THE BAHAMA ISLANDS 467 



was given them. 1 * 4 The copy of the Order-in-council was laid before the 

 House at the same time. 1 "* It was printed, and copies of it were dis- 

 tributed by the members of the House to their constituents, in order to 

 obtain their views, before deciding a question of such momentous importance. 186 

 But whatever might have been the opinions of their constituencies, they re- 

 peated their declaration not to consider the question of amelioration while the 

 head of the government remained unchanged. 1 " The Council expressed its 

 opinion that the measures were not applicable to the Bahamas. 1 " The colonists 

 feared that if the Governor were allowed to continue his course a slave insur- 

 rection would follow. Again they recited their grievances in a petition to the 

 King for the recall of Governor Smyth. 169 The House proceeded to business, 

 passing bills " for the public benefit," some of which were so framed as to make 

 sure that the Governor would not give his assent to them. Thus the responsi- 

 bility for the lack of legislation would be shifted to the Executive. Payments 

 were authorized by the House to be made without the warrant of the Governor. 170 

 Other measures offered by the House would have perpetuated the legal recogni- 

 tion of the race distinction ; a market bill provided that no negro should be a 

 member of the market commission; a printing bill contained within itself the 

 names of all the commissioners, all of whom were members of the House of 

 Assembly; the revenue and appropriations bills contained very objectionable 

 provisions. Three or four important bills that were presented were left un- 

 signed by the Governor. 171 When the violent course of the House led it again 

 to the point of petitioning for the recall of the Governor another dissolution 

 was resorted to, in order to prevent more violent conduct. 17 * 



1<H Loc. cit., pp. 25-32. 



105 Loc. cit., pp. 33-72. 



1M Loc. cit., p. 110. 



1117 Loc. cit., p. 121. 



11)8 Smyth's Ds., No. 141. All but two of the members of the Council were at 

 the mercy of the House on the salary list question. The Governor hoped to gain 

 control of the salary list, and thus secure independent action on the part of the 

 official members of the Council. 



100 H. V., 1832, p. 209. The petition was dated March 21. 



170 Smyth's Ds., No. 142. 



171 Loc. cit., No. 143. The Governor had forewarned the House that he would 

 not sign any bills that were such as would tend to perpetuate the invidious race 

 distinctions. 



17S H. V., 1832, p. 232. This was the second dissolution within a period of eight 

 months. 



