Year: 1872

LAD.


The following letter, written by the Hon. DAVE
Clark Of Hartford Conn, gives some Important par
tculars in the case Of tho cOlOred cadet, smith,
which are not generally known. Mr.. Clark II
well known benevolent citizen who has taken great
interest in the education Of the freed people, and
the friend and patron of the lad whose perseeu'
tion at West Point has caused 50 much comment
The Hon. sAYLEs J. BOWEN, Washington, d. g.


MYDEAR SIR: I have the honor 10 acknowledge the
receipt OF your esteemed favor Of tho th uL and note
its contents. should have replied to II at a much
earlier date had 1t not been for circumstances oven


which mainly l had no control. j now avail myself oi
| this opportunity to comply with your request
At the close Of the war which had emancipated the
slave. saw, did many other Northern men, that the


first and overshadowng duty OF the nation was TO see
that the freedmen properly educated 30 "a to the
better enjoy their heritage OF freedom, while IN that
enjoyment the Government itself would inherit from The
proclamation Of emancipation, in time, the benefits OF
wellqualned citizenship. II with a view to en-
courage the education and elevation OF the coloed race
that gladly responsible for the payment Of the
salary Of teacher in one OF the freedmen's schools
located at Columbia s. c., whittier she went and
diligently pursued her duties for four successive years
That night the exactly know the condition OF the
States that had been rebellion aud Of the colorcd race
and their needs made in company with my son. n the
Winter OF 1861 extended tour OF the Southern States
and while there very naturally visited the school which
was being conducted by the teacher had sent out she
told proficiency OF her scholars Of the general
readiness OF the coored people TO receive instruction


that they were exceedingly anxious 10 learn and did 50
with as much progress she lad Witnessed In any oi
the schools Of the North where she had been employed
as a teacher-and indeed, showed me conyincinely
that her statements were true, and then Informed
me OF the remarkable aptness and eagerness
OF one OF her pupils particular, whose thirst for IN
creased knowledge had led her TO hope that some well
disposed and generousheartcd person IN the korth
would take him and give him thorough edncauon'
And this pupil James W. Smith, now well known
ali over the country Cadet Smith OF West Point The
teacher pressed TO take him TO my own home ana
give him the benefits Of education he 80 eagerly de
sired. assented to do and be came 10 Hartford on
or about the first of April following and became mem
Der OF my household. Up to this time he had attended
school only about fourteen months and mainly an even
ing school From this point of his arrival In Hartford
NY interest in the lad has ceased and now VIII
proceed to give you of the details which you re-
quest this preliminary statement Of fact seeming TO bo
necessary TO make the story complete.


He placed in the intermediate department OF one
of our free schools located in the district where reside
He Is years Of age In about six weeks DC had
made such advancement Ia his studies that nc was
placed IN the highest grammar department OF the
school, with those OF his age and Older who had at
tended school from their earliest At the examination
of the closing term about the middle Of July following
he showed that he was among the very hrst III culture
in class I6O and his written composition ON this oc
casion called the special notice OF the press for IFS
ability while those who heard it were warmly enthus
astc over his effort.


In the Autumn following he sent for examina-
tion to be admitted to the Hartford High School, whero
the standard OF qualifications is very hgh and where
fun preparatory for college is given. To show
how well he had prepared himself for this critical and
close examination, give below letter from Prof.
Capron, principal of the school:


DAVID CLARK eq-DEAR SIR; take much pleasure In informing
YOU that boy W Smith whom TO be
ned for high school, passed the best eamnsuon Of
any OF the applicants indeed better than applicant for admission


during years have been principal Of the high school foo


respectfully B. CpEoS


Hartford Sept. 1867.


At the beginning of the term he entered the fourth
class was one of the first his class and at the close
Of the en the following year, he bore on one Of the
highest honors of the class.


In the Autumn OF 1868 he entered the third class. and
during the entire year maintained the same ability and
aptness FOR learning Beside the regular studies OF bs
class took lessons IN German from Prof smonson OF
Trinity College, and made most remarkable progress,
Previous TO the commencement OF the third year, he
made the suggestion to that he would like TO take
the studies OF the second and the first classes together,
thereby gaining years time as to be the sooner
able TO enter college, Both Prof. Capron aud myself
thought the effort would upon hs constu
ton but gave consent that ne should make trial, and
he did so and, in this, all former trials, he was
completely successful and at the close Of the term the
following year. he graduated with the highest bonor aud
his essay upon "The Ancient Poets showed remarkable
research and thought, and received more marked com
mendation and open applause both FROM bis class and
an audience OF over thousand invited guests, than any
other effort OF day IL Will be matter OF Interest
20 say that during these entire three yoars that be
attended school in Hartford there was not the sghte,t
offensive alusion 10 his color, either among his class


q el. 1assas 4FHI II
ters freely associated with him and admired his su-
perior gifts Besides the faithful pursuit of his ordi
nary studies which q delight 10 him, be var
thoroughly read In the current literature OF the day


During my Southern tour OF 1901 aud visits IN shbse.
auent years. became convinced that there very
many young ana bright minds among the eoiored race
which should be cultivated, aud II tins which led
to take a deep and active interest IA HoSard University.
at Washington. On the ist of May, lSo placed young
smith Ia that institution 10 receive ednca-
tion, as | had previously promised Gen o. O. Howard
would do. During this month the Hon Mr.. Hoge, Mem
ber OF Congress from North Carolina, and the dis-
trct where Smiths father resides, rendered the
lad the eadetshp appointment Before accepting
he consulted with me- ana adverse 10 the idea of
his going, because thought could foresee the dicrl
ties he would encounter West Point account Of his
color; but left the whole matter with Gen Howard,
and he favoring the proposition smith accepted and
went TO West Point about the ls Of June follow
ing. At the same time colorcd boy, Howard, hotn
Mississippi, appointed. but upon the examination
failed while Smith. oredbly informed passed the
best ex animation Of any applicant


From the very moment that he stepped upon tho
threshold OF West Point he was marked for abuse and
persecution OF the most malignant and disgrsccful
character He was subject 10 all manner Of indgnities
such as being spit upon, assaulted by kicks aud cufa
and I'm numerous instances ms life WIS threatened On
June so 1 received from Cadet smith the following
letter:


pK.H PrEoS YeeT kBd boa


hong or. ths really have been hsfa -h srsmnsos ssA
the and W of these cadets that % 90


H..