The New York herald., 1870-06-02
WEST POINT.
The Opening Of the Season, Military
and Otherwise.
The Reception Of tho Board Of Visitors To-Day
Tho colored Cadet Question and How It
Will be Deoidsd-The Graduates and
Who They Are-Death Of Veteran.
WEST POINT. May 81. 1870.

WEST POINT, May 81, 1870
rne s'season" at West Point will be opened to-
morrow In the usual military way. Now, use the
word military" advisediy, for everybody who has
ever been here knows perfectly we-and everybody
who has never been here, hut viii be some time or
another, will know-that tine "season" at this place
depends q great deal upon the "tactics' that are
pursued by the powers that be In command over
the cadets West Point certainly has natural attrac
tions enough to make 1t very desirable place
for city people to 60 to In summer time,
outside Of all other considerations; but the fact re-
MAINS nevertheless, that the military folks ana the
military ways hereabouts add great deal to It's
loadstone qualities, II l may speak. People who
come up here for fresh air and
BRAoNG BREszEs AND MOUNTAIN SCENERY,
and all that sort OF thing can prate as they please
about them, but doubt very much II they would lnd
half the enjoyment here were Uncle Sam to remove
the military academy to South Carolina, and
thus reverse the order OF things; for, be
It said, soto poce, events just now look
as though South Carolina In It's blackest mood, were
destined to outcrowd every particle OF pale COM
plexion on the post am free to confess, however,
tnat there are many persons who have plenty Of
money and know how to spend It who come up
here long before the head and front OF the military
d0ings and misdolngs at West Point thinks Of get
ting himself into annual examination order; but they
come for all that with the determination to enjoy
the military part Of the season when 1t does come
about with just as much gusto as do those
who stay in town until the very day when the ex-
animation is supposed 70 begin. This being the
case, you can easily imagine what utter OF excite
the official announcement Of the opening Of tho
season creates among the visitors VINO stow them
selves away in this vicinity for days ahead, as well
as among those who only await tn, PRONUNCIATION to
dude md Inoua fhn 0ifu fnr Wncf
Point as fast as boat or car can carry
story the visitors are dropping into the hotels one
by one and the orders issued to-day will have the
same effect as those OF previous years-that of In
creasing the crowd. These orders did intend 10
Of the HERALD would be very much entertained
by them; They always put me In mind OF
anynna IN s
tents GY Is from year to to- year pat the dates
when the first examination order was Issued; but as
far as learn believe 1t was close on to seventy
years ago. and that order did not dner materially
from the order which was issued to-day for the in.
formation of everybody, male and female concerned.
me original order may not have had that peculiar
syle @ aDoud . 1a aS s OF aer das
same, and so to all intents and purposes the old
one. with slight variations, would be Just as good
with all due respect for the great and powerful
at the head Of this institution who believe in their
NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENTS ARE ONLY TOLERATED
through the extreme condescension Of those who
WE'D the sword e of the order Of today
Board Of Visitors win be received by the academic
and military STAFF at half-past eleven A. M: to-
morrow. and that after being shown around" rf
teen guns will be compelled to pun smoke and make
an awful noise IN their honor, and that after this
OF the cadets at the comfortable hour Of five O'Clock
The order In reference to the mode in which the eX
ANIMATION Will be held Is so technical that our
WIG nn
through 1t.
You have heard great deal lately about the highly
colored addition that has been made TO the military
household OF this place, and as far as have read IN
has ever been told about the novelty. Since the
newspapers first began to talk about the arrival OF
post he has been fortified In his resolve to try his
luck ,., before the faculty. by the advent Of
who goes goes by the extraordinary uncommon on name name
OF Smith, with the prefix "James w.' had O long
tax with both OF the youngsters today and certainly
learned great deal that rather surprised In the
first place Howard. who being as General Ames calls
him, the '.pioneer OF his race at the Academy
the feeling which his arrival created Stated to me
most emphatcaly that the stories retailed about his
csaes r %Soy cra % a w w Dy e
he has been used as well as any other pleDe, and
that the only thing he has to complain Of is that they
don't trouble themselves about him at al-that Is TO
say he Is left severely alone TO himself and there is
no doubt about the fac that the Introduction of
colored boy into the corps has created a
WIDESPREAD FEELING OF INDIGNATION
among the cadets but like sensible fellows that they
are they s are making the best they can Of what can't
ever. ever ,,, They can BE- made TO drill with
Howard is rather clever boy for one who never
went 10 school before the latter part OF 67 but from
all | have seen OF him do not think he Will
be able to go through the severe intellectual
examination which every "plebe'' has TO go through
a IN nHq qV nd
certainly Is not much to boast OF outside OF pr.
mary school. The letter was addressed to an est.
many acts OF Kindness since his arrival here, and in
i he refers to the New York n toN'e And would you
think lt2 He actually spelled Tribune with small
.'tr wherever he mentioned it, II the folks In
Printing House Square can stand that Pm sure the
ialcuity here VIII not: Seriously, the sudden infu
sion OF th5 negrO-iet's not mnce words about it
element into the West Point system may work q
great deal that IS bad; but believe, from what
have seen and heard, that il people who not
preudced look at the thing In It's proper light there
need be no tear OF
A NATIONAL CATASTROPHE
from the innovation. But there Is just this about It,
winch well understood here and that is that thrc
s Gert,ln sect In the county who WIN cry cut
dealt with fairy or not know they will get fair
play from ont the professors and as far az can Judge
at the examination as they can be consist
enty, y, win their duty; but wlll their decision II
accepted by the advocates Of negro equality
as Just oneY do not think it WILL and the profes-
@ s0rs leei the decacy OF their position accordingly
Ihe indications are tnat II they declare the coored
boys disqualified, according to all the tests usually
maze Win white peees they VIII be denounced by
cunbed to ''coppernead" sentiment, and il the
boys are pronounced acceptable other almost equally
powerful parties Will say that they did not have the
courage TO face the radical music It is easy
to De perceived therefore, what strait the faculty
Is In; but from what know Of them / can safely
assert that they will do their duty in the matter fear
lessy. without fear or favor. Then let tire CALLED
jade vince; the withcls oil West Point Will be un
rune.
"THE GRADUATES.n
The class which graduates this year is one Of the
largest ever examined at the Academy. 1t numbers
ffty-nine members, whereas the class Of last
year only numbered thlrry-nine when it donned
the gray for the blue and lt has the proud honor,
believe OF having had only one "ked' In the ght
during It's four years OF mingled struggles and
triumphs THIS Is certainly distinction which
class may well be proud Of for class that can sue
cessfully weather the scholastic storms OF West
Point life for four long years, and only lose man
by tue wayside, although beset at every point by