The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-01
BRITISH HONDURAS.
Government Protection Wantsd-Honduras 10
DO acrown Colony-Why This Change
Lack Of Employment Decline
Of the Colony.


BELIZE, Sept 4, 1870.
In my last informed you that the Legislative
Assembly mad requested the homo government to
relieve them OF their duties and to make this crown
colony. This measure was brought about by the
want OF attention and public spirit IN the members,
who could not or, more properly speaking, would
not devote their time TO attend to public, unpaid
business and neglect their private business, by
which they made their living. Volumes might DO
written to prove this assertion were 1t neces-
sary; but, nice to say, members were elected
for four years-Deng member OF The Assembly,
exempted them from all jury and inquest duty,
with several other privileges. To which may be
added frequent Invitations to dine with his Excel.
lency a. Government House ono small aifalr 10 some
men the consequence was that legislation and
making laws was very badly attended To- ana Tor
the last three or four years almost wholly neglected.
the Assembly were out-yoted by the government
members and the few friends who loved To be
az Government House ana 10 eat the Lieutenant
Governors dinners; hence measures detrimental 10
the best interests OF the colony We're passed, at
times forged, through the Assembly, at The bidding
OF his EXcellency which induced the elected men,
ber5 to say, "et us give the whole government TO
the crown, and let IL do as IL peases.n This was
done, aud now, after six months consideration, the
crown has consented to make British Hondn.
Tas =, crown colony on certain conditions.
called together on inc I'm pfoximo whe
the terms VIII be submitted to them by MS Exec
!ency tne Lieutenant Governor, and no doubt WI
VINO VIII then be present.; but very much doubt II
this act Is in accordance with the SOBER honest
wishes OF the colony, or even with the convictions
OF the members who vote for It, But OF this there
/ can be no doubt-there not enough spirited men
In the colony TO DO faithfully the various and some
times arduous duties requlr ID from the members Of
! the legislative Assembly without pay, ana the colony
Is 100 poor 70 pay lieln Tor tnelr services.
| AS you have already frequently been advised, we
nave nearly abandoned mahogany cutting, tnere
being now only three gangs cutting that wood, when
formerly there were over 1iy. This mas thrown cut
1 M me
| the great majority OF whom have left the colony,
some 10 hsh on The Keys Others 10 make small ptaIi-
tanons III Spanish Honduras while large majority
have gone to work on the Interoceanic Railroad,
| now being constructed ct Porte Cageyos, near Omoa.
On the whole this colony has lost its prosperity iss
| good laborers and It's paying employment, and 1
| fear, VIII dwlndle down to small fishing village.
| The causes might DO enumerated more par
| ticnary, but do not think 1t would pay me TO
| write them or your readers to read them. But OF
| one thing you ana they may be fully assured, and
| that Is that until great changes are made III the
owners OF lands, the payment 0f labor the Invest
ment OF capital nothing can be done TO resuscltate
the dropping tendency oi this colony, British Hon
| QuraS.