Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-08-20

The authoritative denial, which will be
found In another column, on the part Of both
the President aud the Secretary Of War, that
they ever received copies Of 4 letter written
to Gen. Howard by Clark In regard TO the case
of the colored cadet Smith drives that gentle,
man fromh ls last remaining position. Let US
sec what has on the one hand been asserted,
aud on tho other denied In this whole case:
First Mr.. Clark, In letter printed In the
New York Tribune on the Sist Of July, stated
that IN the December following Cadet Smiths
trial Gen. Howard said TO hlmi "In CONVEX
satlon with tho Secretary of War he informed
me that President Grant had called upon him
prior 10 the appointments Of the cOurt-mAr-
tlal aud saldi 4 suppose, Mr.. Secretary, that
you are about TO appoint court-martial for
the trial OF the colorcd cadet Smith, at West
Point. have received two or three letters
from my son Fred, who informs me that the
cadet Is very Objectionable there; that there
are strong preiudiccs existing against him,
&c. Now, as this trial'b to come of, Mr..
Secretary, trust that you will so make up
the court as TO cause his removal
Gen. Howard, upon being asked by the
Secretary Of War whether he made the above
statement, gave II the following emphatic
denial: "Mr. Clark Is certainly mistaken,
for never had such a conversation with the
Secretary of War, and would not have made
so untrue . report"
This did not satisfy Clark, however, and
on the 18th instant he returned to the charge
with a second allegation, as follows: ~ sol
emily afIlrm that my report of the conyersa-
ton Is substantially true. Could meet Gen.
Howard and remind him Of the limitations
he gave me at West Point at the time Of the
trial, which he fully explained at my house
at Hartford In December following, then
stating 10 nc the position OF the President
aud Secretary OF War In this matter, | am
sure he would withdraw his denial and ac-
knowledge his forgetfulness. l now call
upon the Secretary OF War In the absence
from Washington Of Gen, Howard, TO publish
my letter TO Gen. Howard, written by agree
ment between us soon after our conversation
In December, with the request that he would
send 1t 10 the President and Secretary Of
War. Copies Of the letter, he subseq uenty
Informed me, WERE placed In the hands Of
those officials" To this the President and
Secretary OF War reply that no such letter,
or copy oil such letter. was hled VITA either
OF them
Mr. Clark, In THIS "hole matter, seems 10
DO laOorlng unuor inc sThnge hauuclhAtlon
that tho President aud Secretary Belknap
were anxious that Cadet Smith should be
dismissed from tho academy, and consplrud
10 pack q court to accomplish that result
He seems TO have gotten that idea into his
hoSu anu eannot Bcs OUT. lnS Is tne
'uSli'ao'e way VI iooAinS d" H. M N'Srk'
we oeheNe' so resPeCsaole gentleman VINO
hHs Iounu nis way ln.o very pau company
auu We nS'o " a'siouse W nm 'no ino'i'oo
"''u 'O' 'uo N"V'' PH'S 'nUe'
WIN ""oui NC IN no" PoiiHc@nJ 'h leu' We
tneie'o'o' "i'nouSh 'ne'o "ou'u w eAooou-
hSp Hoou giounu lor uolne 30 snali not say
tna' NC 10 uehoei StehJ anu "li'uny siAnueIlnH
oo'h inc rfoS'oent Snu 'nc secretary Oh war
iu wis paueI' mat nc Is endeaNorng 10
prove case "h'ch mas no existence In iacl'
we Snan not we say, take tnis vie" Oh Mr.
ClAtA aeuon' puI dea' WIN MN more gen'y
ana kinaly, ana SIMPLY say 'ha1 ne mas dlght-
~ mixed Things, and Is wrong from hrst to
IasIlh TINS Whole aitalr' Inc oesI lhlng that
he e"n poSsio'y uo unuo, 'ho present G"'u'h'
STANCES Is 70 acAnowleoSe tnat nc Is ms
tahon' anu make all inc IoParaAoh tas' " 10
IN MS power 70 make
All the iacls In the case arc entirely against
Mr.. Clark. The record shows that through
out all his troubles at West Point the Prc5-
dent aud the Secretary Of War wero the best
trlends that the colOred cadet had; that SO
far from being anxious TO secure his condem'
nation by the court, and dismissal from the
academy, their influence and power was
again and again exerted TO protect and shield
him. The court, OF which Lieut.. Gardiner
was the judge advocate, found Smith guilty,
and "sentenced him to be dismissed the ser.
vice Of the United States The charge on
which he was tried aud found guilty was an
unpardonaDle offence according TO all the
rules oil tue service namely "CoRdnet IN
becoming gentleman In having on three
separate occasions peeh guilty OF deliberate |