He sent for the
colored boy, and taking his hand he said:
"'My boy, you say you want to resign, that you can stand
this persecution no longer. You must not do it. You are
here an officer of the army. You have stood a severe
examination. You have passed honorably and you shall not
be persecuted into resigning. I am your friend. Come to
me and you shall have justice.'
"Then General Upton addressed the cadets on dress parade.
He told them personal insults against their brother cadet,
whose only crime was color, must cease.
"One day a cadet came to Jimmy and said he would befriend
him if he dared to, 'but you know I would be ostracized
if I should speak to you.'
"'What was the cadet's name?' I asked.
"'Oh, I dare not tell?' replied the colored boy. 'He would
be ruined, too.'
"'Did your father write to you when you thought of
resigning?'
"'Yes; here is his letter,' replied the colored boy:
"'COLUMBIA, S.C., July 3, 1870.
"'My DEAR SON: I take great pleasure in answering your
kind letter received last night. I pray God that my
letter may find you in a better state of consolation
than when you wrote to me. I told you that you would
have trials and difficulties to endure. Do not mind them,
for they will go like chaff before the wind, and your
enemies will soon be glad to gain your friendship. They
do the same to all newcomers in every college. You are
elevated to a high position, and you must stand it like
a man.
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