The Illinois Free Trader And Lasalle County Commercial Advertiser

Dixon Land Officers Interfering in Elections—Turn them Out!

"I will remove no incumbent from office who has faithfully and honestly acquitted himself of the duties of his office, except in such cases, where such officer has been guilty of active partisanship, or by secret means—the less manly and therefore the more objectionable—has given his official influence to the purpose of party, thereby bringing the patronage of the government in conflict with the freedom of elections."
—President Tyler.

The above quotation from President Tyler's Address, speaks in plain language his sentiments—they cannot be misunderstood or evaded, and if uttered in sincerity, he deserves credit for his candor and honesty of purpose. If merely delivered to deceive the people and furnish a pretext for the removal of Democrats to furnish place for Whigs, we now present a case by which the citizens of this section of the Union can properly test President Tyler's professions.

We learn by a gentleman, of undoubted veracity, that on Saturday last whilst Judge Ralston, the Democratic candidate for Congress in this district, was addressing the citizens of Lee county at Dixon's Ferry, that Garnsey and Hogan, the newly appointed Land Officers at that place, not only take "active" measures to secure the election of the Whig candidate, but actually took the stump after Judge Ralston had concluded his remarks, and each replied to him in a speech of one hour and a half in length, advocating the claims of Mr. Stuart in the strongest language, and denouncing the Democratic party in the most vindictive manner.

Here then is a case in point by which President Tyler's sincerity can be tested. Will he turn them out? The late incumbents were removed because they were Democrats, but the President's reason for doing so is given in the language above quoted. Will the same rule apply when it conflicts with his own party? Let his course in regard to Garnsey and Hogan answer!

It is well known that the Hon. John T. Stuart procured the appointment of Garnsey and Hogan to the exclusion of other worthy applicants—hence their efforts in his behalf. The "Buckeye Bear" was rewarded for his labors, notwithstanding his private character was of the most degraded nature. This same Hogan was rewarded because he perambulated the country during the late Presidential canvass, with a "bible in his pocket, a dagger in his hand, and hell in his heart"—sacrilegiously mocking the solemnities of the tomb, and openly disgracing the feelings of human nature, by comparing mortality to the animal creation. Will the President remove him?