Daily National Intelligencer

THE TYRANNY OF OFFICE.

It appears that Trinidad is at present governed by one Ralph Woodford, [a second Picton who persecutes the Caraccas patriots as his government did the illustrious Spaniards, who fled to Gibraltar for protection.] [N. Y. Columbian.]

TO THE EDITORS OF THE INTELLIGENCER.

Gentlemen,

The editor of the Columbian, in calling Ralph Woodford a second Picton, has done the memory of the latter an unintentional injustice. In the lines which I enclose you, and which are only an extract from a poem written and circulated in Trinidad, and containing a delineation of Woodford's character, you will perceive that there the people consider the torturing reign of Picton happiness itself, compared to their present deplorable condition. Picton never was accused, by his most violent enemies, of more than nine and twenty murders; and only one of these was charged to be on a person belonging to the Spanish main. But who, Oh! horrid to think of, can count the victims of Ralph Woodford? The bones of thousands bleaching on the shores of the Gulf of Paria, are proofs enough of the murderous guilt of this man. But his guilt does not, like that of Picton, stop at murder, or connivance at it, which is the same thing in a criminal point of view. Disinterestedness, in many matters, was a creditable trait in the character of Picton. During the whole time he was governor, he never received a fee of office—nor did he ever suffer his secretary to exact a dollar from those with whom he transacted business. Far otherwise with Woodford; the fees he extorts in the miserable colony he governs, would, I suppose, nearly pay the expense of many of our state governments. Avarice seems to be this hero's ruling passion; and, being notoriously bribed by the Royalists on the Spanish main, he seems determined that even the unfortunate republicans, who are able to bring any thing away besides their lives, shall also contribute something to his wealth. Hence, the trunks and boxes of every one of those republicans, who are fortunate enough to save any thing, are wantonly broken open and searched for money. When any of these hapless victims of royal cruelty land in the island, they are instantly marched up under an escort to the common jail, (the only emblem or monument, in this island, of British hospitality.) and their trunks, if they bro't any, are sent to the Government House, where the Governor has them searched and plundered. In the month of May last, two Caraccas patriots, brothers, of the name of Morales, landed in an open boat at about 10 o'clock in the morning. They were instantly marched to jail, and their trunks sent to the Governor, who, being in the gallery of the Government House, ordered them to be broken open in the street, and two hundred dollars in doubloons were taken out. The day before he had been guilty of this, he compelled a poor widow to pay one hundred dollars for being guilty of receiving her son into her house, he being a patriot. A republican officer, however, to whom Woodford (after having his trunks broken open in his presence) had mentioned that two hundred dollars were taken for his having landed without permission in the island, gave him an excellent retort, by telling the petty plunderer, that "if he was in want of another two hundred dollars, he could afford to let him have them." This sally had the effect to call forth the unmanly abuse of the little tyrant, and double the penalty. I could lengthen to a tedious detail this communication, by numberless other instances of the most indecent plunder. But it is enough, with regard to this part of Woodford's conduct to the people of the Caraccas, to observe, that while he permits such of the republicans as have been able to save any thing, to land for a few days on the island, for which he taxes them accordingly, he inexorably refuses the miserable creatures, who, having only fled with their lives, have therefore no way to afford him to gratify his rapacity. Refusing these unfortunate people permission to land, is at once ordering their execution; as on their return to the Main, they are all indiscriminately murdered—or, should they be fortunate enough to be intercepted by the Royal squadron, they then suffer the milder death of drowning. This was the case with hundreds in the months of January and February last, to whom Woodford refused an asylum. The lines I enclose you, however, contain the best description of this man's character, and to them I refer your readers for the delineation of the petty despot.

A LOVER OF LIBERTY.

Extract from a Poem on Governor Ralph Woodford, entitled, "The West-India Despot."

Oh thou, to ev'ry meaner vice allied,

The slave of Passion, Avarice and Pride,

Curs'd be thy heart, which never pity felt,

Which sighs ne'er soften'd, which no tears can melt—

Minion of Fortune—from an humble state

Rais'd unto pow'r—and with that pow'r elate,

First born of Folly—Vanity's lov'd child—

Wise as the owl, and as the tiger mild—

Despot accurst—may Heav'n propitious hear—

Hear and accord a groaning people's pray'r.

"May He, from whom all good and evil flows,

"Grant a short period to our present woes;

"Give us to see the screaming vulture tear

"Thy bloated carcase, blacken'd in the air;

"Give us to see those happy days again

"We erst enjoy'd beneath a Picton's reign.

Lo! the sad victims of intestine broils,

Forced from their homes, and sinking neath their toils.

Flying with horror from the murderous knife.

Landing with fear and scarce escap'd with life

Hail, with glad shouts the friendly wish'd for shore,

Transported, shout, and think their troubles o'er

When the dire tyrant, whose infernal mind,

No woe, can soften and no ties can bind,

Back to the blood-stain'd coast the bark commands,

In vain with bended knees and streaming eyes,

With prayers, with tears, with deep heart-rending sighs,

The hapless wretches, wand'ring o'er the flood,

Beg but protection and a friendly food.

Vain all their prayers, vain all their tears and sighs.

Food and protection his dire soul denies!

Infuriate drives them o'er the main, to find

Relief and safety in some isle more kind.