The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-09-16
Anour AN EXAMINATION FOB A
WEST POINT cADETSHIP.
LETTERS FROM PRESIDENT WALLACE
AND COL. NARsHALL:
Sworn Statement Of DR.. P. Gregg.

Sworn Statement Of DR.. p Gregg.
1t will be reelected that, in our old
Fourth congressional district, Hon. John
B. Hawley, our member of congress, was
requested to recommend some suitable
young man for appointment by the Presi-
dent to West Point cadetship from the
district ir. Hawley. instead of doing SO
from among his political friends, as he had
right to disappointed President Wallace,
of Monmouth college, DR.. p. Gregg, of
this city, and Col. WIN. Marshall, of Mon
mouth, a committee to examine and rec,
ommend suitable person, and gave no.
tice in all the papers in the district that
the examination was open to all, and pub
lished the rules under which such examin-
alton would take place, at Monmouth, on
day named. The result was that Dem
ocratic boy was recommended and APP
pointed.
After the result was known, Mr. j. {,
Starr, of Moline, whose son was a competl'
tor, complained of the action of Dr. Gregg,
and communications censuring the action
of the committee appeared in the papers.
With this statement, the following docu-
ments will explain themselves
LETTER FROM DR.. GREGG.
Rock ISLAND, Sept, 9th, 1874.
| To the Editor OF the Union;
SIR During our controversy on inc
subject of calling the county convention, an
article appeared in your columns over inc
signature of "Vindex, to which you called
nv attention, in no friendly spirit, as l
deemed it.
That article accuses me OF Influencing
the other members of the examining
board convened at Monmouth, to select O
candidate for the cadetship to West Point
Now that the political trouble is out OF
the way, and anything | can say can have
no effect on the issue. | propose, in my
own time, to give that Monmouth affair al
airing, and vindicate myself against the
false and malicious charge OF "Nindex
Joe Bracket
should have paid no attention to the
charge from that source, had not you, with
a full knowledge of the circumstances, en-
dorsed it. | submit to MIR. Bracket wheth
er he would not find ample employment
in indicating himself.
Truly Yours, L. GREGG.
THE MONMOUTH WEST POINT CADETsHIP
For the Argus.
Mr.. EDITOR. During the recent pollti
cal contest in this county an article APP
reared in the Union, over the signature
''Vlndex" alias Joe Bracket, from which
quote the following sentence; Con
trary to that assurance, Doctor Gregg in
duced the members OF that committee Il
drop the Young man, Starr, who passed
the highest in such examination, Tor tn
alleged reason urged by the Doctor witt
sufficient zeal before the committee, tina
the father of that young man had at SOM
: former time trespassed on the Doctor per
: sopal dignity" The charge is false in ev
e ery particular. never had any difficulty
with the father He never trespassed on
nv dignity. nor conld he if he would nor dix
z | urge. with or without zeal any such rea
c son before the committee, Nor do j thin
v that men Of the reputation OF Proiessc
: Wallace and Col Marshall could be init
" euced by such reasons il urged. J dlsmis
= Joe Brackets sarcasm about my dignlt
with the single remark that ii l. lacked
dignity. or in honesty, should not see
y him as u preeeptur IN either.
J. Had ] been influenced by any grudg
+ against the father it was only necessary
+ reject his SOD on the ground OF physlcs
Il disability. and that would end the mattel
;. submit the following letter from Pre-
: fessor " allace and Col. Marshall, also III
+ own sworn statement Of the facts. Hell
r | rest for the present, not wishing to o.
u cupy too much of your space but if tn
IT is not satisfactory to ''Vlndex" and h
r friends, possess some other document
to which | will cali their attention hereat
ter. L. phE"h'
LETTER FROM MEssRs. WALLACE AN
'e MARSHALL.
l. MoNMotTH. H.,
sept.S, 1874.
o p. GREGG, NJ d.. Rock Island, -Deo
Sr.-Yours of the 9TH inst, requesting
statement OF the circumstances attendln
II the rejection of young Starr, at the exam
d nation of candidates tor appointment
IL West Point, held in this place, in Febr
10 arv. 1873, has been received. We haste
-, to reply:
y Contrary to the regulations announce
at the opening of the examinations, your
STAIRS father was present throughout. 4
they drew near the close, complaints we
made by different candidates, that
(Starr) had attempted to persuade the
, to withdraw, by intimating offers
~ money and by other means. On the ey
III ming on which we made up the average
these complaints had become so freque
lis 4 EffIp
ance. When the averages were made u
nj five, if we mistake not, of those who stot
.r- at che head of the list we're notified
49, meet you, for physical examination, Il
II, next morning, at the office of Crawford
- Webster They were also informed tn
p the candidate whose average stood highes
. in respect to whom there existed Meth
"a physical nor moral disqualification, won
~ be recommended for appointment
=. After this examination you reported
!, us the result, with the statement tn
II Stars father had, before the physical e
= animation, made to you direct and 70
NAL offer of compensation. on condltl(
that his son should be recommended. "
i. felt not a little indignant at this attempt
influence our action, and expressed Il
~ conviction that you did wrong in examnlr
a his son at all after such overtures had bet
III made to you After protracted and car
n. full deberation the committee decided TIL
:, they could not give young Starr the recon
: mendation, which, but for the interteren,
lie of his father, he might have received,
It These are the facts, to the best Of OF
II: recollection.
Permit us to add that, in our judgmen
your conduct throughout was gentleman.
ut honorable and impartial, and that we priI
As YOU as one of our most valued friends