henry ossian flipper-第53节
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I was allowed to make the following written statement of the affair to be placed among the records of the proceedings of the court：
〃'May it please the court： I stand here to…day charged with a most disgraceful actone which not only affects my character； but will； if I am found guilty； affect it during my whole lifeand I shall attempt； in as few words as possible； to show that I am as innocent as any person in this room。 I was reported on the 18th of December； 1870； for a very trivial offence。 For this offence I submitted an explanation to the Commandant of Cadets。 In explanation I stated the real cause of committing the offence for which I was reported。 But this cause； as stated； involved another cadet； who； finding himself charged with an act for which he was liable to punishment； denies all knowledge of it。 He tries to establish his denial by giving evidence which I shall attempt to prove absurd。 On the morning of the 13th of December； 1870； at guard… mounting； after the new guard had marched past the old guard； and the command of 〃Twos left； halt！〃 had been given； the new guard was about two or three yards to the front and right of the old guard。 Then the command of 〃Left backward； dress；〃 was given to the new guard； 〃Order arms； in place rest。〃 I then turned around to Cadet Anderson； and said to him； 〃I wish you would not tread on my toes。〃 This was said in a moderate tone； quite loud enough for him to hear。 He replied； as I understood； 〃 Keep your d…d toes out of the way。〃 I said nothing more； and he said nothing more。 I then heard Cadet Birney say to another cadetI don't know who it wasstanding by his side； 〃It （or the thing） is speaking to Mr。 Anderson。 If he were to speak to me I would knock him down。〃 I heard him distinctly； but as I knew that he was interfering in an affair that did not concern him； I took no further notice of him； but turned around to my original position in the ranks。 What was said subsequently I do not know； for I paid no further attention to either party。 I heard nothing said at any time about taking my eyes away； or of Cadet Anderson compromising his dignity。 Having thus reviewed the circumstances which gave rise to the charge； may it please the court； I wish to say a word as to the witnesses。 Each of these cadets testifies to the fact that they have discussed the case in every particular； both with each other and with other cadets。 That is； they have found out each other's views and feelings in respect to it； compared the evidence which each should give； the probable result of the trial； and one has even testified that he has expressed a desire as to the result。 Think you that Cadet Birney； with such a desire in his breast； influencing his every thought and word； with such an end in view； could give evidence unbiassed； unprejudiced； and free from that desire that 〃Cadet Smith might be sent away and proved a liar？〃 Think you that he could give evidence which should be 〃the truth； the whole truth； and nothing but the truth； so help me God？〃 It seems impossible for me to have justice done me by the evidence of such witnesses； but I will leave that for the court to decide。 There is another question here which must be answered by the finding of the court。 It is this： 〃Shall Cadet Smith be allowed to complain to the Commandant of Cadets when he considers himself unjustly dealt with？〃 When the court takes notice of the fact that this charge and these specifications are the result of a complaint made by me； it will agree with me as to the importance its findings will have in answering that question。 As to what the finding will be； I can say nothing； but if the court is convinced that I have lied； then I shall expect a finding and sentence in accordance with such conviction。 A lie is as disgraceful to one man as another； be he white or black； and I say here； as I said to the Commandant of Cadets； 〃If I were guilty of falsehood； I should merit and expect the same punishment as any other cadet；〃 but； as I said before； I am as innocent of this charge as any person in this room。 The verdict of an infallible judgeconscience is； 〃Not guilty；〃 and that is the finding I ask of this court。
〃Respectfully submitted。
（Signed） 〃'J。 W。 SMITH； 〃'Cadet U。S。M。A。'
〃'Thus ended my second and last court…martial。
〃Yours respectfully；
〃J。 W。 SMITH； 〃Late Cadet U。S。M。A。〃
THE HONOR OF A CADET AND GENTLEMAN。
To the Editor of the New National Era：
〃SIR： In relating the events of my first year at West Point； I omitted one little affair which took place； and I will now relate the circumstances。 One Sunday； at dinner； I helped myself to some soup； and one cadet； Clark； of Kentucky； who sat opposite me at table； asked me what I meant by taking soup before he had done so。 I told him that I took it because I wished it； and that there was a plenty left。 He seemed to be insulted at that； and asked： 'Do you think I would eat after a dd Nigger？' I replied： 'I have not thought at all on the subject； and； moreover； I don't quite understand you； as I can't find that last word in the dictionary。' He then took up a glass and said he would knock my head off。 I told him to throw as soon as he pleased； and as soon as he got through I would throw mine。 The commandant of the table here interfered and ordered us to stop creating a disturbance at the table； and gave me to understand that thereafter I should not touch any thing on that table until the white cadets were served。
〃When we came back from dinner； as I was going into my room； Cadet Clark struck at me from behind。 He hit me on the back of my neck； causing me to get into my room with a little more haste than I anticipated； but he did not knock me down。 He came into my room； following up his advantage； and attempted to take me by the throat； but he only succeeded in scratching me a little with his nails； as I defended myself as well as possible until I succeeded in getting near my bayonet； which I snatched from the scabbard and then tried to put it through him。 But being much larger and stronger than I； he kept me off until he got to the door； but then he couldn't get out； for some one was holding the door on the outside； for the purpose； I suppose； of preventing my escape； as no doubt they thought I would try to get out。 There were a great many cadets outside on the stoop； looking through the window； and cheering their champion； with cries of 'That's right； Clark； kill the dd nigger；' 'Choke him；' 'Put a head on him；' etc。； but when they saw him giving way before the bayonet； they cried； 'Open the door； boys；' and the door was opened； and Mr。 Clark went forth to rejoice in the bosom of his friends as the hero of the day。 The cadet officer of the day 'happened around' just after Clark had left； and wanted to know what did I mean by making all that noise in and around my quarters。 I told him what the trouble was about； and soon after I was sent for by the 'officer in charge；' and questioned in reference to the affair。 Charges were preferred against Clark for entering my room and assaulting me； but before they were brought to trial he sent two of his friends tome asking if I would withdraw the charges providing he made a written apology。 I told these cadets that I would think of the matter and give them a definite answer the next evening。
〃I was perfectly well satisfied that he would be convicted by any court that tried him； but the cadets could easily prove （according to their way of giving evidence） that I provoked the assault； and I； besides； was utterly disgusted with so much wrangling； so when the cadets called that evening I told them that if his written apology was satisfactory I would sign it； submit it to the approval of the Commandant of Cadets； and have the charges withdrawn。
〃They then showed me the written apology offered by Clark； in which he stated that his offence was caused by passion； because he thought that when I passed him on the steps in going to my room I tried to brush against him。 He also expressed his regret for what he had done； and asked forgiveness。 I was satisfied with his apology； and signed it； asking that the charges be withdrawn； which was done； of course； and Clark was released from arrest。 I will； in justice to Cadet Clark； state that I never had any further trouble with him； for； while he kept aloof from me； as the other cadets did； he alway thereafter acted perfectly fair by me whenever I had any official relations with him。
〃A few days after the settlement of our dispute I found； on my return from fencing one day； that some one had entered my room and had thrown all my clothes and other property around the floor； and had thrown the water out of my water…pail upon my bed。 I immediately went to the guard…house and reported the affair to the officer of the day； who； with the 'officer in charge；' came to my room to see what had been done。 The officer of the day said that he had inspected my quarters soon after I went to the Fencing Academy and found everything in order； and that it must have been done within a half hour。 The Commandant of the Cadets made an investigation of the matter； but could not find out what young 'gentleman' did it； for every cadet stated that he knew nothing of it； although the corps of cade
