National Republican., 1876-08-30

"lobbies. II Senator Sherman is anxious
"to know where the disrepuable old
inebriate is, he shall be accommodated.
Barclay, the martyr of the Confederate
House, is In an inebriste asylum. loyal
"still, however. to the Republican
"party." 81 a
Now, it is a,facb well known to every
one connected in any way with Congress,
that when the Confederate House met in
December there was desire on the part
of the leading Democrats that Mr.. Barclays
valuable services as q p-rliamentarian
should be retained. Pledges were given
that certain others of the clerks whose pos
itions were most important should also be
retained. But as soon as the House got into
good running order, and new men began to
learn something of the routine, Mr.. Clerk
Adams began to make changes and aismis-
sails, in violation of the pledges given. Mr..
Barclay saw from the course that was be-
ing pursued that his tenure of office would
continue only until some other pet OF the
Democracy could get some knowledge ofthe
duties. Hence he resigned, preferring that
course rather than to wait until it would
suit Mr.. Adams pleasure to kick him out.
In his letter of resignation Mr.. Barclay
stated as much. Whisky drinking had
nothing to do with it, and it has been re-
served for the Chicago Times to make that
huge discovery. MIR. Barclay resigned
late in January. On the 18th of that month
Mr.. Blaine had called up motion relating
to the amnesty bill, which involved
amnesty to JEFF Davis. Mr.. Blaine claimed
the right to the floor, and after q somewhat
extended discussion Speaker Kerr ruled
that he was not entitled to close the
debate, and in overruling Mr.. Blaine's
point of order used the following Ian
guage, which is copied from the
Congressional Record of January 13:
"The Speaker. The Chair overrules
"the point of order made by the gentle
oman from Maine, (Mr. Blane.) The
"Chair desires only, in addition, to say,
land he is glad to be able to say It, that in
"this ruling he is upon. all points sus-
"tained by the venerable journal clerk of
"the House, the author of the Digest,
WIN HhS udu tuC SApSAiSnSO Va s"ShtJ
"eight years."
This shows the estimation In which Mr..
Barclay was held by the late Speaker. The
alacrity with which Mr.. Adams accepted
Mr.. Barclays resignation afforded the best
proof of his ultimate intentions with re-
gard to him, for the fact was notorious that
the late Speaker Kerr and other leading
Democrats did not wish to have the resig-
nation accepted.
But the charge that Mr.. Barclay was an
inmate of an inebriate asylum is delib-
crate, unblushing falsehood, without
shadow OF a foundation upon which to
rest it. After resigning Mr.. Barclay re-
mained in Washington until within two
weeks of the adjournment Of Congress,
when he went to Berkeley Springs, from
which place he returned on Saturday last
Furthermore, after his resignation MIR.
Barclay was daily in and about the Capitol,
and was almost daily consulted by Mr.. Cox
and Mr.. Sayler, who were the presiding
officers after Mr.. Kerr's health compelled
him to retire. Although not officially con-
nected with the House, and although his
treatment was such that his resignation
may be said to have been forced from him,
he at no time withheld his vast knowledge
of the rules and of parliamentary law,
when his opinions were requested. He
gave the information cheerfully, and got
the House out of many an ENHANCEMENT in
which it would have been placed other
wise.
1t is due to Mr.. Barclay as man,
citizen and faithful public officer, that
these facts should be known, and that the
lies and ISLANDERS of the Chicago Times
should be exposed. Will that paper have
the decency to make the Gmends by stat
ing the truth of the matterf