New-York tribune., 1872-07-29
THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.
THE SITUATION IN CONNECTICUT.

THE SITUATION IN CONNECTICUT.
CERTAINTY OF LIBERAL VICTORIAN INTEk-
rsTING HISTORY OF COLORED CADET sMITHS
CASE FURNISHED BY HIS PATRON-DAhA"-
ING CHARGES AGAINST PRESIDENT GRANT
GENEROUS FRIEND OF THE BLACKS
lPRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRiBuSh,l
HARTFoRp. July 23.-The Liberal movement,
which started In Connecticut with consderapie "''
before the assembling OF the Cincinnati ConVehuoii
gathered full strength after the nomination OF Greey
and Brown and the most powerful pohtlcai oie
ment in the State the action OF baltimore mas oo
aoIidated the entire opposition TO the denomination
marty Reports from all sections are OF the most
agne character and no doubt IA felt OF SUCCESS IN
November The Grant party Is 80 hieeSs that IL "ou
hardly seem able to maintain more thah respeo''oio
organization during the campaign even II IL can 90
that shall be able give you some details OF party
movements when the reports now coming IN are ID shape
for showing the changes in various towns.
IL IA understood that the Hon. David Clark OF this
cty the Connecticut member OF the National Commit
tee OF Liberal party has just dispatched to the Hon.
sayles ]. Bowen OF Washington, full and very COM
pete history of the colored cadet affair at West Point
in which is clearly shown that President Grant has
d splayed decided antagonsm to the interests OF the
colored race IN his treatment OF Cadet Smith. Mr.
Clark found Smith IN Columbia s. c., in school partly
presided over by yOung lady teacher whose salary he
Clark paying and continued to pay for four years
Ascertainng that the lad eager to learn ana 10
become thoroughly educated Mr. Clark had him DrOught
to Hartford and took him into his own family, where ne
remained In school till he was fitted to enter
Howard University from which institution he was
taken when appointed to West Point by the Hon.
Mr. Hoge OF South Carolina. The story OF Smiths ad
yancement OF his high standing as scholar Is oou W
Mr. Clark a most interesting way. II appears tia''
after the first ndigntes heapednpon Smith by MS
white associates at the Academy he wrote to his patron
the full particulars At that time President Grant
Mr. CLARK had an
him with reference TO the bad treatment OF the Doy
Mr. Clark suggested that 1t might be wen 10 nave 'ne
lad resign lest he should be so tortured Dy cons'i
abuses at West Point as to make his life there uhen
durable; but the President objected, ana sad tat ho
should be sustained in his rights and those VINO onereu
insults TO him should be dismissed from the Academy
Mr. Clark shows in his letter, TO Mr. Bowen, now the
President carried out his promises After the cadet mad
been placed under arrest time and again on frivolous
charges he finally brought before courFlnai'iaA
for trial on three distinct charges.
Gen O. o. Howard was President OF the Court The
examination resulted only in showing that smith ana
white cadet named Wilson had quarreed. the former
acting on the defensive; and only nominal punishment
was recommended Of which the Secretary OF War dsap
proved on the ground that the verdict was not commen
surate with the magnitude of the charges Now comes
in the Presidents con lection. Gen. Howard suoSe-
ouenty visited Mr. Clark and told him that both Pres
dent Grant and the Secretary Of War were very greatly
disappOnted at the result OF tue cOufCuhtldl' Nhi'
Clark wondered why because he had been encouraged
to believe from the President himself that the boy ought
10 be sustained his rights and asked Gen. Howard or
particulars The latter then went on to say that the
Secretary OF War had informed him that before the
courtmartia was called the President had called upon
him and said "Mr Secretary you are about 10 appoint
a court for the trial Of colored cadet Smith, ana
trust that you will SO constitute it as to secure the re-
mova Of the cadet My Fred writes me that II Is 700
early TO put colored cadet in West Point. lie s
source of trouble there" Mr.. Clark proves from the
conduct of the that court from winch
much was expected appointed and is satlsned' or
various reasons which he gives that Gen. Howard was
placed at the head that in case the majority Oh 'e
court should agree to DISMISS the proceeding would
have some character before the country.
Mr. Clark has especial personal feelns III thls mat
ter auy further than his feelings are stirred by MS
svmpathy for the coored Probably no man III the
North has done much in acts of philanthropy and the
proysion OF means toward the education and elevation
Howard University, and has altogether, since the war;
given $4,000 in aid of the coored people OF the South
His benefactons since 1861 for war purposes IN the sup
mort OF the families Of soldiers and in other ways directly
associated with war charities amount to the enormous
sum OF s225OO is indeed one OF the few praeuca
nbantbropists OF the United States Thousands OF the
coored people OF the South have heard of him. and MS
letter circulated among them will have great weight Tor
they know he is their friend