Against a Colored Officer

A secretary ignores the governor's recommendation to appoint a black man to lead a black regiment, which Mitchell calls a "farce of doing full justice."

In response to the call of the War Department for the recommendation of officers for the new volunteer regiments, Gov. Tanner of Illinois recommended a colored officer of the Eighth Illinois Volunteer Regiment. It is said that Secretary Root ignored the recommendations of the Governor to such an extent as to create much adverse comment.
Referring to the recommendation of the colored officer, it is said that Secretary Root was compelled to pass him by until he decides to definitely to organize a colored regiment and to appoint colored men as officers.
There is the color-line with a vengeance. It may yet prove to be the case that Secretary Alger in ignoring and snubbing the colored citizen was only obeying the orders of the prejudiced combine by way of the President of the United States. It seems now that Secretary Root is there to obey orders too, although he may not take pleasure in so doing. If we are to have a colored regiment, let us have a colored colonel commanding it or let us abandon the farce of doing full justice to “the brother in black.”

“Against a Colored Officer,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed March 15, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1713.