The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-06-08
West Point Letter 10 the Hon. Felix
Mcconnell, M. c.

lOINT, June y, ISAO
My DEAR MAc-I find, by to-day's Herald, that
Bennett, with his usual point, has exposed dirty
attempt to keep up the unfounded prejudices
against the Military Academy; and, with his usual
felicity, has affixed name to the baser spirits OF
the hour, that Of sausage. democracy" which
Will stick as fast as his more famous one. that of
locofoco. The correspondent Of the Herald is,
after all, but poor bunger in his malignant sta
tlstics. Any person who was correctly informed,
could, without any trouble, have made out some
far stronger than those he shows without re-
sorting to alsiicatons, and to the poor expedient
OF putting one down AS probably relative to the
Duke of Bedford, because his name was Russell.
Let us now take his own statement. Out of a
class of sixty members, Of which the present gra-
duating class ]. composed, he gives but belonging
to what he pleased to consider the arsocracy-in
contradsnction, suppose to the sausage democracy,
who receiving So per diem for their Invaluable
vices Of those thus held up public odium, stipen-
Stewart the Of chaplain in the navy; McClelland.
son Of surgeon Of eminsncs in Philadelphia; and
Blunt son Of your invaluable ownsman who has been
unwearsd in bis efforts to improve the navigation Of
the world by his Invaluable charts Another is Turnkey,
who seems TO have been selected because he sue
these four young the first three have display cd emf
nens abilities since they have been members Of tho inst
tution and WIN carry with them into gallant little
army, requirements and talents which could not fail Of
comforting honor on any profession and Of raising them
peculiar and illustrates strongly any could both
the good points Of the system Of appointments Of
diets. and the folly Of the Heraids correspondent
respectable position in his class and of the officers
Of the Corps Of Cadets appointed had not the
OK paying his travelling from his home rcnnes
see and was therefore obliged to come the greater part
Of the distance foot When he reached tho Academy
il was found that from his limited requirements he
could not according to the law fixing the quac atoms
OF admission be received His case and the energy he
had shown naturally excited interest him. and Il
agreed among the Of the nstitutent
mend him for rcappontmcnt the next year. and to pro-
vide for his instruction and other wants. Whilst waiting
for his re-appointment. they advanced the for
paying his expenses at good school in the ncghbor-
hood Of the Academy His good conduct and standing
in his class have fully justified the opinion conceived OF
him. This you, better than any other know Is but
among hundreds of cases OF nearly de stne youth
who through this institution have attained positions in
which they have done their country good service after
wards.
But after ALL what has this to do with the real qucs
ton The object Of the Military Academy IL | under
stand it, is to provide the republic with officers
thoroughly instructed in their profession and not to edu
cate paupers solely Does any one pretend that II has
done this Why then this exubcrant joy about the
triumph Of our the Rio Grandc. Will the cor
respondent Of the Herald inform why Turnkey, for
example was entitled to Cadets appointment and the
Of Chaplain Stewart the one OF DR.. McCellan nd
the father Of each Of whom has, in his respect o
sphere, rendered eminent services the real pub
was not Where is the clause in the constitution
which refuses privilege Office to the Of John
Jacob Aston which gives to the ono Of the poorest
individual One Of the br ght points in the
OF the Military Academy, Is the very with which
the Heraids correspondent finds fault II is that there
alone in our land the rich and the meet terms
perfect equality. shoulder and shoulder in the
ranks and gain nothing BY mutual struggle for disnc
JOHN SMITH. THE TENTH
PS-Will the laborous and very correct collector OF
army statistics the Herads correspondent also be kind
enough TO inform the public somewhat about the parent
age connections, &c of the officers appointed from civil
life in the Rife regiment just legsated into being.