Lord Lyons to Mr.
Seward.
Washington,
June 17, 1863.
Sir: I am informed by Mr. Hodge, the gentleman
who had the honor to present to you a letter of introduction from me on
the 22d of April last, that he himself, as agent for the British colony
of Honduras, and Mr. Dickson, as agent for the British colony of Guiana,
have been authorized by the President to canvass for colored emigrants
from the United States to those colonies.
Mr. Hodge has, in consequence, requested me to state to the colonial
authorities that I see no objection to the governor of Honduras
proclaiming the ports of Boston, New York, and Philadelphia as ports of
emigration, in pursuance of the act to encourage the immigration of
agricultural and other laborers, passed by the colonial legislature in
the month of September last.
I submitted the act in question to you at a personal interview which I
had with you some months ago. I have now the honor to enclose to you a
copy of it.
I am ready to comply with Mr. Hodge’s request, if it will be in harmony
with the views of the government of the United States for me to do so.
If you shall inform me that this will be the case, I purpose to write by
the first opportunity to the colonial authorities to suggest that the
three ports be proclaimed, and that the other steps required for putting
the act of the legislature of Honduras into execution be taken.
I have the honor to transmit to you a copy of a paper which has been
communicated to me by Mr. Hodge, and which appears to give the sanction
of the President to the proceedings contemplated by that gentleman and
by Mr. Dickson.
You will very much oblige me by making an early answer to the present
communication, in order that I may not lose the opportunity of writing
to the colonies, which is afforded by a vessel which is on the point of
sailing.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most
obedient, humble servant,
CAP. 1.
An act to encourage the immigration of
agricultural and other laborers into the colony of British
Honduras.
Whereas it is expedient to encourage immigration of agricultural and
other laborers into the colony of British Honduras at the expense of
private persons, and to secure to the importers thereof more certain
indemnity or remuneration for their costs in introducing such
immigrants than can be ordinarily derived on a contract for hiring
and service for a period not exceeding one year:
Be it therefore enacted by the lieutenant governor,
by and with the consent of the legislative assembly, as
follows:
1. From and after the passing of this act it shall and may be lawful
for any person to import into this colony laborers from any port or
place whence the lieutenant governor may by proclamation notify that
laborers may be obtained and imported: Provided, nevertheless, that
the shipment, transport, and landing of such immigrants shall be in
all respects subject and conformable to any “passenger’s act” made
by the Imperial Parliament, and for the time being in force, and to
any proclamation made in pursuance thereof by the lieutenant
governor.
2. Whenever the lieutenant governor may deem expedient, he may revoke
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any proclamation
authorizing the engagement and immigration of laborers as to any one
or more ports or places; and thereupon, and until the engagement and
importation of laborers from any such port or places shall be again
authorized by proclamation, no contract with any laborer from any
such port or place, engaged or exported after such revocation as
aforesaid, shall be valid for any period exceeding one year, or be
exempt from the provisions of any law in force, for the time being,
for regulating contracts of hire and service.
3. Laborers imported into the colony under the provisions of this
act, and the employers thereof, shall severally and respectively be
subject to the provisions of any act, for the time being in force in
this colony, for regulating contracts of hire and service, so far as
the same are not repugnant to this act.
4. Notwithstanding anything in any act regulating contracts of hire
and service contained to the contrary, valid contracts may be
entered into for the service of laborers, imported under the
provisions of this act, for any period not exceeding three years, to
be computed from the date of the first contract entered into in the
case of such laborers respectively.
5. No contract to be entered into out of this colony, under the
provisions of this act, shall have any force or effect, unless the
same be attested by the British consul, notary public, or other
persons approved of by and acting under the authority of her
Majesty’s government at the port or place of engagement or
embarkation, certifying that the same was entered into by the
emigrant voluntarily, and with a full understanding of its
meaning.
6. No contract for service by immigrants under this act shall be
valid unless countersigned by the agent of immigration in this
colony, or such other person as the lieutenant governor shall
delegate the consideration and countersignature of such contracts
to, and such agent shall be at liberty to refuse his
countersignature, in case it appears to him that any fraud has been
practiced, or that the contract is evidently unreasonable.
7. It shall not be necessary in any proceeding upon contract, under
this act, to prove the signature or signing of the consul, notary
public, or other person, acting under the authority of her Majesty’s
government, or of any immigrant.
8. In this act the word “person” shall include any body, politic or
corporate, and the word “laborers” shall include all such persons as
are comprised in the term “servants” in the act eighteenth of
Victoria, chapter twelve.
Passed the house of assembly this 5th day of
September, 1862.
AUSTIN WM. COX, Speaker.
Assented to in her Majesty’s name
this tenth day
of September, 1862.
FREDERICK SEYMOUR, Lieutenant
Governor.
Bera copia extur.
[l. s.]
S. S. PLUES, Keeper of
Records.
ALEXANDER MOIR, Acting Colonial
Secretary.
