Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-08-13
I held that the order of the Board was clear
lu ILLEGAL and I felt az q man and soldier

~ illegal, ana 1elG as a man ana SOlQlef
absolved from any obligation to obey said
order. could not and would not serve at
the altar of what deemed illegal sacrifice
illegal as to the written law and the Regu-
lations and also to the unWritten law of
common justice.
+. Subsequently, the same evening of
August 4, sent to the Chairman the fol-
lowing formal notice:
II have received the order of the Board
of Visitors directing me to revoke Cadet
Schirmer's appointment as Sergeant of the
corps. Without entering into the question
of the legality of the order, have the
honor to decline to be the instrument, in
my official position as Superintendent, for
doing what I regard a serious INJUSTICE to a
worthy and deserving cadet by intlicting
upon him that punishment which, by the
regulations of the Academy, is especially
appropriate to the case of a cadet officer
who neglects his duty'and betrays the con-
fidence reposed in him. neither of which
offences Cadet Sergeant Schirmer has COM
The Nems and Courier of August 5, by
authority of "some member or members
of the Board of Visitors" as the Chairman
subsequently informed me, announced that
my resignation had been accepted, to take
effect, as had proposed July %, on Octo-
ber next. This was my first notice of ac-
tion on my resignation, although had on
July Is and on July IS urgently but unsuc-
cessfully asked leave of the Chairman to
make the fact of said resignation public.
5. About 5 P. M. August 5, General
| Walker, acting Secretary of the Board of
Visitors, sent me the following papers:
(Irtruct from the Minutes of the Board of Visitors
August 4, 1885. The resignation OF Col.
| ID rso9o nf hn
| academy was received and accepted by the
! Board, to take effect October l, 1885, and
the following resolutions were adopted:
'Resohed, That the Board of Visitors in
accepting the resignation of Col. J. p. Thom-
as, Superintendent South Carolina Military
Academy, desires to express its sense of the
zeal and earnestness with which he has
discharged the duties of his Office, and that
in retiring from the institution he carries
with him the best wishes of the Board for
his future welfare"
August ), 1885. son motion, the action
of the Board relative to Colonel Thomas
resignation at the meeting August was
reconsidered and the following substituted
therefor:
"Resignation of Colonel Thomas was SUBJ
mitted.
Resolved, l. That Colonel Thomas resig-
nation as Superintendent be accepted to
take effect to-day.
,. "That the senior officer present for
duty is placed in command and will dis
charge the duties Of Superintendent until
further ORDERS"
My refusal to revoke his appointment,
and to reduce Cadet Sergeant Schirmer to
the ranks, explains the change of action by
the Board towards me.
My resignation was based upon the fail
ure of the Executive Committee Of the
Board to sustain discipline on the occasion
of two serious violations of the special law
of the Academy, formally and regularly
reported by the Superintendent and ignor-
ed by the Executive Committee of the
Board.
AS to the circumstances under which my
resignation of July 5 was finally accepted,
I am content to leave the matter at issue
with the tribunal before which, with as little
comment as could afford, have placed it.
Until dissatisfaction Of cadets with the
promotion of Cadet Schirmer met encour-
agement from those in authority, my work
in establishing the South Carolina Military
Academy upon sound basis and putting
it upon successful career had not been ques-
toned.
If / had retired from my post, after ardu-
Gus service, without the commendation of
the Board Of Visitors, I can at least hope
for that higher reward, the approval OF the
people of the State, for whom in this work
I have labored. JOHN P. THOMAS.