TO THE SECRETARY AT WAR.
Monticello, August 6, 1808.
Dear Sir,—A complaint has come to me indirectly on the part of the Cadets at West Point, that the promotions in their corps are made on other principles than those of seniority or merit. They do not charge Colonel Williams with an unjust selection by himself, but with leaving the selection to his lieutenant, whose declaration that it was so left to him, they say can be proved. It is stated particularly that a young man from the country, uneducated, and who had been with the corps but three months, and had acquired little there, was lately made an ensign to the prejudice of much superior qualifications. His name was mentioned to me but I have forgotten it. Justice to the officers forbids us to give credit to such imputations till proved; but justice to the corps requires us so far to attend to them as to make them the subject of inquiry; and I presume this was the object of the communication to me. I now mention it to you, because in returning through New York you may have an opportunity of inquiring into it. I am much more inclined to impute to the vanity of the lieutenant the declaration he is said to have made, than to suppose Colonel Williams has really delegated so important a trust to him. I salute you with constant affection.