Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-08-23

WASHING TON, August 10th.-When the
Clark letter was published, asserting, upon
the alleged authority of General .. O..
| Howard, that the President had ordered
that the cOurt-martial be packed to insure
the dismissal of the cOlored cadet, the Sec
rotary of War at once telegl aphed General
Howard in the following terms:
WAR DEPARTMENT, Aug. LIST.
General o. o. HO,cdrd,
Santa Fe, Neao MEXICO j.:
SIR-In letter from David Clark to
Sayles j. Bowen, dated July 22d, 1872,
published in yesterdays New York Til
bul.e, lac states that i'll December, follow
ing Cadet Smiths trial you said to him as
follows:
In a conversation with the Secretary of
War, he was informed that President
Grant had called upon him prior to the
appointment of the court martial, and said:
81 suppose, Mr.. Secretary, that you are
about TO appoint Il cOurt-martial for the
trial of the cOlOred cadet Smith at West
Point. | have received two or three let
ters from my son Fred, who informs me
that the cadet is very Objectionable thcre
that there aIe strong pIejudices against
him, and now as the trial is TO COME off,
Mr.. Secretary, L trust that you will So
make up the court as to cause his re-
moval."
| by telegraph.
VIM. w. BELKNAP,
Secretary OF War.
Another telegram was sent forward Au-
gust Sd, calling for immediate answer to
the above. General Howard stamps the
statement as false i'll the most explicit Ian
gu &c. This is his response:
CAMP AT CAVE SPRING, A. T., August
9th.-To Hon. W. W. BetEndp, Secretary
Of War, Washington /: Your kilograms Of
August 1st and Sd were this moment re-
ceived. Mr.. Clark is certainly mistaken,
for never had such conversation with
the Secretary Of War and could not have
made SO untrue report.
.. o. HOWARD, Brig. Gen. U. S. A.
PER CONTRA.
Hartford, August 16.-General How
ard, in telegraph dispatch to the Secre@
tary of War, denies the conversation he
had with me relative to the appointment
of court-martial to try colored cadet
Smith. / solemnly affirm that my report
OF that conversation is substantially true
! Could L meet General Howard, and re-
mind him of the limitations he gave at
West Point at the time of the trial which
! he fully explained at nv house in Hart
ford in the December following, then sta
ting TO me the position of the President
! and Secretary of War in this matter am
sure he would with, raw his denial and
acknowledge his forget illness. L now call
upon the Secretary of Var, Ia the absence
from Washington of General How ard, to
publish my letter to General Howard,
written by agreement between us soon
after our conversation in December, with
the request that he would send iC to the
PRESIDENT and Secretary of War. Copies
OF that letter, be subsequently informed me,
were placed in the hands of those officials
DAVID CLARK.
The Richmond Dispatch says Mr..
Clarke, ON whose authority the statement
was made, is said to be one of the most
reputable citizens of Connecticut. He is a
man of great wealth, and, unlike most rich
men, employs his resources in objects of
charity. He has been conspicuous mem
Der of the Republican party from its foun-
dation. A question of veracity between
him and the venal Howard can have but
Ole solution in most minds.