THE BAHAMA ISLANDS 531 



for their benefactor and he was elected."' The Turks, Crooked and Acklin 

 Islands, all of which had formerly been dominated by the opposition, now 

 returned government members."* The election resulted in an almost equal 

 division of the membership of the House between the government party and the 

 opposition. Among those ■ sent up were several individuals belonging to the 

 military forces stationed at Nassau. They were generally Englishmen and 

 favorable to the government policy. In this instance they helped to make up 

 what became eventually a bare majority for the government party ."° 



Election of Speaker. 



The legislature was convened on May 6, 1839. The opposition voted 

 for the reelection of the Speaker of the last House. Opposed to him was the 

 Attorney-General, George Campbell Anderson, who had been a staunch advo- 

 cate of government measures for several years preceding."" A great 

 interest was taken in the contest. It was reported to the Lieutenant-Governor 

 that a ballot had been taken and that it had resulted in a tie vote. Each party 

 persisted in support of its candidate."' The Executive declined to interfere. 

 He wished to avoid the appearance of doing anything that was irregular, since, 

 in the sensitive state of opinion in the Colony, many were seeking every oppor- 

 tunity to make complaints against his conduct. When it appeared that differ- 

 ent results were not forthcoming, Cockburn prorogued the Assembly for a 

 month in order to allow time for reflection as to the course he should pursue. 

 It appeared that the deadlock would continue and that the ultimate choice 

 would lie with him. But in the interval of the prorogation, one of the members 

 of the opposition sailed for England. This led to the solution of the difficulty. 

 The House met again at the appointed time and elected Attorney-General 

 Anderson as its Speaker."' 



Hitherto no objection had been made to the presence of the military men 



*« Cockburn to Glenelg, No. 14 (1839). 



"*Loc. cit.. No. 20. 



"" Cockburn to Normanby, No. 11. The elections to vacant seats after the 

 opening of the sessions of this House resulted in the return of government mem- 

 bers. Loc. cit.. No. 21. 



"* Anderson had been a supporter of the government since he had come to a 

 position of influence in the Colony. He was appointed to the Executive Council in 

 1841. At this time he began his services as Speaker of the House in which position 

 he continued for twenty-six years. He retired from the place with great honor on 

 the occasion of the disendowment of the Anglican Church of the Bahamas. 



*" Cockburn to Normanby, No. 2. 



"^Loc. cit. 



