Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-04-04
sYDNEY-oN THE REMOVAL OF RYLANr

4
We insert this communication without altv. \
tipn. 1t is strong and forcibe--ths languas.
perhaps, not sufficiently tempered--but muc,1
must be deferred. in this respect, to the madden.
ed indignation Of the people, who behold the sPir
OF their institutions Frustrated in the dust, amids
the degrading shouts Of the recreants, who crjI
"well donel"
To the Editor Of the TINES:
SIR:--Permit me through the medium Of your
paper to say few words to the community upon Q
subject on which every citizen of the State and of
the United States should feel an abiding interest,
slude to the dismissal of Rylsnd from Office and
the substitution Of A-hby in his place.
This is a measure which, in my opinion, has more
completely manifested the firm determination Of the
administration to gag the mouths Of the people, an
to exert its power tyranically than any which
has yet come to my knowledge. Ryland. the land
agent has been discharged from ofice--and another
has been placed there, for what! Has it been be-
cause he is incompetent to discharge the duties Of
the Office! No. for understand he has been the re.
csiver of public monies 0ince Mr.. Van Buren, has
been in Office, and probably for some time before,
and that he was in every respect competent to fill
the Office, and has invariably given satisfaction
Has it been that he found unfaithfu to the pub
lie trust reposed in him, and that he has far tran
scended his duty as to appropriate the public money
to his private uses! No, no one has ever dared to
whisper one word against Mr. Ryland's integrity in
the faithful and honest discharge of every duty,
strictly accounting for every cent of public money
which has come into his hands. Every one con-
ours in awarding to Mr.. Ryund the highest praise
both regards his capacity to transact the public
business and his honesty in taking of, and
counting for, the public money. Why then, has
this faithful public officer been discharged from the
post which he has filled much to the satisfaction
of the people! The plain and simple answer is this
that he has been honest enough, pubckly to object
TO measure OF the administration in removing from
Office Mr.. Aull, the Postmaster without assigning
any reason for it,--for having entered protest in
that single instance against the damning policy Of
corrupt administration, faithful public officer
has been discharged 1t really does appear that the
party determined to shut their eyes against every
abuse of power, to praise that the most which is
the most monstrous and outrageous in its tendency
TO destroy and utterly break down every remaining
vestige Of that liberty for which fathers fought
and died-which we were wont so proudly to boast
They defend this measure of the administration
with the same warmth that they defend the rest
and say that Mr.. Van Buren, has done as he should
have done in displacng Ryland.
This is in effect saying that the President should
have rome others in ofice than the supple tools Of
his will; that the man who is honest and fearless
enough 70 express his candid opinion upon any mea-
sure Of the administration, be it ever so to
his principles Of right and wrong, has no business
in Office; and that the fawnng, time.ssrving hypu.
critical lying coward. is alone the man that will suit
their purposes and convenience. Look at it you
will this is the conclusion to which oil their argu-
ments come,--that Mr.. Van Buren, wants his friends
in offce--that Mr.. Rysnd objected to n sure of
the administration, therefore was no longer FRIEND
of Mr. Van Buren,, and ought to be discharged from
Office. Is this the policy which was pursued by
Washington by Adams by Jefferson by Madison by
Monroe or the younger Adams, or by any other gov
eminent under heaven which has in view the good
Of the people! No, sir. They are tyrants alone
who fear to fill the public Offices with honest men.
They are tyrants alone who seek to fill them from
among the base and servle wretches whose only aim
is to keep their place and who do it at the expense
Of truth, virtue and integrity. In the palmy day.
of the republic, when the office Of chief magistrate
was bestowed on him who had the greatest merit
when public officer was appointed, the enquiry
was sis he competent! is he honest!" Are these
the requisites now to be possessed by them! Is the
enquiry ever made is he honest! No, sir, that i
q thing for which the President has no use; as well
might you seek 10 obtain high place in hell by
presenting to the Devil and his angels unimpeach-
able testimonials Of high moral character and eX-
empary piety, to seek to obtain office of trust
and emolument under the administration of Martin
Van Buren,, by presenting testimonials of ca pacy
and honesty. The requisites now, are these:-l>
he Van Buren, man and will he use every endea
your to promote his re-election-which means in
plain English, ,his-will he support me whether |
do as he thinks right or not! Will he be dog enough
to wag his tail and bark whenever whistle! viii
he be liar hypocrte villain enough to approve every
thing do; and lastly, will he Gf necessary the
public money and bride every one who will sell his
vote in order to assure my reelection? If he will
do all this, then he is the man for me.
Surely surely, fellow citizens, we have forgotten
the blood and treasure which it cost Us to free
selves from one tyrant, when we thus basey submit
to the domination of another.
Let US pause and consider if such things would
have been tolerated ten years ago. Let US then, if
we call ourselves freemen, if there's yet spark
of that fire which once burned in our bosoms, if we
would not shame the memory of the heroes of the
revolution, whose departed spirits still fondIy gaze