[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 20 (Tuesday, March 1, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 1, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 TRIBUTE TO THE LATE CHESNUT WHITTAKER

                                 ______


                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 1, 1994

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to honor 
an unsung patriot whose time has come to take his rightful place in 
American history. This bill would posthumously commission Johnson 
Chesnut Whittaker as an officer in the U.S. Army.
  Born a slave in 1858 in Camden, SC, Whittaker was appointed to West 
Point in 1876 by Representative S.L. Hodge of South Carolina. Whittaker 
was among the first African-Americans to enter the Academy. As the only 
African-American cadet, he was ostracized by his peers and later 
flogged by them.
  In April 1880, Cadet Whittaker failed to show up for reveille and was 
later found in his room on the floor, bloodied and bruised, with his 
feet tied to his bed. The incident was looked upon as a ruse by West 
Point authorities who claimed that Whittaker had inflicted himself with 
the bruises, and therefore should be dismissed from the Academy. 
Whittaker requested a court martial, was convicted and forced out of 
the corps. However, the judgement was overruled by President Chester 
Arthur. But, the Army authorities would have the final say. They ruled 
that since Whittaker had not attended classes and was behind in his 
academics, he should be drummed out of the Corps of Cadets just short 
of graduation.
  During his ordeal at West Point, Whittaker was defended by two South 
Carolina attorneys: Daniel Chamberlain, a former Governor of South 
Carolina, and Richard Greener, the first black graduate of Harvard Law 
School.
  After his discharge from the Academy, Mr. Whittaker returned to his 
native State of South Carolina. He practiced law in my hometown of 
Sumter, and subsequently taught at the Colored Normal, Industrial, 
Agricultural and Mechanical College, now South Carolina State 
University, my alma mater, in Orangeburg. His son Miller, who was South 
Carolina's first black architect, became president of the college in 
1932.
  Prior to going to West Point, Mr. Whittaker attended the University 
of South Carolina, where he counted among his friends George Washington 
Murray, who, it is reported, was also his college roommate. I am proud 
to state that Mr. Murray was one of my ancestors, and was the last 
African-American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives from 
South Carolina, prior to my election in 1992.
  After an illustrious career as a teacher, principal, and attorney, 
Mr. Whittaker died in Orangeburg in 1931. Among the college presidents, 
community leaders, and professors laid to rest in Orangeburg Cemetery, 
Johnson Chesnut Whittaker is perhaps the most well known. And, it is 
time for his trailblazing spirit and uncelebrated valor to reach the 
annals of history, where his courage, and intellect can be recounted 
for future generations.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this 
historic legislation.

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