434 HISTORY 



had been in communication with the African Institution in London, and was 

 keeping that hated society informed as to the attitude of the Colony toward the 

 Registration Measures." The House determined to investigate the conduct of 

 this official. When he was asked to appear before a House Committee he 

 answered in terms that to the House seemed contemptuous. His arrest was 

 ordered by a vote of the House he should answer for his contempt of its 

 summons and his misrepresentation of the proceedings of the House in the 

 last session. 82 The House messenger reported a fruitless search for the person 

 of the Attorney ; and further that he had been resisted by armed slaves on the 

 premises of the latter. 33 This was unbearable. Such " repeated and daring 

 contempt/' such a dreadful example to slaves to arm themselves in defiance 

 of authority, decided the House at once on the downfall of the man who had 

 dared to oppose its wishes. The Governor was asked to suspend him from 

 office without delay. He was arrested and imprisoned, but within an hour 

 thereafter he was delivered from the gaol by the order of the Chief Justice. 84 

 The House grew violent, and attacked the court for what it regarded as 

 " highly unconstitutional, illegal, and unprecedented action " in releasing the 

 prisoner. Again it ordered the arrest of the released prisoner. 35 At this point 

 the Governor interfered with a proclamation dissolving the House. 36 In this 

 course the Governor was supported by the home government. 87 



Three days after the dissolution of the House a public meeting was held 

 at Nassau on January 31, 1817, which expressed unanimous approval of the 

 action of the House. Resolutions were drawn up and adopted sanctioning the 

 commitment of the Attorney-General, disapproving the conduct of the General 

 Court, declaring that conduct unconstitutional and subversive of the rights of 

 British subjects, further that it tended to the degradation of the House of 

 Assembly from its unquestionable position of authority, and claimed for it 

 the same position in the Colony that the House of Commons held in the mother 

 country, therefore the superior of all courts. Apprehension of grave conse- 

 quences, on account of the untimely dissolution of the House, pervaded these 



31 Loc. cit., p. 157. 



32 H. V., 1816-17, p. 161. See also denial of Attorney-General in the Royal 

 Gazette for Feb. 8, 1817. 



33 Loc. cit., p. 167. 



34 Loc. cit., p. 177. 



35 Loc. cit. 

 se Loc. cit., p. 178. 



87 H. V., 1817, p. 17. 



