Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-03-17
REMARKS OF MR.. BROWN.
On the motion TO discontinue payment 10 the Ca
diets at the Uest Point Miftary .7cademy.
OF Pennsylvania.

MI. BROWN S1lO he WdS pFP'Seu
ton Of the gentleman from New io.k. VT.
Roosevelt l, would surely Danish from me
institution all poor boys, and leave il open on
IL 10 The weai,hy.-of whom there had been
already too large proportion. Not that he
wished only the sons Of The poor to he educa-
ted there; but tina, they ought TO have al least
an equal chance-wIicl, they would no, have.
if the amendment taking from them all Their
pay was adopted. lie would not say the pay
OF the cadets might not. and ought not, 10 De
reduced but Sufficient for their support ought
to be uiyen them. II the whole OF their pay
was abolished. some Of :he most promising
BOYS would have IL leave the institution. I ne
cadet he had selected from his district won'd
be compelled to abaI don IL. His parents mao.
TOO many children 10 support 10 allow mem 70
keep any one Of them III sncl, an Institution.
He had selected the boy alluded to from the
public school Of his district, because OF his
superior fitness for the station. AT the time
Of his being selected. the boy maintained HIM.
self hy delivering milk each morning. at -
cents week. lie hoped, therefore, It the IN.
stitu,ion was TO remain. that lis doors would
not be closed to the poor. 1t either class
ought TO be exclusively educated at the pub.
lie expense, j; should be them. They would
be most likely, from necessity. TO devote them
selves to the service of their country IN alter
life. The sons of the wealthy too often relied
upon their wealth for support, and yielded no
return 10 the coun,ry FOR the education they
had received from il. But he was for keeping
it open alike to all classes while it existed.
He was, however, opposed to the con'Inn-
ance Of the establishment altogether. 1t was
in opposition to the whole nature and charac-
ter Of our government. The general govern
ment was not created to educate men to I'LL ITS
different departments. 1t was not Intended
tina, it should train UP men as Inherliofs OF us
power and places-of the officers OF It's army,
navy, its legislative halls, or its executive de-
par,ments; for. it the principle was 10 be car
ried out. il ought to educate men to be mein-
bers Of Congress and executive officers. lhiS
was not the genius of free government. lie
thought, when the people. or the peoples gov
eminent. wanted officers or agents OF any KIND,
they on.ht to have the whole body OF cl'lzens
10 select from, and take the best qualified. II
this institution was abolished, many others
would spring up among the people in its place.
If the appointments in the army and navy
were open to the best qualified TO fill them.
they would fnd instead of a few hundred
boys, thousands Of fuII-sized, we!l-edura'ed.
ready-made men. every way prepared TO do
good service. il the competition were allow
ed, military education would become part
OF the exercises of ordinary schools and sem
inaries. Boys would be trained there for the
army. as for medicine, or civil engineering.-
There would be no lack (he sadly Of military
educated men, when the services Of such
military educated men were in demand
the supply. as in all other pursuits Of life.
would he fully equal to the demand. AT pres
ent, the door Of the army closed to all
who did not 90 through the West Point Acad-
envy.
Another objection TO it was, that the country
had TO pay for educating many who never rem
dered it any service in return. AT the begin
ming Of The F!crIda war, and when their ser
vices We're required, they abandoned the flag
Of their co.niry by scores. Out Of the hun
dreds and thousands educated al that inat,u
ton, how many-he might say how FEw-had
ever rendered any important service 10 the
country. What had been the facts recently
stated on the floor OF that House. when The
subject of the coast survey was under consid-
Grafton! Why, that there We're not in the
whole army and navy OF the United States.
men competent TO carry on that survey; and
that The country must look TO The private walks
OF lille for the necessary talent and education
10 carry it on.
He did not wisl, to be understood as speak
ing sigh,ingly Of the officers Of the army
who had been educated at Yves, Point. nor of
The competency Of most Of them to perform all
| The duties required Of them. On the contrary.
he considered them generally as Of high or
der Of military and scientific men; but, as Of
fcers, they had not generally shown them
selves superior to the officers Of the army who
had been selected from the citizens a, large.
Our recent wars. and particularly the Florida
war, had not developed any great military ge.
Mus or requirements. The officers Of The rev.
olu''onary army, aud Of the late war. would
not lose by comparison with those of the West
Point Academy. or of any other school. Gen.
Jackson, and the uneducaeu officers under him
had shown as much skill and bravery, aud had
had more success in their Indian wars, and be-
fore New Orleans, than would be found in all
the wars aud battles Of the West Point Off
GERS. II would be strange, indeed. il that in.
stitnlon had not sent out some good officers.
out IF the thousands there educated; but. com.
paraiively. they had been few. Even now.
those educated there did nc, rank in the army
higher than Col. kearney. aud his dragoon Of
fcers, who had all been taken from private life.
II was needless. he said to a,.emp, to dis.
gnise the fact, that, throughout the whole
country, there was a deep-roo,ed and wide
spread opposition in the pubic mind to the
institution. Many States had instructed their
Representatives aud Senators TO abolish il; and.
but day or two ago, Connection, sent in her
opposition. He did not wish 10 inpnle i'm
proner motives to any member Of the House
ont II was but too apparent that. If all the per
Sona' connexions OF members with the cadets,
and all other political, and personal consdera
ions thereby created. cOald be evcudaJ ,ta
Institution wonld no, remain another day.
II II must remain. he trusted a,I-even liz
strongest irlends-would perceive the necessi.
~ OF curiailing its numbers. The army was
being reduced, and there were already more
cadets attached q IL ilIa,, ,...,x4,