It is said that this precaution was
taken because the visitors disturbed the members of the
Academic Board by walking across the floor. Very good
excuse, for the floor was covered with a very thick
carpet. We must surely give the Academic Board credit
for so much good judgment and foresight, for it would
have been a very sad affair, indeed, for those gentlemen
to have been made so nervous (especially the Professor
of Philosophy) as to be unable to see how 'manifestly
incompetent' Cadet Smith was, and it would have deprived
the Secretary of War of the blissful consciousness that
'he did for him what had never been done for a white boy
in like circumstances,' besides losing the privilege of
handing down to future generations the record of his
extreme liberality 'in his interpretation of the
regulations on behalf of Cadet Smith.'
"Oh, that this mighty deed might be inscribed on a
lasting leather medal and adorn the walls of the War
Department, that it might act as an incentive to some
future occupant of that lofty station! I advise the
use of leather, because if we used any metal it might
convey to our minds the idea of 'a sounding brass or a
tinkling cymbal.'
"Respectfully yours,
"J. W. SMITH,
"Late Cadet U.S.M.A."
THE NEGRO CADETS.
"We publish this morning an account of Cadet Smith's
standing at West Point, which should be taken with a
few grains of allowance.
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