Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-01-27
FIR he Enquirer
MILITARY INSTITUTE AT RICHMOND,
CnDT N10Np0E Go

MILITARY INSTITUTE AT RICHMOND,
FORT MONROE, &c.
Itgaddens me, Messrs. Editors, 10 perceive the
Strenuous part you are taking, for the purpose
CT aboishing our State Guard, and establishing
in its stead corps Of Cadets. That any tricnc
ofFree Schools, should oppose this change, is 10
my mind incomrrehensiblc-whe the strongest
popular objections against the. Free School Sys-
lem, is-lhat we shall be overrun with Yankee
Teachers. The institutions OF Richmond and
Lexington, would 20 far 10 supply u with lhr
best instructed teachers, Of native birth, growth
and education. Sill mere incompie h-nsib!e is il
tia; and Statesman, IN view olthe utter worthless
ness Of our Militia System, ana OF extensive
sea boari exposed 10 foreign invasion, with our
numerous sefvile population, liable 1t any no
ment, 10 be excited 10 nsurIecOn-shoud prale
OF keeping down martial spirit, ami military
knowledge, and Of rearing our youth, sin phlu.
sophical tranquility" Did all the philOscpiy OF
C0hfucius, silence The roar u British Artilleryl-
Would these gentlemen eneivae rs. and reduce
us 10 the ah-c. condition of The Chnese-who
with TWO hundred millions OF people, could moi
resist some fifteen or twenty thousand British
troops? How can any one ENJOY Philosophical
tranquility, when the very piiioyTfp he possess
ed wouid teach him. that, without The art ii self.
defence, he, with his brother philosophers, would
be in constant danger Of losing country, properly,
lille liberty, and even philosophy itself Can even
a defenceless flock OF foolish sheep enjoy tran
quillity, when they hear the bowling OF wolves
around lhem} Much less, then, can nation Of
wise philosophers, True phaiosophy teaches US,
that TO enjoy any thing, We must be prepared 10
defend il. Adam Smith was true philosopher,
and his philosophy taught him that the martial
s. 80
lion. hope yourself and readers will excuse an
cry spirit essential 10 the preservation OF ma
ton-partcularly OF Republic and this spirit
is likely TO be necessary, as long as The nature OF
man remains what it now is:
THAT in the progress OF improvement, the prac-
tice OF military exercises, unless Government
takes proper pains 10 support il, goes gradually
10 decay, and, together with il, the martial spir
Of the great body of The people, the example OF
modern Europe sufficiently demonstrates Blu
The security OF every society must always te
pend, more or less uron The martial spirit Of the
grea, body Of the people. In the present times
indeed, that martial spirit alone, and unsupported
by we'll disciplined standing army would not.
perhaps, be sufficient for the defence and security
OF any society," But where every citizen had The
spiri, IF soldier smaller standing army would
surely be requisite. That spirit, besides, would
necessarily diminish very much The dangers 10
liberty, whether real or imaginary, which are
commonly apprehendcd from standing army.
As il would veiy much facilitate he operations OF
that army against foreign invader so il woulc
ohsruct them as much, il, unl0nunaelv, they
should ever he directed against the Constitution ol
the Stale But n coward a man inca
pabie either Of defending or OF reyensing HIM
self, evidently wants one Of The most essential
parts OF the character Of q man. He is as much
mrtilaied and deiormed in his mind as anoheri>
in his body, who Is either deprived OF some OF il.
most essential members, or has lost the use Of
them. He is evidently The more wrelcbed ant
miserable of the two because happiness and
misery, which reside altogether in the mind, must
necessarily depend more upon the healhtul o.
unhealthful, the mullated or entire state Of thf
mind. than upon that OF the body. Even though
the martial spirit of The people were Of no use
towards The defence of The society, yet 10 preven
that sort OF mental mutation, deformily, anG
wretchedness, which cowardice necessarily in
wolves in il, from spreading themselves through
The great body OF The people rcould SIN descG,
ne most Scyl0ns otenii Of G0rslgment-in the
same manner as il would deserve lis most seriou.
attention 10 prevent a efrosy or any olher loaih-
some and offensive disease, though neither NOR
tai nor dangerous, from spreading itself among
result from such attention, besides the prevention
of so great public evi'."-[ Wealth Of Nations,
papes 352-53-London edition 1898. (The italics
are mine.
With popular Government like ours, SO weak
and slow for defensive operations, and utterly un-
fitted for wars Of conquest and aggression, il is
necessary 10 our existence as nation, that mill
lary knowledge should be widely difIused among
our reonle. Ii is within The constitutional pow.
ers Of the Government Of The Union widely lo
diffuse this know ledge Our army is now toe
small 10 discharge The requisite services along
our extensive lake, Indian and Mexican from
tiers; whilst our icris and arsenas on tie Allan
tic board are liable 10 be taken al the first onse
of any considerable naval power Our relations
with the greatest naval power on earth have az
sumed threatening ASPECT. Ii is necessary
greatly to increase the numerical strength Of on
army, in order TO garrison these forts. In wba
manner can This be most cheaply and effectively
done Convert all our forts into military schools
Let cadets take the place Of soldiers. Thou
sands OF our youths, between the ages Of l6 and
81, would gladly enlist and serve The Govern
inent for five or six years, free of any expense.
save their beard, clothes and tuition. An I'M
mense saving would be effected whilst the cha
racter and efficiency Of our garrisons would b,
increased almost teyobd computation. Tho
whole OF our present army could take the field
except, perhaps, few companies 10 stay il
some OF our most important forts. The details !
need not enter in'o-my object being merely IL
throw out the suggestion. These cadets would
form officers sufficient &c supply an army OF sc
or 100, 600 men, in cases Of emergency. With
an army is the work Of few weeks. West