Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-07-19
The COlOred Cadets at West Point

The accounts of the treatment of the
colored cadets at West Point by their white
associates have been very conflicting, but
there can be no doubt about the matter
after reading the following letter from one
of them, addressed to his friend, David
Clark of Hartford dated June %:
Dear Friend-Your kind letter should
have been answered long ere this, but real
" have been 50 harrassed with examina-
ton and the insults aud i'll treatment of
these cadets, that I could not write or do
anything else scarcely. passed the ex-
animation all right, and got in but my
companion, Howard, failed and was reject
ed. Since he went away have been lone
" indeed And now these fellows appear
to be trying their utmost to run me Oft,
and fear they viii succeed, if they con-
tinue as they have begun. We went into
camp yesterday. and not moment has
passed. since then but some Of them has
been cursing and abusing me. All night
they were around my tent, cursing and
swearing at me 50 that l did no. sleep two
hours all night 1t is Just the same at the
table, and what l get to eat | must snatch
for it like dog. l don't wish to resign if
I can get along at all, but | don't think it
will be best for me to stay and take all
the abuses and insults that are heaped up
on me. The examination was very hard
this year-harder than ever beforehand
+ since l have succeeded in getting in, will
stay as long As l possibly can. One of the
cadets refused to drill the squad because l
was in it, and they reduced him from
corporal to a private for disobedience of
/ orders, and they are all mad about that
I The one who drills the squad now is the
meanest specimen Of humanity I ever saw.
I After marching Us out to the drill ground
this morning he said to me, stand of one
side from the line, you id black son of
abb. You are too near that white man.
I want YOU to remember that you are not
on an equal footing with the white men of
your class, and what you learn here you
will have to pick up, for won't teach you
a damned thing And thus he kept me
standing until the captain came around
inspecting, when he pretended that he put
me there to teach me movement which
had never practiced before. And l could
say nothing at all, or | would have been
locked up for disobedience of orders, or
disrespect to superior officers" If it ever
happens again shall deny it to his face,
and then resign. fl complain of their
conduct to the commandant, | must prove
the charges or nothing can be done; and
where am to find one from so many to
testify in my behalf? If this afternoon 5
drill is conducted as this mornings was,
You need not be astonished at hearing that
I have resigned. I have borne insult up
on insult until l am completely worn out.
I have written plenty of bad news and I
wish l had some good news for you, but
alas it seems to be getting worse and
worse. I forgot to tell you that out of Sc
appointees only 80 passed the examination.
They had prepared it to fix the colored
candidates, but it proved most disastrous
to the whites. J. w. SMITH.
P. S.-Therewere 81 appointees, ) failed
physically, II failed mentally, leaving 80
admitted.
Where are Gen. Grant, the secretary Of
war, Gen. Butler, one or all of Them that
this persecution of a regularly appointed
cadet is allowed to 90 on at the national
: academy? The shame and disgrace that
attends the white cadets in their babarous
2 treatment of young Smith will attach to
2 those who have authority at the academy,
very soon, if this sort of thing is not stop
, ped.