New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-07-30

II would take the algebraic sum Of all the
deviations.' Professor NJ. said: "Suppose
some of the deviating angles were turned in
one direction and the others in another direc
ton, how would you find it in that easel" ]
said: II would regard those deviations pro.
duced by prisms whose deviating angles were
turned in one direction, as positive, and those
produced by prisms whose deviating angle
were turned in the opposite direction as neg
alive" Professor M: "Then you would
not take the sum-" said: "No sir, ]
would take the algebraic sum. as 1 said.'
Professor NJ: 81 did not hear you say
the algcbraic sum, 1 understood you to say
the sum-" l said nothing more, aud waited
a moment, thinking he had some other ques.
ton to ask; but instead, he seemed to be
very much exasperated, and speaking very
harshly, said: "Well, what are you waiting
for? Why don't you go on?" went on
with my demonstration minute or two, but
was interrupted again and again with ques.
tons, some of which had no bearing what
ever on the subject, and asked, as l believe,
only to confuse me if possible.
After l had finished my demonstration,
Professor NJ. asked me where got the three
equations that were at the top of the
board. l told him that assumed them, that
they had been deduccd in previous demon
stratiOn and remembered them. q had a
right to assume any equation, and make use
OF any principle previously deduced, and
which tod fO INV cubiocf \ To fbop el-o1
me if had used those equations. 1 found
upon looking over my work that 1 had used
the first and third, but not the second, and
so told him. He then wanted to know why
l had not assumed the second, and answered
that l remembered the three equations as
being given together, and that thought
would have to use all of them, and that did
not notice that the second was not required.
Professor NJ. now said: swell, you see it
is wrong?" "No, sir" said, that equa-
ton is right, but it is unnecessary" Pro-
fessor M. then said: IL do not question the
correctness of the equation, but did you use
it" "NO, sir" 1 said. swell Sir" said
Professor NJ, sit should not be there, and,
therefore, it is all wrong. That will do,
SIR"
Thus was my examination in Philosophy
conducted, and upon that Examination" l
was declared deficient"
Now, L appeal to the judgment of every
intelligent man: can that be called fair
and impartial examination? Is it not per-
fectly evident that there was an under-c cur
rent of narrOw-minded prejudice continually
forcing its way to the surface, and warpng
the mind, not only of Professor NJ, but that
of many another who sat in judgment on me
that day, and upon whose decision rested
the verdict? Does it not show that he was
examining (if such farce can be called an
examination), not Cadet Smith, but the
cOlorcd cadet" ." the Niger cadet" -" Niger
Jim,' "the MOkc," or some other of the
opprobrious designations by which 1 was
known, for they were so numerous that
have not time to enumerate them, nor do
know which was the favorite with the gentle
men in question.
On the Both of June the result of that So
called examination was published at parade,
and that was the first knowledge had of the
finding of the Board. On the next day was
sent for by the adjutant and notified that the
order for my discharge had arrived, and that
should turn in the public property in my
possession, have my papers signed, and set
tic up with the Treasurer, and before four
O'Clock that afternoon had ceased to be a
cadet at the Military Academy.
Of course there was great rejoicing in the
corps of cadets, and without a doubt among
"the powers that be-" though while in the
former it was perfectly public and quite dem.
onstrative, in the latter it was not visible.
l left the "Point" determined to carry my
case to higher power, and ask, not for favor,
but for fair play; for went to West Point
in 1870 with the determination to overcome
all obstacles and graduate, and thus prove
to the country that the negro could and would
fight it out on this line if it took alp
his life.
Invent to Washington. and in company will
Senator Patterson and my old true and tried
friend and schoolmate, Samuel Lee, called up
on the Secretary of War, Oh the morning o.
the 18th of July. Istated to the Secretary tina
1 was dissatisfied with the result Of the
examination, as 1 did not consider it fail
one, and that an injustice had been done me
and asked him to have me reGxamined, as
| was confident that could pass an examin
alton on any part of the course. The Secre
tary said: 81 will not do it," and gave Al
reason that he believed that had. had
fair examination, and also that he wanted
another cadet at West Point from my distric
and that he had already notified Hon. II. Il
Elliott to send some one there. The Sccrc
tary then used the following plain and dcci
sivc language, viz: "Gentlemen, l dom
wish to be misquoted as saying that can
give Mr.. Smith reexamination, for say
ponf do it,"
/ then made another proposition, viz,
asked him to let me go back and join tn
class below me, thus los ing one year by 60
ing over this course again, for although hat
already lost year on account OF my trou
blcs there the first year, l was willing to los
another rather than lose the victory To-
which had fought so long with all my pow
err. But now the Secretary says: II can
do that without the recommendation OF tn
| Academic Board at West Point, and the
won't recommend it. l was speaking Wit
Colonel Ruger, the Superintendent OF tn
Academy in New York, last Sunday, abOu