New-York daily tribune., 1843-03-03
; go FW ITe TiUU1Ie'
The Military Academy at West Point.

For The Tribune.
The Military Academy at West Point.
Believing that your paper is open TO both sides
Of every question, political rrepossessions OF
course excepted, that in any degree affect the vel
Mare OF mass of your fellow citizens, and "entur'
~ iine upcn your reputation for mpartla'y, have
taken the liberty of selecting yeur paper as the
medium of mentioning to the public few facts,
not generally known, in relation to the MILITARY
Academy a, West Point
Nv object in taking this course is not to make
nv own wrongs, or those Of any other ,ndsr,duds
the subject of complaint, but simply to endeavorto
correct that feeling of distrust and unjust suspicion
which is so generally entertained against those
ouondam members of the Military Academy who
bappen to have left that institution before the e%'
riration of their time and athoug is almost uni
versally acknowledged that an Academy o thai
kind is necessary to the interests ot the country.
tits hored that this expose imperfect as it 49, will
poin, on, certain imPertec,ions in the present one,
which though they are closely interviewer with It's
general organization, are not ilremedlable.
There are but few persons in the country so free
from the influence of general prejudice as to repose
any trust or confidence in young man known to
have been % dismissed from West Point; it seems
70 be looked upon certain indication OF want
of Integrity as we'll Us common capacity, and the
ysuns man, whatever may be his intrinsic merit,
oflen finds himself adrift upon the ocean Ut lie,
fcrsakea by friends and without employment and
what's far worse, with dark spot upon his reputa.
zion which not all the eager exertion OF honorable
ambition, nor long years of good conduct can wash
s., al od oil hat he
possesses COED qualities, but that admission is IN
s,auly qualified by the recollection that he was
dismissed from West Point" That is svRicien,
to condemn him. His fair fame is cruci6ed upon
the cross Of nalevolence and prejudice-heis is avsd
ed by his fellow beings, who treat him with the
silence Of contemplate finds nothing encouraging
in the present, and throus tie gloomy vista of the
future he sees nothing but disappoat atment and NOR
ii6catiop, or perhaps being geaded to desperation
he actually sinks until he is dehsscd to the lowe"
level and then the finger OF pointed at MN
and his situation is considered sufficiently ex'
plsped when it is understood that he was 9 dis
missed from West Point" This is not overdrawn.
Many who read this will recognize same one Of
more instances that have come under their obser-
ve,ion. In fact, out of the thousands who have
been obliged TO leave the Military Academy, al
least two-.hlIds have been driven away by injustice
and oppression. This prejudice is no doubt the
result of very general belief that high order oi
talent and good moral character the quali,ie,
which give distinction u, that nslitu.isn: but very
slight knowledge of the government and economy
Of the Military Academy, united to a little insight
into the fail,ies Of human nature, among the mos'
common of which is the abuse Of power when
,laced in the hands of those who are either toe
young or TOO narrow-rninded to know how,o make
a proper use of it. would be sufficient to correct
fhjs error most etfsCtualty.
.s Notwithstanding the vast amount of scientific
knowledge which graduate of the Military Acad-
emy is supposed to possess, it is iact, which
ought to be more genoray known, that to boy
Of ordinary capacity but little mental exertion is
required for the studics are equally distributed
throughout the course, and with such judicious
regard to the gradual expansion of the young
mind, that common application, with justice and
fair play, would enable nineteen Individuals in
twenty TO graduate with honor and credit. This
being admitted, (and 40 just mind acquainted
with the subject will deny it) i, is proper ,ha, we
should take glance at the reai state of the
II 10 this: But thirty, average, graduate
out ct clsss usually composed of one hundred
and twenty: thus making loss of full ene-our,h
out Of the oris inal number of appointments made
in one year. Some of these, OF course, are sent
sway on acccuat Of some disgraceful act, or from
some serious offence against the laws of the insti.
tuition. But rery few are compelled to leave on
account of actual incapacity: 1t is true that
many promising youth is sent away with this
brand upon his brow but in two-thirds Of these
cases the aedsed incapacity is only supported by
the assertion of The Professor-who (strange as
the tact may seem to citizen of this free md en-
hghtened Repabic] can, BY making an ertful use
OF his authority as Professor. succeed in passing
or dsmissing Cadet at his will the decision lef,
10 his own capnce, as he may happen to relish the
adula.ion OF low.ninded sycophan,, or conceive
dislike to the honest pride and Independence Of
any one who by birth ana education mny teel him.
self entitled TO the appellaton of gentleman. The
law docs cay tha, the Professor shall have the
absolute power OF passing or dsnssing Cadet a,
his wilt; bu, | viii endeavor. by simple State
men, of facts TO prove that i, amounts to precisely
fie same thiog.
AT an examination Professor can. BY his init
mate acquaintasce with his pupils knowledge Of
the subject upon which he is being examined, by
sakiug aIsful advantage of h;s weak points,
(ana eeers oneahas his weak ponts,) and by con
stan, rcw-beat'ng, distress him as TO make
appear before the Board of Examiners in the
ligh, Of Ounce; while another, who is infinitely
;rf.ttor IN tr 6rst hoth in ,,ont of n,ep,s ~