Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-20
FOX TIE E-N 2IIKEH
MILITARY INSTITUTE.

Fully concurrinr IN opinion with writer in the last
Enquirer, over the signature of Richmond, that The
Public Guard in Richmond, should be converted INTO
Military School, upon the plan adopted in the V. NJ
T. OF Lexington it is highly desirable iha, The subject
should be thoroughly investigated As tins writer
truly remarks, the only objection 10 this plan, worthy
Of notice. that the duties required from this Guard,
are such cannot be performed youths OF such tender
age rs usually selected for such schools In'sIs an
objection easily refu,ed by appeal TO experience.
In the school at Lexington, no student IS admitted
under i6 years ofage and is probable that the average
of the uges the Cadets both there and al West Point
exceeds l9 the age required by our laws TO enroll
Young man in The militia That youths even younger
than this are ptble of being trained 10 superior
excellence military skill and discipline, and are
capable of acts Of bravery, which have never been
surpassed by troops of any age-we may refer to ell
forts of the Polytechnic schools, IN ras, curing lhe
memorable 3 days Of the Inst Revolution in France,
which placed the present king on his throne. Many
of these cadets stated at the time, were boys not
exceeding twelve years of age yet none oil The troops
engaged this contest eynced more bravery and Skill
Nor is this 10 be wondered at, when we consider the
superior moral force which such body of young men
must possess, when compared with the mere brute
force of which armies for the most part consist And
in relation to the school, which we advocate, will be
that The objection noticed above Is deprived OF all
its weight, from the fact that most OF our cadets VIII
be of the ages when they required to perform mill
tia duty; and none below the age at which they are
required to work on our public roads.
This objection then being satisfactorily disposed of,
if militia and road laws not unreasonable IN
demanding services from youth, which they are inca.
Patlc Of performing let see whether the proposed
conversion Of the Public Guard at Richmond into Nh
liiary School, does not promise advantages, winch
strongly recommend il 10 public favor. Not The least
OF these is that get rid OF body of men, which were
found al Lexington TO he public nuisance, and which
under circumstances can be cortidered otherwise
than as ecessary evil, which we are compelled 10
tolerate. And what the benefits we acquire IN ex
change for this evil: With TIE same money, OF as IS
believed with smaller sum, give the advantage Of
the best practical education to an equal number oil
yonng men which is returned TO the community with
interest, in the form most desirable, by supplying TO our
primary schools much beertenchers than can be formed
upon any other plan. This am persuaded will not be
denied y any, who will take the trouble 10 enquire INTO
the operation Of the military system of education at
West Point and own Institution at Lexington
The course Of instruction is extensive, and prachca IN
all its bearings, and from the rules adopted must be
thoroughly taught; are suffered to remain
through the course but such as can stand The mos,
rigid examinations and have been obedien 10 rules Of
discipline, which nculcaie the hest habits, industry,
system in the most minute details Of business, difference
and courtesy ALL and strict obedience to lawful au
thority.
Teachers, thus trained themselves, it must be admit