The New York herald., 1870-08-13
THE CoLORED CADET.
Report u tho Court Of Inquiry to Invessisase the
Charges OF Iil-Yreaiment Of Cadet J. W.
Smith at West Point-Finding Of Tao
Court-Ordcr of the eeretafy Of
War Reprimapaiag the Bel
licose White Cadets.

WASHINGTON, August i2. 1870.
mo court of inquiry composed OF Lieutenant
Coonc! James u. Wilson, U. S. A.; Major II. L. Abb
botr, u. 8. Engineers; Mayor T. +. Rodebough,
IT, s. A.. and Major Thomas r. Bar, Judge Advo
cate and Recorder, which assembled at West Point
In pursuance OF Special Order No. 1os, of July 49,
1870, 10 investigate the charges Of improper treat
ment OF Cadet J. W. Smith (coiored, as contained in
ms letter OF Juae 29 1S70 addressed to his friend.
unders ool to be MIR. Daniel Clarke of Hartford
Conn.,, and published IN several newspapers OF the
day, mas reported rhat the charge Of harras'ment
by examination Is wholly unsusraned; that the
char OF harrassmcnt by insults ana Ill
treatment from his fellow cadets is geaerll
In it's nature ana greatly exaggerated, he
having, however, beel grossy insnlted and
annoyed In numb er OF instances by certain OF
the cadets; that the charge that his fellow cadets
were trying TO ''run him or" though unsupported
by specific testimony, evidently TO the treat
ment received from lew cadets, IN whose minds
tile intention to effect his departure may be pre-.
suned 10 lave oxisied: that the charge tiat from
the time OF gOinr INTO camp the day preceding the
wr.hng OF the letter not momcat had passed
without his being cursed and ab,l e, by his fellow
cadets. who were aroand his cuistng ana
Ing at ham all night, Is admitted bv ca let Smith TO
have been ony hguraiiyely true, anu from me lcsti-
mony OF witnesses was greatly eNagg ratei, IL
being proved thht he was annoyed not more tnan
ten minutes. probabiy by TWO cadets since ds.
a nature 10 lead INN 10 b.lIeve that tley wee
preparing 10 blow INN up with guJpo@ier, that the
charges that lie was obiIgel at tho mess table 10
snatch ike "a dog Tor whatever he got 10 cat
founded The conJ.ct or some OF ms fellow caaii-
dates Tor admission not vet admitted INTO the Aca-
DENY az cadets, and that all trouble Of mat kind has
since been f8ne ed; that The ch rye that OF The
Dades REUSED to dfll squad o. new cadets because
cadet Smith attached 70 10, anu that the rps
oil cadets were 4 ceus ad at the degradation IN rank
Of the cadet as punishment IL true as 60 tc ilrst
allegation, but To the second allegation II is
proved by evidence that the puBl shmeliG Indicted
upon The cadet was approved by the better m mbers
OF the corps; that tie charge thac this cadet then
drilling his squad hal that morning Ia
the proianc and abusive language quoted
r. om the tSa letter rst ea'd Of him n to as sa.a apari
subsequently falsely repc iented to the inspecting
oncer mat cadet smith was so placed for the ptf-
pose oil teachlig z hln new movement is sustained
by evidence as 10 the FIRST part With tbe exception
OF the eptiets anu oaths, but not sustained as TO
and that cadet Smith disciatns any recoiiect on Of
cnsraetoriz,Dg the drl caiet rs the neanesL specI-
mon OF humanity he ever saw as c0ntahlcd Ill
the prbiIshe letters thai the charges that Al he had
SAID any thing TO the Inspecting oicef on the occa-
sion iust named lie would have been locked up for
tnsobedience Oh orders or disrespect 70 superior OIL
GERS, or II he complained OF the cadets To their cOn
'mandant he must prove the charges or nothing
could be done, are explained 10y cadet Smith TO
refer only TO remarks made when IN ranks, which
forbiddenbY regulations, and not to conpa nj made
to the comnandant concerning which the charge Is
disprOyed by The Testimony 0i tie comnan liant and
the iormcr experience OF Cadet Smith lmsel that
the charge that he had bo ne Insult upon Insult I'LL
completely Worn out Is OF genei al character, and
that some specific instances OF Insult. have been
proven under IT. that the charge that the Academic
Beard had prepared the entrance examination TO
SIX the cOlo.el candida es Is shown, by most col-
elusive evidence. to be entirely ereuaHess, IL up.
pearlnG that the system OF exam nation based upon
the yequ rements OF law as to the quaica ions Of
candidates was adopted before is kn6wn that
any colored candi1a.es had been appointed, ald
that the rlgor OF the examination was In no manner
intenslied by by the presence OF colo,ed can
the testimony OF Cadet Smith himself, were
examined at the same ume and place
examiners, Caaet Smith believes NOT Knowing
Witch candidates the numbered written examina-
ten papers belonged TO- and Cadet Smith denying
most positively that he wr0te such charge against
the Board, ami Onltting C from the copy by him
nished to t.e superintendent Us true copy OF his
letter to the best OF has recollection and belief but
declined an invitation TO eXpail the contradict ms
between his present testimony and that OF the re-
cipient OF the letter, VINO swears that the published
manuscript beng now destrOyed-ls Identical with
the letter received fron Cadet smith, or tween his
present testimony ami his letter OF July 10 the re-
cipient OF his published letter satng that he Thought
It expedie to draw back from the cliarge against
the Academic Board, though he firmly believed the
facts were aS stated
opIsIoS OF. OF Ing oouEr
dneed warrants the trial by Cadet Corporal
Gilmore, who shown while command or hs company
os rs a0stSS ia %
qnie ms trial before mariial case Of the
@ sn. sss S Ss g % % 9s soad ss a = os.n
so arg a Aeaae ss hyc 1n sas5 sss, on duty
sofupmoas fairness. reoosnsns enforcing ~te the
practicable Observance, SO far posbe, of his
tentent of the Academy the cominandant of
cadets have taken especial pains protect him at ali
times and all the annoynnces OF those who
might be preudced against him the officers ma ny
OF the leading cadets acrupuousy respected his oc
right while the prejudice of others resulted IN n acts
Of injury and Insult before the Cont h that better
fociing prevails, and s believed that the
adopted by the academic auofies prevent the reear
of such misdemcanorp ~ '
THE oRnTB SECRETARY OF WAR
On due consider OF The subject and In the hope
founded In tho belief Of te there will be no recr
rence Of similar the part caets Secre
tsry or Wal has disposed OF by ordering ore
and smith to I've severely repmanded by tie
OF the Academy, and assuring all that II
E0naba osecRti0ns OF tne department realized
most rigorous will be taken bring to punishment
any cadets who be the OF future troubles OF this
kind