The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-14 00:00:00

SPANISH SLAVE SUGAR.

Mr. LABOUCHERE wished to put a question to the
Right Hon. Baronet, with regard to a rumour which had been

very prevalent for the last few days, and which had excited
considerable interest amongst the persons engaged in the sugar
trade in this country. The rumour was to this effect—that the
Government of Spain have claimed admission for sugar the
growth of their colonies, Cuba and Porto Rico for instance, on
the terms of the most favoured nations. He wished expressly
to guard himself against giving any opinion on the subject, and
would merely ask whether, under the circumstances of the
case, the Right Hon. Baronet was prepared to say that such
claim had been made ; and if so what course the Government
had taken ?

Sir It. PEEL said that a claim had been preferred by the
Spanish Minister, on the part of the Government, founded
on the treaty of Utrecht, of the right to introduce sugar the
produce of the Spanish colonies, into this country. That re-
prom:mita:l was made a short time since, and no answer had
yet been retrzned ; but whenever the answer was returned, he
shoull not have the slightest objection to lay on the table of
the House the communication which had been made by the
Spanish Government to this country, together with the answer.
The Right Hon. Gentleman, who had exercised a prudent re-
serve on his own part, would excuse him (Sir R. Peel) if he
declined at present making any further stateonent on the subject.
NEW ZEALAND.
Mr. CHARLES BULLER was anxious to know whether
the Right Hon. Baronet would oppose his resolutions going
into Committee.
Sir R. PEEL had no hesitation in answering the question
of the Hon. Member for Liskeard. He should certainly feel it
his duty to oppeee ithis resolutions going into Committee; bat
the Noble Lord the Member for London had, the other night,
introduced a series of resolutions much more nearly affecting
the trade of the country, to the whole Nouse, and he would
recommend the same course to the Hon. Member opposite.
Mr. C. BULLER would certainly avail himself of the
suggestion, and amend his notice.
SLAVE TRADE.

Mr.,FORSTER inquired of the First Lord of the Treasury,
whether there were any documents in possession of the Go-
vernment, confirmatory of the participation, direct or indirect,
of British subjects in the slave trade, charged in Mr. Tyler's
message to Congress, dated 12th February, 1845 ; and if so,
whether there was any objection to the production of such
documents. Also, whether Government could produce to the
House the names and descriptions of any of those vessels alleged
by Mr. Tyler t• have been laden with goods for the slave trade,
by or on behalf of any British capitalist, merchant, or manu-
facturer, in the United Kingdom, or in any other manner, as
alleged In the said message?
Sir R. PEEL said that the question had been put to him
some weeks since by an Hon. Member on the opposite side of
the House. With respect to the message sent. by the President
of the United Stater to Congress, it stated that subjects of the
United States carried on the slave trade, and it stated also that
the President thought there were subjects of this country who
were concerned in the same trade. He (Sir R. Peel) said he
was not prepared to deny the fact mentioned by the President
of the United States, and the law of this country should be
enforced to put a stop to the nefarious traffic as far as practi-
cable. The massage also declared that the laws of America
should be put in force to abolish the trade. The Hon. Gen-
tleman wee already in possession of every particular connected
with the subject, as they were included in the document at-
tached t• the President's message. The slaves brought to
Monte Video, and some other places on the South American
coast, were the property of Americans, and they were usually
transhipped to Rio for disposal. All the penalties prescribed
by the treaty would be rigidly enforced. If in the case which
was near ender investigation, it should be proved that British
subjects were engaged in the slave-trade they would certainly
suffer the penalties.—( Hear. )
Itir. FORSTER wished to ask the Right Hon. Baronet
whether he was not aware that British naval officers were ac-
cused of conniving at thetraffic?
Sir R. PREL said that he did not think there was any
ground for such an accusation; but an inquiry was going on in
reference to the subject.

CHANNEL ISLANDS.
Mr. ROEBUCK wished to ask the Right Hon. Gentle-
man the Secretary for the Home Department whether, from
circumstances which had come to his knowledge, he was of
opinion that the particular state of the Channel Islands called
for inquiry, and whether it was his intention to recommend her
Majesty to institute such inquiry?
Sir JAMES GRAHAM had no difficulty in telling the Hon.
and Learned Gentleman that, from circumstances which had
come to his knowledge respecting the Channel Islands, he was
convinced that some inquiry was necessary. He was not,
however, prepared to recommend such an inquiry as that
which had been suggested by the Hon. and Learned Gen.
tleman on a former oceasion. He had thought it his duty to
address a letter officially to the Lord President of the Council,
recommending the Council to institute an inquiry into the
present state of the criminal law of the Channel Islands, and
the mode in which that law was administered; and also the
constitution of the tribunals for its execution.
In answer to a question from Sir R. INGLIS,
Mr. ROEBUCK said, that after the intimation which he
had As& rewired from the Right Hon. Gentleman, he did not
think it necessary to go on with the motion of which he had
previously given notice.

PRIVILEGE.
Lord .rOI-IN RUSSELL inquired what would be the order
of proeeeding with the business on Monday. He also inquired
when the report from the Committee of Privileges would be
ready to be presented to the House ?
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said that in consequence of
the absence from the Committee, through ill-health, of the
Right Hon. Member for Montgomer3shire (Mr. Wynne) the
report would net be ready by Monday, and as it was desirable
thit the discussion on this subject should not come on until
the Hoes• was in possession of the report, he would suggest
that the debate should be adjourned from Monday to Thursday
week.
Sir R. PEEL said be should take the Colleges (Ireland)
Bill on Monday.
LAW OF LANDLORD AND TENANT (IRELAND.)
Mr. BELLEW wished to know when the Right Hon.
Gentleman expected the Bill upon this subject would reach
that House ?—( Laughter. )
Sir R. PEEL said it was very difficult to give information
respecting Bits in that House, and he could not pretend to
give information as to the progress of a Bill in another
place.—(Laughter.)
Lord J. RUSSELL—Perhaps the Right Hon. Gentleman
eould say what Bills he will proceed with and what he intended
to drop.—(Laughter.)
The motion for the adjournment of the House to Monday
was then agreed to.