470 HISTORY 



The Governoe's Council. 



In entering upon his new experiment the Governor had the support of the 

 majority of his Council. Although he was successful from the very beginning, 

 there were petty annoyances that constantly disturbed him, and tended to keep 

 alive the animosities against the authorities. The House of Assembly in its 

 late session had provided, before its dismission, that, in case its life were 

 brought to a premature end, its commissioners of correspondence should keep 

 up their communication with the Colonial Agent in London. A stream of 

 complaints was kept going to the mother country ; something was being done to 

 disquiet the people and keep up the state of ill-feeling."^ But the people were 

 disappointed that the Governor was enabled to continue the government with- 

 out the necessity of the voting of funds by the legislature. The ordinary 

 functions of the government were performed regularly and punctually ; salaries 

 were paid as they had been at other times. The disappointment at his progress 

 found lodgment in the hearts of some members of his Council. The venerable 

 Chief Justice of the Bahamas, William Vesey Munnings, and three other 

 members of this confidential body, could not cheerfully contemplate this suc- 

 cessful administration. Necessary actions of the Council were " caviled at," 

 petty obstructions were thrown in its way to impede it. Outside of the 

 Council, the Chief Justice was in a position to defeat the ends of the govern- 

 ment by the interpretation of the laws."^ With his companion obstructionists 

 in the Council he gave out a statement in public that the arrangements, sug- 

 gested in the Order-in-council of November 2, 1831, were impossible of appli- 

 cation in the Bahamas. A statement under his authority was respected, and 

 this one would have the influence of turning men against the measures for the 

 amelioration of the slaves. He attempted to induce the Governor to issue 



"" Smyth's Ds., No. 143. 



^'^ Smyth's Ds., No. 194. The Governor had desired the removal of Chief Justice 

 Munnings from the Colony, in order that some one might be put in the position of 

 Chief Justice who was not accustomed to interpret the laws to the prejudice of the 

 slave, and in favor of the white man. From his long continuance at the post, 

 Munnings was not the man to aid in the introduction of a new system in the 

 Colony. The Secretary of State had at first considered favorably the plan for the 

 transference of the Chief Justice to a place outside of the Bahamas. Later, how- 

 ever, he advised the Governor that he was unable to make the promotion. The great 

 disappointment of Mr. Munnings at this intelligence doubtless contributed largely 

 to determine his conduct at this time. Smyth's Ds., No. 194. 



