Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-05-20
viRGTNIA MILITARY INSTITrTE.


able authority impartng 10 the Cadets an education
eminenly calculated 10 enable them to discharge will
credit themselves and benefit to the community, the
most important practical duties of lie. But neverthe
less, it 10 have attracted little notice, compared
with its just claim to public favor. Even the Legisla
ture until its last session. have been content to appro
pirate only the exact sum which il cost them 10 sup
port band OF mercenary soldiers employed to guard
the State Arsenal, (now in charge OF the Cadets ane
which were found TO be nuisance 10 the village o.
Lexington in which the arsenal is situated In place
of this idle soldey the same fund now furnishes the
means of most valuable education TO about sixty
young men, who, in return, perform all the du.le:
heretofore discharged by the mcrcenary soldiers and
moreover those hereafter appointed on State account
pledge themselves to make the further return of two
years service in our common schools after graduating
Surely, .hen, if any school in our Commonwealth can
claim legislative aid, it would appear that this is fairly
entitled 10 it, not only from the ample return rendered
by the State Cadets for the education given them, but
from the acknowledged ability with which il is con-
Quoted, and The great benefit it is comforting. But not
wilhstandng the high claim of the Institute to public
patronage, m additional appropriation of only 81 300
was grudgingy made last winter, and was afterwards
very near being WITHDRAWN sum totally inadequate
to enlarge sphere of usefulness to the extent go much
10 be desired They are, at this time, destitute OF some
of the most indispensable mathematical instruments TO
teach Practically what is taught theoretically in all dis
tinruisled military schools, viz surveying eveng,
taking the latitude and longitude, lunar and other celes-
ts observations &c This requires, that they should, ut
least he furnished with compass, level, quadrant,
scxtant and perhaps other instruments OF small cost,
and which very moderate sum would supply And
we venture the assertion, that such al institution in
any of oar Northern States would at once be furnish
ed with such necessary implements either from legs-
lative aid or from private beraty The latter source
has are,dy supplied the Virg inia Institute with seve-
raj valuable busts, engravings, &c and It IS not, we
hope, improbable, that some puec-splred nd'v'du'
nd IL fha Hefc nj.
lnded towith regard to mathematical Instruments, as
apsear there is not much 10 anticipate from leglsla-
tive ber,lity 10 this Institution For its claim to pub
lie estimation cannot fail to be more highly appreciated
as it becomes more generally known. When we re-
gard the threatening and disturbed state of our domes.
tic relations and consider great nerorly as to the
dscplin. and skill of our militia, compared with most
of our Northern slaveholding States, we cannot
but be deeply impressed with the Importance OF impar
ing military knowledge to those whom we wish to
qualify 10 command our militia.
God forbid that we should ever be made 10 feel and
de More our nfcrory TO our Northern brethren in mi
ltarv knowledge and skill; but it is The part of wisdom
to look this danger in the face, and to be prepared 10
meet it, If, unhappy circumstances should ever occur
to ender il necessary We should therefore, not only
foster this Military School, but endeavor to enlarge
The sphere of lis utility, TO increase the number of
sucb institutions Not only for reasons already men
TONED. but because think it VIII be found, that
Schools conducted upon the principle oil military as
eipline are much more manageable ana eic'ehl '''u
mon any other plan. Amongst the most prominent
of the advantages of the system of discipline, is that
!, secures due subordnation, go little known to oIf
schools generally, and forms habits of SYSTEM early
,;sn1 regularity and order in the conduct of de-
tails which cannot be too highly valued In short,
is the best method yet devised 10 form practical man.
and 10 prepare its pupils to act with prompndc and
decision in most of the emergencies of life. This lsa
suh;ect of mnmentous importance, and one IN which
The .uyehoding States much dee ply interest
ed, than seems TO be generally imagined, Ought 1T
not therefore, to command the attention OF the press
The great conduit of public information, far more than
it ppears to have generally done These suggestions
are thrown out in the hope of attracting public atten-
ton to subcc, in which our best interests are nvolv-
cd and for the purpose of invoking the aid OF tne press
s;,ors of the Virginia Military Institute, which may
S now soon be expected, will furnish good opportunity
to bring this subject more fully to public notice, which
we trust will be duly improved by the Virginia press