666 HISTORY 



nor Mkthew attempted to prevent this evil. He secured the passage, in 

 the Assembly, of an act to compel the exporters of labor either to choose men 

 without families, or to embark wives aud children together with the men/'" 

 This act was disallowed at home l)ut it acted as a temporary check on this 

 jDractice."'^ 



Quiet Eeigxs ix the Colony. 



Comparative quiet had now come to the Bahamas. The freedmen had 

 gained a certain recognition as having civil rights, and the old difficulties of 

 the Executive with the legislature had passed. The influence of the govern- 

 ment was paramount in the House of Assembly. The good results that had 

 been anticipated from the separation of the Councils had been attained in 

 part, at least, and the last dissolution of the Assembly had throw'n the opposi- 

 tion out of power. In the new House, while some disappointments were suffered 

 at its hands, the government was able to accomplish in the main the objects 

 of its program. This House was the first to live out the full term for which 

 it had been elected since 1830. 



On the arrival of Governor ]\lathcw the members of both Councils were 

 united in action. The number of members in the Legislative Council had 

 diminished to seven. The Governor appointed to the vacant seats Gahan 

 and Meadows, the respective leaders of the government and opposition par- 

 ties in the House of Assembly. From both he dared to expect support for 

 his government."'' The reception to the new Governor in 1844 had been 

 cordial on the part of all classes, parties, and sects. It betokened for 

 him the supi)ort of all classes, in promoting measures for the public good. 

 The Turks Islands almost alone were discontented. Some attempts were 

 made to organize a black man's party and to stir up partisan feeling along 

 racial lines. The Governor asked the cooperation of the legislators in dis- 

 <:'Ountenancing the movement, and impressing upon the new citizens that 

 their l)est interests lay in the attainment of " personal character and industry 



''■'" Loc. cit. 



"'^ Governor Mathew and Earl Grey corresponded in 1847 about a proposed 

 settlement of emigrants from England, on the vacant Bahama lands. No employ- 

 ment offered except salt-raking, and white men were not well suited to it in this 

 latitude. No emigrants came as a result of it. (See e. g. Mathew to Grey. No. 28.) 

 Both Cockburn and Mathew recommended the Bahamas as a suitable place for a 

 convict settlement for the West Indies. The employment that offered for the 

 criminals was salt-raking. (Cockburn to Governor Metcalf of Jamaica, letter of 

 February 24, 1841, and Mathew to Grey, No. 28). 



"= Mathew to Stanley. No. G (1844). 



