The Sun. — 1841-04-08 (London, England)

EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sfa,—Previously to quitting the lonian Islands, and during this kind of interregnum, Sir Howard Douglas is determined to give c iil further and indelible proofs of the plenitude of his power. After having caused to be inserted in the lonian Gazette, es a warning to the employ 6-, an opinion a;triouted to Washington,* he ordered the Senate to dismiss from their offices several persons of known integrity and talent, whose consciences would not permit them to put their names to the Address which S r Howard got up last year, as an expression of the gratitude of the loi.ian people [aft_.r his warm eulogy tf them in his despatch of the 10th April, 1840] for his paternal anxiety to promote the welfare of these States, and as a declaration of their conviction that every charge against such a benefactor is purely a machinati:A of calumny. Nor was this sufficient : he wanted to make cv,n spiritual authority subservient to his purpose; consequently the dignitaries of the Church, who, knoa iog the words of the Aedrers to be unirm,, would not injure their chLricter by attesting them with their signature, were made to feel his wrath.  Such is the conduct of Sir Howard*Douglas in tio lonian Islands, and of that which is required f, ern the employes, AS well as front the clergy themselves. Let it be observed, also, that at the inauguration of the last Parliament, the employes were confirmed in their offices, and h:ve, the,efore, a tight to enjoy the ads antiges arising therefrom during the entire quinquennium. Can it, then, be asseted that the citizens concurred spontaneously in augmenting the number of signatures affixed to addresses under such circumstances ? Is it not evident that violence was done to the frcelom of opiNion. and that such repeated acts corrupt the people, teachir.g and authorizing them to prac:ise lying, and to attest, in opposi:ian to their concienm, things which are not true? Hence it is, that, restrained by tne unlimited power of the police, the people cannot obey the impulse of their will, even in seeking redress for but a portion of their numerous grievances. It is for this reason that they dare not, although privwely, give their signatures even on occasims the most lawful and obligatory. If the people wish to address an avowal of gratitude to their august Protectress, unless the whole thing is under the direction of the agents of the Government, to sign it is a c,irne, and all who take part in the affair become, henceforth, marked men.  The dismioals of which we have spoken are used also for the purpose of intimidating those passive individuals who readily yield to authors y ; as it is whispered that a new address is to be prepared in favour of Sir Howard. Sir Howard Douglas has, however, committed rather a blunder by quoting the opinion of Washington. Every body knows what principles that great man possessed and supported, and what are the principles entertained by Sir Howard, principles diametrically opposed to those of his own country and Government, and leading him to invadui, as absolute monarch, the constitutional powers of the lonian Islands.  We may, therefore, rightfully conclude, that those whom Sir Howard characterizes as enemies of the lonian Government are, on ti,e contrary, the true friends of that Government, rega►ding it in the light of its true constitutional principles, and not in a spirit of despotism ; and that Sir Howard, in persecuting all who retain a siegle spark of liberalism, persecutes those who are net less the friends of his own, tl.an of the lonian Government, such as it ought to be. I have the honour to be, yours. Sic. Colonial Club, April 3, 1841. AN lONIAN. • The opinion, said to be taken from a "Life of Washington," written by M. Guizor, the French Minister, is to the following effect;—" Notice to Candidates for Office.—As long as I shall have the honour of administering the Government, I shall never confer any post, however small its importance, on any man whose political principles are contrary to the measures of the Government, as 1 am persuaded that a political suicide would be committed by acting differently."