made for the case which he would state? The Texian
Government did not permit any free person of colour
to reside in Texas. That was a provision of the Con-
stitution of Texaz, and he wished to know whether the
Noble Lord, in his treaty with Texas, had made any
provision to have that law mitigate], so that a free
British subject of colour wool] be permitted to reside
there?

Lord PALMERSTON said that the treaty ap-
plied generally to the commercial relations of the two
countries, and did not go into ectails such as the Hon.
and Learned Memler had referred to.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL gave notice that he would
on Mondry next move that the House should go into
Committee on the Poor-law Amendment Bill, but

it would be merely pro forma, as he wished
to have time for introducing certain amendments: He
would afterwards move the Committee on that day
(Friday) fortnight.
Sir R. PEEL wished to ask the Wet Hon. Gen-
tleman the President of the Board of Trt.de on what
day be proposed to proceed with the Bill for the better
rea'nlition of railways.
Mr. LABOUCHERE said that re intended, if he
should be able, to proceed with the Bill on that day
(Friday) week.
Sir ROBERT PEEL said there was one clause
in the Bill to which he wished to call the attention
of the Right Honourable Gentleman, and on which
he was about to present a petition. There Ives a
clause which gave to the Board of Trade a power to
make regulations for the conducting of railways. Many
Railway Companies entertained apprehensions on the
subject of that provision ; because the power which it
was proposed to give the Board of Trade was indefinite,
and not accompanied with a proper responsibility. The
petitioners begged that the matter might be referred to
a Select Committee. He thought that prayer deserved
their serious consideration, as no less than sixty mil-
lions sterl,ng were sunk in those undertakings.
Mr. LABOUCHERE would he very unwilling to
consent to any measure which would occasion a delay
in the progress of the Bill. At the same time he was
anxious th::t the point referred to by the Right Hon.
Baronet should be fully discussed, and if the mction for
a Select Committee did not arise from a wish to delay
the Bill, he should be sorry to throw any obstacles in
iti way. He should consider the subject between that
time and Monday, and would then be prepared to give
an answer.

Sir R. PEEL would be by no means a party to any
postponement. On the contrary, it he found that
such was the object of the motion for a Select Com-
mittee, he should oppose it altogether.—(Hear, hear.)
In answer to an HON. MEMBER,

Mr. 14 ABOUCHERE said the Commissioners ap-
pointed to survey the line of railway between the
North of England and Scotland, had found the under-
taking one of much greater magnitude than they had
expected, but he hoped to be able to lay the!r Report
on the table in a short time.
Lord LINCOLN inquired whether it was in-
tended to proceed with the general measure
on the subject of Small Debts Courts, because, if such
was the intention of the Government, it would stop the
progress of the several Private Bills then before the
House.
Mr. FOX MAULS said it wa3 the intention of the
Government to proceed with the general measure.