The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-01-03
The CoLored West Point Cadet again
i'm Trouble.
rwa>h:p,,on Cor. \. Y. Herald, Dec. SOL

[Wa>htDcto Cor. \. Y. Herald, Dec. so.
p james w. Smith, the colored cadet at
West Point, is again in trouble. He has
been the cause of no little annoyance to the
other students ever since he entered the
Academy. All the white cadets have quietly
ignored him, and constant appreciation
Of this fact may have contributed to render
him anything but amiable. His acquire
ments before entering the Military Acade-
my showed that he had ability above that Of
the ordinary negro, but the pursuit Of his
studies ut West Point has thus far failed to
indicate any brillancy in him. The curri-
culum Of the Academy is we'll calculated
to test the intellectual powers Of any one.
Tried according to this standard, he is pro-
nounced by unimpeachable authority to be
rather below the medium ability, while it is
represented that the higher branches OF
mathematics would unqucsliOna5lr bother
him. 1t is somewhat doubtful, however,
whether he will hive the opportunity OF
finishing his course ut the Academy. Twice
he has been brought before military tribu-
mails, and another similar ordeal is awating
him. The first was court Of inquiry.
which recommended that he be tried on u
charge of making false statements; but in
Difference TO his anomalous position. and in
order to give him every opportunity. the
War Department condoned this, his first Of
fence, III the hope that the lesson would be
useful 10 him. The second was = cou5t-mar-
tai, before which he WAS arraigncG for being
engaged in an ailray, and for making iul-e
statements. Both courts were organized
with q special view to eutire impurtialty,
anu were composed Of officers. none OF
whom were stationed at West Point, and
most OF whom were not graduates Of the
Academy. On his trial before the general
IL Of xrh hoin q arol
Howard, Chief of the Freedmcl's Bureau,
was president, the Assistant Professor OF
Law and Ethlcs at the Military Academy,
iy request, acted as his counsel, and with
.ilch good faith and ability that lie was ac-
Quilted on the first cdarse, and tie War
Department RENTED the sentence on the
second. ! hose facts demonstrate that even
handed justice has been accorded him by
the authorities OF the institution, as well
rs by the War department. But it would
seem that bis want Of veracity may
yet prove tire ruin Of him. He was recently
reported III the usual manner for del'n-
qucncy on DILL. He made written eX-
l1ttnation OF the alleged offence, and this
explanation Is represented to contain un-
doubted evidence OF What appears TO be Il
chronic weakness Of this colored youth
Justification of facts. Upon this charge he
is to be again arlaigucd before new court
| martial, which will soon be appointed
for the purpose Of trying him. Be
fore the third and impending tribunal
| the case will rest altogether on its
merits. "ithout doing any wrong to the
| colorcd cadet ii is but just to The young
gentlemen at the Academy to state that, not.
withstandlng The natural prejudice against
appointing negroe: as cadets IN that Acade-
| my, the other students did not unnecessarily
| annoy hin, Az some suppose they did, but
simply quietly ignored him and refused to
| affiliate with him. smith was appointed
from south Carolina, Oh the recommends.
t.on of Mr.. Hoge, member of Congress from
Columbia, and it is curious incident that
in the recent election Hoyc was defeated fol
Congress by Il negro.