Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-01-28
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.
FRIDAY, JANUARY %, 1876.

into q stew over the action OF Mr.. Adams,
Clerk Of the House, which led to the reslena-
ton of Mr.. Barclay, Journal Clerk. 1t really
appears to US that Mr.. Barclays action Is en-
tirely uojusti6able, and that Mr.. Adams had
no Other alternative than do what he did
accept his resignation.
The excuse for resigning offered by MIR. Bar.
clay was the removal of Dr.. Mahafey, Reading
Clerk, and Mr.. Clayton, Assistant Journal
Clerk. alter some Of Mr.. Adams friends had
led Mr.. B. to believe that they would be re-
tanned.
1t is said that Mr.. Barclay trained the
young Clayton ideas bow to shoot over jour
nails, and that it was on this account that he
fel, willing to go out Of Office with his pupil.
This is commendable -mankind have always
admired the story Of Damon and Pythlas, but
what about Dr.. Mabafey? 1t is Tot alleged
that Mr.. Barclay trained his sonorous voice to
run the scale of members names, or pipe The
bills and resolutions of the House. He did
not want them retained then because they were
specimens of his official handiwork, but be-
cause they were his friends. Now, we're these
two the only friends that Mr.. Barclay had
among the old employees for whom he was
willing 10 interpose his resignation? Drop by
drop he has seen the Republican spring run
dry 10 the Clerks Office, and not a word did he
utter until the knife was about to fall upon The
Hecks Of these two gentlemen.
DR.. Mahafey made an excellent officer, also
Mr.. Clayton; but were not others discharged
equally as clever, efficient and deserving
Granting that Mr.. Barclay has been in Office
seventeen years, is that any reason that he
should be compelled 10 serve his country for
ever? Is there to be no rest for the weary 10
this mundane sphere? When a man gets in
Office is he to drag out his miserable existence
among journals aud draw ten dollars per day
forever? Grant, as the Tribune urges, that
he is he best parliamentarian 10 the world,
does that prove that he should be journal
Clerk after Mahafey and Clayton were re-
lieved? IF it proves anything it is, that some
party should elect him to Congress and make
him Speaker, or that Grant should send him
to a bayoueled State-Louisiaua, for instance
and make him Senator, and thereby settle
the vexed question whether Pinchback or
Eustis should be admitted, and whether Mr..
Ferry is the right man in the right place.
It is intimated that the debt Of gratitude
due him should have been paid 10 retaining
him ADD his friends. Ought not his patriotism
to have prompted him to have held on until
MIR. Clayton's successor became familiar with
the duties of the Office, and not let the country
go to p%erdition simply because his two friends
we're retired? Should not gratitude to 10000
900 American ~citizcus have prompted him 10
have waited yet a while longer with Mr.. Bal.
ley, Mr.. Strom and other sufferers until sue.
cessor qualified, if there is one in the world
that could be found?
Mr.. Barclays card to Mr.. Adams is simply
iucxcusable, especially when it is considered
that MIR. Adams never thought, as We arc in
formed, of removing him. Mr.. Adams, We
learn, keenly appreciated his long and faithful
services to the country and had determined to
retain him.
IF the position occupied by Mr.. Barclay is
as important as some of the Republican papers
would have us believe, then the destiny of the
legislation in this country has been hanging on
a slender thread, and our system of jourualiz-
ing should be speedily simpli6ed.
IF it cannot be simplifed then a chair of
'%.jourual keeping" should be established i'm
mediately at West Point, and during the first
recess Of Congress a number of gentlemen 10.
structed, that the Government may not stop in
the event Of any accident happening to MIR.
Barclay.
There are two false ideas developed 10 the
discussion of this matter. One is, that a man
should hold an Office forever. The other, that
pobody can fill Mr.. Barclays place.
While We regret his foolish oote, and appre-
ciate bis long and faithful services, We believe
that others can and will be found who will
keep the journals of the House as well.
Since the above was written We have learn
ed that the resignation, about which all this
fuss has been raised, was induced by other
than the assigned motives, aud was in tact the
result of information received by MIR. Barclay
that bis salary was going to be cut down 10
$2lOO by the Committee on Appropriations,
and that even the question of abolishing his
Office, as that of a s%inecure, had been preached.
Mr.. Chas. F. Smith, formerly Journal Clerk
of the New Hampshire Legislature, has been
appointed to the vacancy oocasioned by the
promptly-accepted resignation of Mr.. Barclay,
has entered upon the duties Of his Office, and
performs them to the entire satisfaction Of
those With whom be has official communica-
tioo.
The Richmond correspondent of the Peters