Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1870-06-16
An Elephant at West
~ dasE Point. gaT
The First Negro Cadet
Arrives at the Militia
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/ Correspondence of the New York Sun.
WEST PoINT, May 25.-Wes
Point and the entire Nationa
Academy were almost breathles
with excitement yesterday. Tn,
son of a colored American eiti
zen arrived here in his new rol,
of military cadet. There hat
been rumors that negro boys
had been appointed to the Ma
tional Academy, but the absolute
arrival of an African, commits
sion In hand, is too much for West
Point human nature to endure. -
Aristo, attic professors and jaunty
cadets are speechless. The time
for the breaking forth of their in.
dignation has not yet arrived -
They cannot do the subject Justice
but their indignant countenances
and ominous looks indicate the
coming storm. 1EleI Ett m
/, Cadet Master Charles Howard
(colored) Genes from the State
of Mississippi. His appointment
is from the Secretary of War, and
was recommended by the Hon.
Legrand w. Pierre, newly-elected
member from the fifth district. ).
Young Howard is a full black,
of sturdy physique. He meas
ures five feet in height (reguIation
size and is as bright a boy as
was ever seen. His hair is cut
tight and his accent smacks de.
cidedly of the plantation. al
"What you gwine to do wild
dat bag, sab p "You dun let dat
drap," was his exclamation to a
hotel porter who accidentally took
his carpet-bag. His nose is slightly
retroatsee and his face is shiny with
health. 1t is settled that he can
not be rejected physically by the
medical board.
The frst African cadet landed
from the ferry boat with a jaunty
air, and, lifting his military hat,
he inquired for the West Point
Hotel. On arriving there he
registered his name and asked for
a room. For the first time at
this hotel cadet was refused a
room. Charles said something
about his rights, and sauntering
out on the canapats, he inquired
for Col. Jerry Black. The news
flew over to Col. Blacks, who,
then and there, with Col. Boyton
and others, held a very serious
council of war. The African
came and stood before them-be-
fore Col. Black of the regular ar
my-and respectfully asked that
his equality be recognized
The Colonel waved him away
with his hand, and one by one
the officers departed speech
less with amazement.
The white cadets seemed par
alyzed. "It is dreadful" !" says
one. "Let's put the niger in the
river" says another. Some of
them threatened to resign, while
others talk of killing the black
boy outright. One young Demo-
crat from Illinois exclaimed -
"Great God, what shall we do?|
He will have tC drill with us for
four weeks before the examina-.
tion, any way. He will have to-
be bilged." ;"
One thing is certain, the black
cadet is here. He is undoubtedly
physically qualified. He must
now drill with the white cadets un-
til the examination on the 24th of
July. Then he will fail in men,
tai examination, and go back to
Mississippi. This is the pro-
gramme, for the examining officers
have power to reject any appli-
cant. Gen. Schrivor and Col.
Black are opposed to the African,
and while they are at the head of
the National Academy, the black
boy will remain on the plantation.
Judge Hoge, NJ. c., from Colum-
bia is to appoint negro, and has
signed a paper Of recommends
tioD. Gen. Buffers colored youth
was too young, and the General
knew it. He only appointed him
for political purposes. But in the
light of the fifteenth amendment,
what we shall do with the Afri-
can IN our national and naval a.
cademies is a grave question for
the unregenerated mind.
A man named Rslford loaded Al