Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-07-13
The colorcd Cadet. at West Point,


The accounts Of tho treatment Of the color
ed cadets at West Point by their white as,o.
catcs have been very conflicting, but there
can be no doubt about the matter after read.
ing the following letter from one Of them, al.
dressed to his friend, David Clark, Of Hart.
ford dated june 20
Dear Friend Your kind letter should have
been answered long ere this, but really have
been 50 harmssed with examination and the in-
suits and il-treatment of these cadets. that
could not write or do anything else scarcely. ]
passed the examination all right, and got in, hu'
my companion, Howard, failed and was rejected
Since he went away / have been lonely indeed.
ANA now these fellows appear to be trying their
utmost to run me of, and / fear they will succeed,
Il they continue rs they have begun. We went
INTO camp yesterday, and not moment has
passed since then, but some one Of them has been
curslng and abusing me. VII night they were
around my tpnti cursing and Swearing 90 me So
that did not sleep two hours all night. II Is
Just the same at the table, aud what ! get 70 eat
must snatch for 1t like a dog. | don't wish 10
resign II can get along at all but don't think
IL VIII he best for me 10 stay and take all the
abuses and insults thatare heaped upon me, The
examination was very hard this year-harler
than ever Beforehand since | have succeeded 90
getting IN, Will stay ms long ms possibly can
one oi the cadets refused to drill the squad le-
cause was IN il, and they reduced him from
corporal To private for disohedience of orders,
and they are all mad about that The one who
drlllS the squad now * the nearest specimen OF
humanity ever saw. After marching rs out 10
the arm ground this morning he said tO me,
Stand of one side from the line, you id black
son OF a b-h. You are too near that white man
want you 70 remember that you are not on IN
equal footing with the white men in your class
ana what YOU learn here you will have 10 PICK Ipl
Tor won't teach You damned thing Arq
thus ne kept me standing until the captain came
AROUND Inspecting, when he pretended that he pus
me there 10 teach me n movement which hau
never praeticed before. And could say nothing
at all, or would have been locked up for disohe-
dlence OF orders, or disrespect 10 " superior ol'
GERS If 1t ever happens again, shall deny IT.
70 ms lace, and then resign Ii complain OF
their conduct TO the oommandant, ! must Prov
the charges or nlthing can be done and wleIp
am to find one from 80 many to testify in my
behalfl II this afternoons drill is conducted as
SINS mornings was, you need not be astonished
at hearing that have resigned | have borne
insult upon insult until am completely worn
out. nave written plenty of bad news and
wish bad some good news for you, but alas II
seems to be getting worse and worse forgot 70
tell you that out Of 50 appointces only 80 passed
the examination. They had prepared il to fix the
colored candidates, but it proved most disastrous
to the whites. j. w. SMiTu.
T.. ). There were ~ appontees, failed phys
ieally, A. Jailed mentally, lsaying 30 admitted.
Where are Gen. Grant, the secretary Of
war, Gen. Butler, one or all Of them, that
this persecution of regularly appointed ca
Diet is allowed to go on at the national aea'
demyP The shame and disgrace that attends
the white cadets In their barbarors treatment
of young Smith will attach TO those who have
authority at the academy, very scoop, i THIS
Bort of thing is not stopped.