Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1860-09-02
No rur cTTIzExs on MEMPHIS.

/. 70 the ere department ana toEelHst "N
causes brought into existence BY hat action,
imposes upon rs. as the authlrizsd representa-
tivrs Of the frtmen Of Memphis, the unPieas-
ant duty Of appearing before You in this public
manner, TO submit 20 you a plain statement OF
facts, and to ask your support and sympathy
in the defense Of cur rights, and the Vindieat'on
Of our honor.
Hswsvsr unpleasant il may be 70 these pos
ssssiag The proper ssnsibiiities Of gentlemen
to engage in newspaper warfare, and to dis
turb the quiet Of The public by a relation Of
their private grievances, We feel ourselves, as
an orrauizsd body, so closely Identified with
The interest and UsIi-bsing Of that public TO
which We nov appeal that we cannot, with
out a sacrifice of self-respset as honorable
men, refrain from rePslling with feelings Of
conscious rsctituds, The unjustimputaiions cast
upon ne, and 10 warn our friends u The dan
gers with which they are threatened.
The existsncs Of The FIRE organization In
some form, is cosysi with that Of your city,
dating back for more han a quarter Of afen-
tury, during all OF which time we call upon
you to bear testimony to tie zeal and fidelity
which ibe fremen have ever displayed IN the
discharge Of the important and hazardous
duties which have dsvolved upon them.
Their gallsntry and fearless devotion in meet
ing and battling with the destroying element
which has 90 often swept over our city, has
ever been the theme Of praise IRON those who
had the magnauimity to feel, and the manli-
ness to express their admiration for true no
bIity no one, in the meantime, ever having
made the astounding discovery Just brought to
light BY the present sstuts board Of aldermen
that FOR more than twenty years past an or
gained band % outlaws and malefactors bad
existed unknown in our midst
The board Of aldermen was created by the
people, to do their will By legislsting for their
interests, the protection Of their property and
the maintenance Of their rights as citizens.
TIE manner in whicn the present board has
discharged these high duties viii be made man
fest BY a brief examination Of the course
which they have adopted, and propose to pun
sue in relation to the Ere department.
Early 10 the year 1882, at the sugges-
ton u several leading members Of The
then existing city council, and with the
approval and concurrence Of The hremen,
z plan was set on foot to organize the IRE
department upon a different and more Efficient
basis then The one upon which It then stood. In
pursuance Of this object, a committee was aP-
pointed by tie board to confer with a similar
one upon the part Of the frsmsn, 20 carry into
7~ractica; effect the end sought to be obtained.
The result Of their lsbors was the adoption Of
a system which was thought to be as perfect
In an its details as could be devised, giving,
at The time, and up TO a very recent date, entire
satisfaction to all parties concerned. In ae-
cordsncs with the provisions o. the new,
ordinances subsequently passed b. tie
board, a chief and other officers for the de-
~psrtment were elected in July Of last year, t.
serve for the ensuing twelve months. Their
duties, salaries, etc, having been defined and
fixed By the ordinance above mentioned, the
latter being jointly paid by the city and board
Of underwriters.
These officers Immediately entered upon the
discharge Of their duties, and NJ TO The
time that The present municipal adniuis-
tstion went into power, every thing went
on tremendously the 6remen doing The most
Efficient service whenever they were u~ufortu-
nately called upon. Blu! IS The time approached
Tor the reelection for officers Of the IRE de-
psrimehl, some minor differences and disssn-
sions were manifested upon the part Of a few
members Of The ere organization, which were
induced bv several causes, some Of which re-
veal too sad a phase in human nature for pub
lie comment some are to Ms unknown, while
It is not necessary 10 bring others to light.
Suffice it TO say, that an were stimulated into
active, mischisvous vitality BY the passive
countenancs, II not the direct sanction, Of many
members Of the board Of aldermen they, in
the mean time, in their ofheial capacity, d.
rscting their action, not only to The overthrow
or the fire dspsrinsn bat the disgrace Of its
members. This action was prompted by the
best motives upon The part If some, following,
however, in the lead Of those who were mex
cusably ignorant Of the subject upon which
they were lsgislating while we are sorry to
say, that upon the part Of others, no better
spirit was manifested than that Of gratifying
2 petty, personal malice. utterly unworthy Of
those occupying The position which tbsy hold.
After passing and repeating sundry ordi-
narcss upon The subject, apparently with no
other object in view than experimenting In the
science Of government, they at length issued
an edict. ordering the immediate disbsnding
Of al The FIRE companies in The city, except
the hooks and ladder, kindly permitting them
70 continue 10 the service, upon the triaing
condition hat they should 81 Far overcome
their r~sscally propsnsitiss as 10 become 1T
servants Of the city.
Thus It viii Be seen thai the volunteer fire
department, is to be legislsted out Of existence,
and unceremoniously consigned 10 oblivion,
without consulting the wishes Of its members,
or The interests n the public, for The protection
OF which it was created. Thus, BY the man
date Of a few legislative adventures, q hand
ful Of reckless spectators in public e~redulity
and forbearsnce, The property Interests Of the
whole city are to be jeopardized, and the
stigma Of disgrace placed upon hundreds Of
its citizens.
Thus BY the action Of the sixteen municipal
autocrats. who now control the destinies Of our
city, a large body q our fellow-eitizens are
to be driven beyond the pale Of decent society
resting under the ban Of social condemnation.
and crushed forever under The weight Of ar
odium most uniustly hespsd upon them BY
/, those who should honor and respect them
And for what? Is It because they have, WITH
out the hope Of pay o. reward, fesrlsssly faced
any and every danger in their efforts to protect
the lives and property Of their fellow-msn
often s~ndangsring their health and Ptriling
their lives in the pursuit Of their noble mis-.
sion asking and receiving nothing in return.
save the sanction and approval Of those whom
they 90 generously served2 Or, is IL because
hey have at any time, or in any particular.
fallen short in the full and Efficient dischargl
Of every duty properly belonging to the nobl'
but lily appreciated calling Of a fireman. 1
Z this be The charge, we appeal with pride ani
confidence to the history Of the past. Whel
was there a FIRE in Memphis that every engina
in the city was not immediately on the ground
ready named and pouring a stream Of waite
upon DE blazing ruins =?
Whom did a fireman ever desert the hose q
! quit The brakes until the flames were subdued
7 sometimes, At the sacrifice II life for NOR
than once. a. al ran testify, fremen hav
fallen victims to their fearless devotion {
: duty; some have been dashed to pieces BY bsin
u precipitsted from dizzy higb's, while other
have been buried beneath the burning ruiz
n they we're laboriag to save. The statsI
B. buildings which ornament our principal street
: should have inscribed upon their fronts u
deeds OF noble daring which the hrensn
!, Memphis have performed, for they are mon
m msuis to their hsroism and sslf-sacriheing d
:. votion in saving them from destruction. Al
vet, these are the men whom a portion Of Il
:, city council and a few public mendieants, wi
h. are fed BY their bounty, d~enounce as q publ
= nuisance, a Disgrace 70 he city, and lavie
distubers Of The peace and quiet Of soeisi
ts The is tie organizstion that lie to be disbande
Ts because, az We are told, its tendencies are &
ri rorrupiing and its influences loo dangerous
Fs existence 10 be tolerated longer IN o
e. midst. This is ths noble band Of gala
m spirits who are to be summarily sisPossessed
their vested rights, cat Of from pub
p respect and esteem, and their Piae