on, can afford to tender me any
position that I can see my way clear to accept. While I fully and keenly
appreciate your friendly interest in me and your desire and willingness
to serve me, I cannot accept the position you have so gracefully
tendered me, nor can I accept any other you may see fit to offer me.

"But, if you want to render me a service, I can tell you wherein it can
be done,--a service that will be just as much appreciated as any you can
possibly render me. When I was a member of Congress I secured the
appointment of quite a number of young colored men to clerkships in the
Pension Bureau of your department. I understand that all these men have
excellent records. If you will retain them in their positions I shall
feel that you have repaid me for whatever you may think I have done for
you in the past."

"That," the Secretary replied, "is a very reasonable request. Come to
see me again in a day or two and bring a list of their names and I will
then see just what I can do along those lines."

I then bade Mr. Lamar good-bye and left his office. A few days later I
returned with the list. But upon that list I had placed the names of two
men who had not been appointed on my recommendation. One was a colored
man, a physician; the other was a white man, a lawyer. The physician
occupied a position that was in the line of his profession. The lawyer
was a clerk in the Pension Bureau, who had been recently appointed upon
the recommendation of Senator Bruce. The physician had been connected
with the public service a long time. I knew both men favorably and felt
that it was my duty to save them if in my power. Both were married and
had interesting families.

When I placed the list in the Secretary's hands he read it over very
carefully, and then said:

"I think I can safely assure you that the name of every one on this list
will be retained except these two"--indicating the colored physician and
the white lawyer. "This physician," the Secretary said, "is a colored
man, and the husband of a white wife. The lawyer is a white man, and the
husband of a colored wife. I cannot promise you, therefore, that they
will be retained, however capable and efficient they may be. So far as I
am personally concerned, it would make no material difference; I should
just as lief retain them as any of the others. But I cannot afford to
antagonize public opinion in my State on the question of amalgamation.
One of these men, the white law