The first holding a position under appointment by the government was Ebenezer Don Carlos Bassett of Philadelphia who was appointed minister resident and consul general to the government of Hayti in 1869.
He was an educated Negro of great ability and was engaged in teaching for many years. The “Hand Book of Hayti,” of which he was the author, has been translated into many languages.
He was a member of the American Geographical Society and of the Connecticut Historical Society.
The number of colored officers, clerks and other employees in the service of the United States Government at the present time is 22,440 with salaries aggregating an annual income of $12,456,760.00.
The qualification of the large majority of these employees was tested under civil service rules and so it is seen this large number got into the service through merit alone.
Out of a population of 12,000,000 people, with a force of 20,000 trained in the government of the country it is idle to assume a sufficient number for the proper administration of the laws of the territory could not be secured.
In the matter of military genius and personal bravery as well as in preparation for statesmanship by reason of education and patriotism the records show the Negro to be well equipped.
There are eleven colored officers in the regular army of the United States at the present time. Three Negroes have been graduated from West Point.
At the order of the government for service in Mexico, the first to go to the front in search of Villa and his bandits was the Tenth cavalry composed of Negroes which has distinguished itself for service in this punitive expedition as it distinguished itself at the battle of Las Guasimas in Cuba when it came to the rescue of Colonel Roosevelt and his Rough Riders.
The first to go to the front in the Spanish-American War, in 1898, were the four NEGRO regiments, the Tenth Cavalry, the Twenty-fifth Infantry, which took a prominent part in the battle of El Caney, the Ninth Cavalry, which with the Twenty-fourth Infantry and the Tenth Cavalry, rendered heroic service in the battle of San Juan Hill. The Ninth and Tenth Cavalry have the reputation of being the best Indian fighters in the United States Army.