The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-08-06

th1nR Tor Colored HepuDl1eaus 10
Read.
Every one remembers the case of Cadet
Smith, the colored boy, who, more than q
year ago. was sent to the Military Academy at
West Point, and everybody, we imagine, was
content that the temporary excitement over
the matter had pretty much settled Itself and
passed out OF mind. Not'a little credit was
claimed for the persIslency with which the !
lads rights were maintained irrespective Of
race and color" most or 1t, of course, falling
to the share of the President, the secre-.
tary OF war, and that immaculate Chris
tian soldier, General Howard. The dismal
truth ia now coming out. A state OF things Is
revealed, which, In meanness, shabbiness and
unworthy conduct, certainly has no parallel
in the mIsdoings OF this administration, and
the witness to prove It Is the stout Connecti-
cut Republican who has been this boys steady {
friend from first to last, aud who, We have q \
right to infer, down to the time when the
scandal to which we refer was discovered
was steady friend of The President and his
administration. He ia Mr.. David Clark, OF
Hartford, and from his letter, just stpublisned
In the New York Tribune, we CLEAN these I
salient faatR Mr. Clark was this boys friend I
and patrof, and the recipient OF his confi-s
dence. when he told hls tale of real or fictitious
woe. In his despair he begged to resign, and
would have been allowed to do 80, butthe Pres
ident, on one Of his gyrations through Connec-
tlcut, being consulted by Mr.: Clark, earnestly
deprecated 1t. "Let him remain there" said
the President, sand will do all can TO
protect him In his rights, and 80 s.;l che offi.a
GERS of the academy, tor understand :ihe
passed the best examination of any OF the !ap-{
pointments this year." These were brave
words, and, cemlDg from soldiers lips, made
their impression, and Mr.. Clark, as ne says, :
reluctantly acquiesced. Then came the court
martial, of which Howard, as mark OF great
favor to the race, was president, the acquittal
of Smith on two charges, the conWcuon on
the minor one Of row ata water-tans, and
the reversal, totally unexpected by any one, of
the finding OF acquittal by the War Depart
ment. "rhe secretly of war" says Mr.. Clark,
Twas evidently disappointed that smithwasnot
expelled" The Fest Of this dismal story we
prefer giving in the witnesses own words, not
being willing even to seem to overstate this
amazing affair: ~ 90,
."General Howard visited me during the
month of December following, and, In con-
versalion with regard to the court martial,
said there was great disappointment at WsSn-
iupton that sufficient cause was not iound py
The court to expel Cadet Smith. inquired o.
nj
Roth The President and secretary Of war.
then inquired, why are they dlsappolntedE.
General Howard replied In conversation
with the secretary of war, ha informed me
| lhat President Grant had called upon MIN
prior 10 the appointments OF the courts-miar
| tial and said: - y, y, - -. =.
"sI suppose, Mr.. Secretary, that you 9fe
about to appoint O court-martlal for the Trial
of the coored Cadet Smith, al West Point. !
| have received Two or three letters from my
son Fred, who Informs me that the cadetjs
very Objectionable there; that there are strong
| prejudices exciting against him, &c, NOW, as
this trial Is to come of, Mr.. Secretary, triist,
that YOU Will so make up the court asito cause
his removal" .!,s
Where can be no doubt that the secretary
of war, acting upon the suggestion OF Presi-
| dent Grant, did constitute the court, lnctuting
| the Judge advocate, of whom nave spoken,
with special vow to secure the dismlssaf OF
i ChQeG SulGus huu UoncLui ho"oAo V"S Pt.soSN
at the head, so that In case majority OF tine
i court should meet the expectations OF the
President, his name might add weight TO the
verdict before the people Of the country. But
/ the record of the cadet was so good, the teet-
mony OF his accusers 80 flmsy, that tne coutt
| could not find even an excuse tor ordering ihis
expulsion; and because OF this fact the verdlcg
as found was dlsapproVed by the secretary OF
war. as 1t answered In no way to serve tine
plot to disgrace the persecuted colorea Doy.a
Well may Mr.. Clark add: ..s''.:i: ~. = =
.From that moment up to the present time
have never believed that General Grant mas
been In sympathy with the colored people
But am convinced that all his professions or
friendship for them have been for the SAKE OF
bis own personal or political advancement =
Having said, and now repeating; that facts
like these If. proved land they are not con-
tradlcted) ought to arouse the sensiblltlea OF
the negro race more than all the letters and
essays on human equality that were ever
written, we dismiss the matter In that aspect,
and ask, with emphasis, what can be thought
| of the degradation OF the public, and especial.
iy of the military service, when, at the In
stance of his own son, and he party inter.
ested, the President of the United States, com
mander.ln-chIef Of the army and navy, per
soualy directs the secretary Of war (Who as,
sents) to pack court-martial, Judge advocate
and all. 10 order to convict and punish mill.
tarv student, black or white, who happens 70
be obnoxious to member OF his own family