The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-04
Rebel Accounts.

THE CHARLESTON FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE con.
scIIPTIoN LAW.
The enforcement Of the cpscrpton law In Ch~lest,n
is depicting the Fire Department to such cxtont that
the City Council has taken tho matter and appointed
special committee Of its body the State capital
and prevent If possible, any further thinning out OF the
ranks Of the rcmen Of that city Tho Fro Masters pro-
sented the following tho Council relation
TO tho matter the 18th
To THE MAYOR ALDERMEN OF THE CRY Or CHARLESTON
The memorial OF tho Board OF Fire Masters respectfully
showeth that, In December and January 1850 and 1851
on the first breaking out OF tho present many Of the
best active officers and members Of the various
companies composing tho Volunteer Fire Department
cft thev respective companss became attached
tho various military organizations then forming. By this
means the department was much reduced N numbers OF
made and from the TACT that the military companies had
IN great been removed from the city passed
act making the Fire Department armed patrol and mill
tary guard placed them under the orders OF the Mayor
to do duty In addition TO their usual duties as renen
and In accordance with this act the remen wore armed
and vere several times called out a military guard
Tho act exempted the department from oil draft
for military service The effect Of this act was to stop
further volunteering, and by calling IN MANY o. the sx
empt and honorary members the department enabled
TO be kept together and retain their organization The
act was again renewed at the last session. and continue
for The war restricting the companies however 10 the
number Of active members they then returned to the
Chief In - The arms wore taken from them
and report having gope out that was the intention Of
the Governor and Executive Council further TO reduce
the department many more Of tho active members OF
the department, ia
oompapies and finally, by order Of the Governor and
Executive Council each company was reduced TO thirty
| active mon; and thus reduced, the department was
again great measure, forced 10 reorganze iisof In
April last the Confederate Congress passed the present
CONSUMPTION law. which by many supposed 70 include
the members now In tho department between the ages
u eighteen and thirty i've years. The consequences If
this h ags 0s .nS %emDssi Sy
not done 70 countcract this impression ana " Ra2s
| the members Of the department upon o SURG ioun
daton wc greatly fear total disorga9.on spd aoan-
donment OF the present Fire Department., the con-
scrption law does apply 10 the department In the face
OF the officers, and most OF Vic active and best ID
tho organization both 10 the volunteer aud city depart
ments win included and tho city will % loft without
a proper Fire Department. As this board has been in
trusted by your honorable body with this branc Of the
public service they deem II their duty 10 bring these
facts the attention Of your body and 10 ask you 10
take such steps IN the matter rs will give the most i'm
mediate and certain Information as TO the intention Of
the CONSUMPTION law, and thus 10 stop the impression
that prevails and which threatens TO disorganizo tho
present department, or as win best subservs the In
tcres OF tho city and protect the property Of our fellow
| cjtizsus.
Alderman Roas offered the following resolution, which
was unanimously Adopted
| Resolved, That the memorial Of tho Board OF Fire
Masters IN relation 70 tho several flrs companies now
being reduced by tho C,nscrpton act IL hereby APP
proved by this Council and that the Chief Of the Fire
Department aud chairman OF the Board Of Fire Masters
bio roaues to confer with the Governor and Council
In order 10 prevent tho disorganiaaon Of the depart
ment by the aforesaid act