484 HISTORY 



question of amelioration. Proclamations were issued to both slaves and mas- 

 ters, announcing that slavery had been abolished, and that it would be suc- 

 ceeded b}' an apprenticeship system, and warning all classes to abide by the 

 laws. Slaves were urged to continue in the service of their masters, and the 

 masters on their part to pay due respect to the commands of the officers of the 

 law." The Assembly was prorogued to a later date than that for which it had 

 been called, in order to await the arrival of instructions from the home gov- 

 ernment, as to the measures which should give effect in the Bahamas to the abo- 

 lition act.^^ 



The Assembly Convened Again. 



After almost eighteen months of successful administration of the govern- 

 ment of the Colony without consultation with the Assembly, representatives 

 of the people were again called in to provide for the needs of the community. 

 In the interval the feeling against the government was not as high as it had 

 been under the administration of Sir James Smyth. But the people did not 

 forget their grievances against the Ministry and the local government. The 

 abolition coming as it did was received by the slaveholders with sullen silence. 

 The same feeling continued to exist as to the interference of the home govern- 

 ment with the slavery question. When the elections for the new House came 

 on, the people returned almost all of the same individuals who had sat in the last 

 House. This did not promise harmony of action with the Executive, nor 

 compliance with the wishes of the Ministry, in dealing with the question that 

 was now uppermost, namely, the provision for the abolition.""" The members were 

 not disposed to accede to measures that were suggested by those whom they 

 regarded as responsible for the loss of their slave property. Almost everything 

 brought before them in this session had some bearing directly or indirectly on 

 the slave question, so that it was difficult not to encroach upon the already in- 

 jured feelings of these legislators. The Colony had come to a state of peace, 

 although the old jealousies still slumbered in the breasts of the extreme slave 

 element."'" 



^= See Circ. Ds. of Sept. 4, 1833. Also Balfour to Stanley. No. 27. 

 - =" hoc. cit. 



-■^'^ See House Vote, 1833, p. 1; also loc. cit., 1832, p. 1, cf. 



=^" H. v., 1833, pp. 5-7, Lieut.-Governor's address on opening the Assembly. The 

 Lieutenant-Governor stated that one-fourth of the debt of the Colony had been paid 

 off, and that the cooperation of the Assembly was only needed to put the treasury 

 on a firm basis, and to deliver the Colony wholly from debt. He expressed high 

 hopes that harmony would prevail in the labors of the House, and that good feelings 

 would be preserved throughout the session. See also Balfour to Stanley, No. 37. 



