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t now as at any other time；' and gave him to understand that he would see me protected in my rights； while his son Fred； who was then a cadet； said to the same gentleman； and in the presence of his father； that 'the time had not come to send colored boys to West Point。' Mr。 Clark said if the time had come for them to be in the United States Senate； it had surely come for them to be at West Point； and that he would do all in his power to have me protected。 Fred Grant then said： 'Well； no dd nigger will ever graduate from West Point。' This same young gentleman； with other members of his class； entered the rooms of three cadets； members of the fourth class； on the night of January 3； 1871； took those cadets out； and drove them away from the 'Point；' with nothing on but the light summer suits that they wore when they reported there the previous summer。 Here was a most outrageous example of Lynch law； disgraceful alike to the first class； who were the executors of it； the corps of cadets； who were the abettors of it； and the authorities of the Academy； who were afraid to punish the perpetrators because the President's son was implicated； or； at least； one of the prime movers of the affair。 Congress took the matter in hand； and instructed the Secretary of War to dismiss all the members of the class who were implicated； but the latter gentleman 'was extremely liberal in his interpretation of the regulations；' and declined to be influenced by the action of Congress； and let the matter drop。
〃Again； when a Court of Inquiry； appointed by Congress to investigate complaints that I had made of my treatment； reported in favor of a trial by court…martial of General Gillmore's son； General Dyer's son； the nephew of the Secretary of War； and some other lesser lights of America's aristocracy； the secretary decided that a reprimand was sufficient for the offence； yet 'he did for me what had never been done for a white boy in like circumstances。' Now； sir； by consulting my Register of the Academy； issued in 1871； I find that three cadets of the fourth class were declared 'deficient ' in mathematicsReid； Boyle； and Walkerand that the first named was turned back to join the next class； while the other two were dismissed。 Now Reid is the Secretary's nephew； so that is the reason for his doing 'for him what had never been done for a white boy in like circumstances。'
〃Mr。 Editor； I have no objection whatever to any favoritism that may be shown 'any member of the Royal。 Family； so long as it does not infringe upon any right of my race or myself； but when any paper tries to show that I have received such impartial treatment at the hands of 'the powers that be；' and even go so far； in their zealous endeavors to shield any one from charges founded upon facts； as to try to make it appear that I was a favorite； a pet lamb； or any other kind of a pet； at West Point； I think it my duty to point out any errors that may accidentally （？） creep into such statements。
〃'The officers also say that Smith was manifestly incompetent； that he had a fair examination；' etc。 What officers said that？ Those of the War Department； whose attention was attracted by the 'recent attacks on the Board of Visitors；' or those who decided the case at West Point？ In either case； it is not surprising that they should say so； for one party might feel jealous because 'the Secretary of War was extremely liberal in his interpretation of the regulations on behalf of Cadet Smith； and that he did for him what had never been done for a white boy in like circumstances；' while the other party might have been actuated by the desire to prove that 'no colored boy can ever graduate at West Point；' or； as the young gentleman previously referred to said； 'No dd nigger shall ever graduate at West Point。' As for the unanimous testimony of the Board of Visitors； I can only say that I know not on what ground such testimony is based； for； as I said before； the members of that board were not in the library when I was examined in philosophy； but perhaps； this is only one of the 'they says' of the officers。 There are some things in this case which are not so manifest as my alleged incompetency； and I would like to bring them to the attention of the Chronicle； and of any others who may feel interested in the matter。 There has always been a system of re…examinations at the Military Academy for the purpose of giving a second chance to those cadets who failed at the regular examination。 This year the re… examinations were abolished； but for what reason？ It is true that I had never been re…examined； but does it not appear that the officers had concluded 'that Smith was manifestly incompetent；' and that this means was taken to deprive me of the benefit of a re…examination when they decided that I was 'deficient？' Or was it done so that the officers might have grounds for saying that 'he did for him what had never been done for a white boy in like circumstances？' Again； the examinations used to be public； but this year two sentinels were posted at the door of the library； where the examinations were held； and when a visitor came he sent in his card by one of the sentinels； while the other remained at the door； and was admitted or not at the discretion of the superintendent。 It is said that this precaution was taken because the visitors disturbed the members of the Academic Board by walking across the floor。 Very good excuse； for the floor was covered with a very thick carpet。 We must surely give the Academic Board credit for so much good judgment and foresight； for it would have been a very sad affair； indeed； for those gentlemen to have been made so nervous （especially the Professor of Philosophy） as to be unable to see how 'manifestly incompetent' Cadet Smith was； and it would have deprived the Secretary of War of the blissful consciousness that 'he did for him what had never been done for a white boy in like circumstances；' besides losing the privilege of handing down to future generations the record of his extreme liberality 'in his interpretation of the regulations on behalf of Cadet Smith。'
〃Oh； that this mighty deed might be inscribed on a lasting leather medal and adorn the walls of the War Department； that it might act as an incentive to some future occupant of that lofty station！ I advise the use of leather； because if we used any metal it might convey to our minds the idea of 'a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal。'
〃Respectfully yours；
〃J。 W。 SMITH； 〃Late Cadet U。S。M。A。〃
THE NEGRO CADETS。
〃We publish this morning an account of Cadet Smith's standing at West Point； which should be taken with a few grains of allowance。 The embryo colored soldier and all his friendsblack； white and tanbelieve that the administrationists have used him shamefully； especially in view of their professions and of the chief source of their political strength。 Grant went into the White House by means of colored votes； and his shabby treatment of the first member of the dusky army who reached the point of graduation in the country's military school； is a sore disappointment to them。
〃Cadet Smith has been a thorn in the side of the Administration from the start。 He could not be bullied out or persecuted out of the institution by the insults or menaces of those who； for consistency's sake； should have folded him to their bosoms。 He stood his ground bravely； and much against the will of its rulers。 West Point was forced to endure his unwelcome presence up to the time of graduation。 At that point a crisis was reached。 If the odious cadet were allowed to graduate； his commission would entitle him to assignment in our much…officered army； which contains Colonel Fred Grant and a host of other favorites whose only service has been of the Captain Jinks order。 The army revolted at the idea。 Theoretically they were and are sound on the nigger； but they respectfully and firmly objected to a practical illustration。 The Radical General Belknap was easily convinced that the assignment of the unoffending Smith to duty would cause a lack of discipline in any regiment that would be fearful to contemplate。
〃Something must be done； and that something was quickly accomplished。 They saved the army and the dignity of the horse marines by sacrificing the cadet。 To do so； some tangible cause must be alleged； and a deficiency in 'philosophy' was hit upon。
〃In vain did Smith appeal to the Secretary of War for an opportunity to be re…examined； in vain did he ask permission to go back and join the class belowall appeals were in vain。 'Gentlemen；' says the secretary； 'I don't wish to be misquoted as saying that I can't give Mr。 Smith a re…examination； for I say I won't do it。' The victim of the army has since published a three… column card in Fred Douglass's paper； in which he says he was dropped for politico…military reasons； and in the course of which he makes an almost unanswerable case for himself； but the Radicals have dropped him in his hour of necessity； and he must submit。〃
（From the New York Sun。）
CADET SMITH'S EXPULSION。
〃James W。 Smith； the first colored cadet appointed to the Military Academy of West Point； was dismissed after the June examination； having failed to pa
