THE BAHAMA ISLANDS 533 



was followed in legislation. The results of this dissolution on the politics of 

 the Colony -were far-reaching. 



Government Prevails. 



The margin of the majority in the House was narrow. In this June ses- 

 sion the disaffected members voted against almost all measures that were not 

 of their own finding. Bills for the regulation of masters and servants, for the 

 prevention of vagrancy and the unauthorized occupation of land, and for plac- 

 ing the control of the militia in the hands of the Governor, were passed only by 

 the casting vote of the Speaker."' The absence from his seat of one member of 

 the majority would have blocked its way in legislation. A fear that such would 

 be the state of things seized upon the Lieutenant-Governor before the beginning 

 of the next session in December, 1839. Charles E. Nesbitt, the leader of the 

 government party, was absent from the Colony."" His leadership was needed 

 in presenting the measures of the government, if the turbulent party was to be 

 kept under control.™ The importance of his presence was so great, in the 

 mind of the Lieutenant-Governor, that he delayed convening the legislature 

 as long as it would not cause inconvenience to the public interests,"" awaiting 

 Nesbitt's return. 



One of the most vital questions at issue was that of the control of the civil 

 salary list. This Colony was always reluctant to vote freely on appropriations 

 for public purposes. The number of years for which any annual payments 

 were guaranteed was always guardedly limited. Salaries had been relegated 

 to the list of expenses regularly provided for in the annual appropriation bill. 

 There they could be reduced or otherwise changed at the whim of the House 

 of Assembly. This was a thing that was manipulated arbitrarily to suit the 

 occasion that offered. The almost absolute certainty that such use would be 

 made of it, that salaries would be scaled down and the incumbents of office be 

 made to feel want, had become a menace to officials and a spur to them to 



"'Cockburn to Normanby, No. 12. 



™Nesbitt was in England at the time. Cockburn had the utmost confidence in 

 him as a supporter. He had asked the Secretary of State to confer with him during 

 his stay in London, to regard him as a thoroughly reliable witness as to the condi- 

 tions existing in the Bahamas, and to accept what he might say as indicating the 

 views of the local government. After the elevation of Anderson to the Speaker's ' 

 chair, Nesbitt had become the member on whom Cockburn relied. His leadership, 

 no less than his vote, was needed. 



"" Cockburn to Normanby, No. 36. 



""Loc. cit.. No. 36, and Cockburn to Russell, No. 5 (1839). 



