, 1870-06-18
WEST POINT.


The ColoFed Canafaa1es-TheG GrAdR-
aainS Glass.
Correspondence af tAs Ss.s Terk 7F1aseo<.
WEST PorsT, June 15.-Within the past
month two young men Of African blood h4vs
arrived At West Point, presented due creden-
t,als, and joined the class Of candidates for
admission Both OF them hopo to pass the
preliminary examination naxt week, to become
cadets, to 60 through the four yaars' course,
their race, and their country. Ono Of them
Michael Howard, II years old, il dark, good
natured, pleassnt-fAeed nnnlxtto, rather small
and slender in stature. He WAS appointed BY
Leg7a1d ". Perce, Representative from the
Fifth District Of mississippi. His father.
MerrymAn Howard, is = me1uber Of the lower
baznch Of tile Mississippi Legislature, md tseps
private boarding house Il Fsyctte, the c2pi-
ta Of Jefferson County. He tsnght his son to
Ee.d little, but the only regu1zt education
school instruction, ending IN December, 1869.
During Last winter he waa page in the Mis-
sisBippi Senate He obtained his appointment
April u, through the Recommendation OF Sem
ator Revela, and his fathers acquaintance with
Mr.. Perce, and arrived 1t West Point May ~.
He passed bis physical examination without
trouble, but Is almost certain to fail in tho
mental examination. Only the moat extr1or-
dipaIy talent could acquire In one year the pro-
fciency demanded Of the new cadet, and How
kEO 8 1QCuAEIEUI pG&AoEAA4AIA9 IL &44S BeEtlO0
room since his arrival indicate his deficiencies
only too plainly. He himself fully realizes this
incapncity, md attempted to have his appoint
nent put over for year to give him time for
further study. But this proved imptactieabls,
and he resolved, 1t least, to make the tia, and
he will doubtless be returned next June, for q
Recond attempt. The other colored candidate
for admission to West Point, James W. Smith,
20 ye.ra old, is tsll, we'll featured young
ored blood, which ahows itself only in his curly
hair and on each cheek in large brown spot,
which Is slovty disappearing with time. He
WA appointed By s. L Hoge. Of The Third
District OF South Carolina. His father is
xell-to-do mulatto carpenter in Columbia, s.
c., and his mother Wss FREQ octoroon
woman who. obtained = good education,
through her white fathers influence 1t
private school in Charleston James Wa the
third Of eight children, al Of whom were
taught to read and Ente BY their mott,ar. He
ciaF1, Of Hsrtsord, md tool dipluaa for 60
Ing through the three years' course 10 tho
High School there. He then entered the
Howard University, 1t Washington, aud had
been there three weeks vhen be received, Hay
Ately repaired thitheE, Nay 81 He will almost
certainly pass the mental examination with
honor, hut he will only be admitted
On probation in consequences q slight
xa weatness l1 % ln, N one eye. These ~ are
Point, for General Butler appointed ono in
Massachusetts last summer who turned out to
be under age, and consequently did not make
his appearance. Still another negro, in Ten
nesaee, haa been promised an appointment for
next year.
Howard and Smith receive just as fair aud
fr1endly treatment from the officers and pro-
fesBors al any Young white u1an in the 4cada-
my, although most Of the officers will admit
certain prejudice against the color, and one OF
the most discreet and experienced professors
doubted il the times vera fully ripe for such
an innovation.
The white cadets and plebes'' are very
quiet externally, but inuardly they are tuu Of !
hostility against the negroes. There is sc1rce- |
are simply let alone, "cut' absolutely. and |
what is1uore. there is an open or tact under
si1nding thai tc|toerer euea spe0ks to 9te !. dar-
keys" ercept officially, shdn also Be banished |
10 Coventry By this simple means the cadets
hope to make life 60 bitterly lonely for any
negro who may pass, that he must resign IN
self-aeienee to avoid going. crazy. The quiet
and determined way in which young SmIth
declared his purpose to fight it through On
that line," ,augurs we'll for, his abil-
pieudtes m that z now 9sst % soas ae:n when ee
questioned, the cadets do ~! i state to char
acterize the sending OF negroes to West Point
az "a shame" "a disgrace" ia blot On the
institution" "a id outrage" and 20 On II
they can get nd Of colored cadets by anr fair
means they will ouBt them Instantly.
The graduates OF 1870 received their diplo-
mas at II o'clock, this morning, in the shady
grove Of naples in front OF the library. 4
Gordon OF blue~coated sentine}s enclosed =
spacious grassy area, within which the ladies'
found seats and their cavaliers we're permitted
to stand. All the military worthless and civilian
notablea were duly present, and, with West
Point punctuality, the four classes OF cadets,
in full dress uniform, formed at the barracks,
and marched to the place Of prcsenta-
tion, preceded by tha Academy Band,
arrayed in gorgeous red and white uniforms,
and headed by = valiant Drum Major with an
panache. Th9 0EAt class, without
library, and the spectators, with the three
other classes, At parade rest, drawn up behind
and On either slde. The band finished lively
air, and took its position at the extreme right
General Pitcher, commAndaut OF the post, |
then introduced Secretary Belknap, and pro-
ceeded to call the graduating cadets according
to their standing. Each came forward cap IN
hand, a. his name was called, received from
the Secretary large white envelope contain
ing the coveted diploma made more or Iess1
bow OF acknowledgment
and returned to the ranks with head
erect md martial tread. After due presenta-
Lion to az Tie xraduAten {s2re t1o whom
sickness detained}. caps we're do1red again, I
md Secretary Beiknap pronounced an nd
1resa.
At the close of the secretary's address the
band played fine air, and then the Chaplain
OF the Academy, the Rev. John ". French, D.
D., slowly advanced and uttered y few earnest
words Of prayer and pronounced solemn
benediction The band struck up again, and
the entire corps Of cadets marched AWAY to
their quarters with active step and buoynnt
hearts, Tbs following ia the list Of graduates