564 HISTORY 



come entrajDped in this way, as there was much commerce between this 

 Colony and the ports of the States. As a warning for the exercise of care in 

 visiting such ports, Lieutenant-Governor Cockburn secured a copy of the 

 Florida law and issued a proclamation, calling attention to the provisions of 

 it that seemed to endanger the citizens of the Bahamas/"" As a further pre- 

 caution the Assembly gave the Governor additional powers for the control 

 of the negroes. He could now prevent the removal of a negro from tlie 

 Colony except on a strict compliance with certain formalities.*" It was 

 rumored that Bahama whites had been engaged in purposely carrying negroes 

 to slave territory in order to sell them into slaverj^ but an investigation failed 

 to sustain any such report.""* During the absence of Governor Cockburn from 

 the Colony in 1842, Lieutenant-Governor JSTesbitt gave much attention to the 

 return of citizens of the Colony who 'were held in bondage elsewhere. He 

 secured the release of two negroes from Cuba ^"^ and one from New Orleans.*" 

 He sent the superintendent of the Carmichael school to southeastern Cuba to 

 obtain the release of others who were reported to be held in slavery there. 

 The Lieutenant-Governor of the province of Holguin seized him and sent 

 him under escort to Havana. His mission resulted in no benefit to these 

 negroes. *"" Governor Mathew continued these efforts in behalf of those whose 

 freedom it was necessary to make secure. It was also reported that Bahama 

 vessels were being wantonly wrecked off the coast of Florida, for the purpose 

 of selling theii- colored ci-ews into slavery.**' The mission to Florida in 

 behalf of these persons was regarded as dangerous, owing to the reputed 

 hostility of the slave owners tliere to those who interfered with this ill-gotten 

 property, and it was difficult to get any one to undertake it,**" as the arbitrary 

 law of Florida continued to be applied. It threatened to interfere seriously 

 with the shipping between the Bahama ports and that state.*** Retaliation 

 by the liberation of slaves that were brought into Bahama ports was sug- 



"'•■^ Loc. cit. 



'■'■'■ Loc. cit., and 3 Vic, 14. 



"■■ Cockburn to Russell, No. 68. 



'^■■'' Nesbitt to Stanley, Nos. 34 and 74. 



'""Loc. cit.. No. 44. 



"' Loc. cit.. No. 46. 



"- Governor Mathew tells in his despatches of three wrecks of this character. 

 They were the Three Sisters, crew of twelve; the Alexander, crew of six, and the 

 Jane, crew of five and one passenger. Mathew to Stanley, No. 84 (184.5). 



'"- Loc. cit. 



"^Mathew to Grey, No. 74. 



