The Middlebury People's Press

Progress of the Executive Guillotine.

Mr. Tyler has again shown an utter disregard to the principles laid down in his inaugural address, touching the removal of Public Officers in the removal of our worthy townsman, James M. Slade Esq., from the office of clerk in the Treasury Dept. Mr. Slade was appointed to his office in May, 1841. During the Campaign of 1840 he rendered efficient aid in elevating to power the present administration. He was induced by his friends to leave his native place, and accept of an office under the General Government. Knowing the insecure tenure by which public offices are held, he was reluctant to yield to their requests, but their repeated urging, and the avowal of the principles of Mr. Tyler, touching removals from office, succeeded in persuading him to go. In Mr. Tyler's Inaugural, he avows his determination to remove no man from public employ, only on the grounds of incompetency, immorality, unfaithfulness in the discharge of duties, or interference in politics. Mr. Slade had applied himself so closely to the duties of his office as to seriously effect his health, and with the permission of his superior officer, had returned to his native state to recruit his health and strength. His leave of absence was limited to one month. Punctual to the time, he returned to Washington with his family and entered again upon his duties. Upon the same day he commenced his labors, he received formal notice from the competent authority, that his services was no longer required in the office. Mr. Slade immediately solicited and obtained an interview with the Commissioner of the General Land Office, from whom the order of dismissal issued and in conversation with him received the strongest testimonials of friendship and confidence. In answer to the enquiries if he (Mr. S.) was removed because of incompetency or unfaithfulness, a prompt reply was given, that the removal was not made from any cause affecting his (Mr. S.'s) character as a clerk or man, that he desired no better clerk in the Land Office than Mr. Slade had been, but the order had come from a source that must be obeyed. The chief clerk of the Land office also gave Mr. Slade the strongest assurances of his confidence in him as a public officer and deeply regretted his removal. The vacancy thus occasioned by his removal, was immediately filled in the appointment of a man, who during the campaign of 1840, was among the loudest and bitterest in his denunciations of Harrison and Tyler. Mr. Slade was, upon his return home, warmly greeted by his friends and fellow citizens. Unseduced by Executive bribes, and unawed by Executive power, he remains a freeman, and one that will never dishonor himself by bowing the knee for Executive favor.