The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-08-22
THE ACTION OF THE FIRE COM.
MISRIONERS.

The question of appointing colorcd men as
Hremen came up in the last meeting but one,
Mr.. Gorbutt contending that colored men
would never make hremen, that they lacked
courage, judgment, SC, another Commits
sioner concurring In what Mr.. Gorbutt said.
The Mayor combstted this idea and stated
that II was only repetition OF what had been
said of colorcd men In regard to making sol
diers-that they were towards, would never
fight, would never learn to use musket, had
no patriotism, or love of home or country,
&c.,-but that facts had proved that they not
only had courage, judgment, love of home
and country, but that they had shown them
selves as good soldiers as white men, and
were Just as reliable. The discussion was
quite warm and animated, but as no appoint
ments were made at that meeting it ended
without any definite understanding as to what
course the Board would pursue on that sub
ject.
On Tuesday last the Mayor sent word to Mr
johnson and Mr.. Goodall that he would like
to see them at his office at O'Clock p. m.
They came and had an understanding that
they would appoint the men Mr.. Elwood had
employed, he (Mr. E.) having been requested
by q resolution of the Board at the previous
meeting to furnish q list OF the same. They
all agreed, however, that two Of these men
(colored) who had been tried and convicted
Of crime should be dropped from the list and
two other ptionable colored men should
be substituted by Mr.. f. In their places.
There was no disagreement between them, and
the Mayor went to the meeting with most
perfect assurance that all would be right and
that all OF Mr.. Elwood's employees would be
appointed and confirmed by the Board.
After they had resolved to go into the busi-
ness Of making appointments, the Mayor
called on Mr.. Elwood for his list, which he
promptly handed to him. The Mayor then
stated that he would support the men on that
list, because he wished to hold Mr.. Elwood
responsible for their good conduct, and rs he
was the responsible officer OF the department,
he 1.-THE Mayor deemed 1t due to him that he
should have the naming OF the men. The
Mayor then named the first on the list OF en-
CINE No. l, who was elected by three votes to
two. He then called the second name, when
Mr.. johnson produced another list, which
he said Mr.. Elwood had furnished him, and
which was different from that furniFhed the
Mayor, II having none but the names Of white
men on 1t. Mr.. Johnson named the man on
his list, and he was elected; and SO the ballot
went on, every man on his list being elected
the Mayor alone, excepting in single instance
voting for the person on the list he had. The
Mayors list had the names ofthose appointed
and employed by Mr.. Elwood, white and ool'
ored. Mr.. Johnsons contained, as we are in.
formed, none but the whites. The presenting
of the two lists COMPOUNDED the Mayor, but he
he did not know till the next morning tina
Mr. Johuson's had no colored men on It, Al
soon as he ascertained that fact, he denounced
the whole thing as trick unworthy any hon
orable man. From what took place durinl
the evening he was induced to believe tina
one OF the commissioners and Mr.. Elwoot
were responsible for it, bat as Mr.. Z. disclaimi
any knowledge OF the list produced by Mr.
johnson, and as question Of verscity exist
between them, he reserved any expression o
Judgment till further developments show
whether both are guilty.
The whole affair is objectionable In the ex
IRENE and we are glad that the Mayor pur
sued the course he did In the case, and thu
maintained his consistency and secured thu
confidence of those who had counted on hi
support