The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-06
The Colorcd Cadet.
THE MANNER IN WHICH THB RADICAL SECRETARY
OF WAR GOT RID OF HIN.

THE MANNER IN WHICH THB RADICAL SECRETARY
OF WAR GOT RID OF HIN.
Washington Special to the New York World]
Cadet Smith, the negro cadet, turned ur
az thorn in the side of the Administration
This young negro was received Into Wes'
Point Academy after examination, and vas
allowed to continue at the institution unit
the time OF graduation. Thus far the odiou:
duty of caring for the welfare of the cadet
was not brought directly home to the Admin
istration, but the time of graduating him bad
arrived and what to do with him became a
pcrplexing question. Its well known that he
was discharged from West Point on the
ground OF his alleged deficiency in philosophy,
This, it is claimed, was mere subtertuge
to get rid of him. Had be been allowed to
graduate he would have bsen entitled, un.
der his commission, TO an assignment In the
army, and to assign him to regiment and
place him on footing with the white Off
GERS was too delicate duty for the Secretary
of War to undertake, and one which he was
glad to avoid at the sacrifice of the young
man. Hence bis deficiency. In to-day's IS
sue of Fred. DougaSs's paper he prints q
three-coumn card. in WHICH lie makes a
strong case for himself. He goes over the
details in connection with his examination
in philosophy, and purports to give the den.
tical interroeatlons propounded to him. as
we'll as the answers thel eto. After leaving
the academy under his order of dismissal
he relates an interview had With Secretary
Belknap, when, in company with the
negro Congressman Elliott. be made an
application 10 be reinstated. Smith having
asked for an opportunity to be rceXamined,
the secretary said, a will not do it," and
gave as a reason that he believed he had had
q fair examination, and also TINT he wanted
another cadet at West Point from his district,
and that he had already notified Dir. Elliott
to send some one there. The secretary then
used the following plain ard decisive Ian
elaee-yiz., Gentlemen, don't wish to be
misuuoted as saying that can't give Mr..
Smith denomination, for / say won's do
it.'' Smith then made another proposition
viz, He asked him to let him go back and
join the class below, thus losing one year by
going over this course again, for although he
had already lost year on account Of troubles
there the first year, he was willing 10 lose
another. But" salt the Secretary, Il can't
do that without the recommendation Of the
Academic Board at West Point, and they
won't recommend it. was speaking With
Colonel Ringer. the superintendent Of the
Academy, in New York last Sunday about
you, and he told Inc that the Academic
Board would not recommend you to be re-
instated" The matter summed up in nut
shell seems to bear the inference that the
officers az West Point were instructed to
have Smith dismissed for some seeming
tangible cause, As army influence, which had
been at work against him. succeeded, when
the trying point came, i'll convincing the
Radical Secretary OF War that his assignment
10 duty would cause a lack Of discipline in
the regiment to which he might be ordered
that he cid not see tit TO incur.