The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-28

might be necessary, well at the January as the
| June examination of all the classes, Is fuily APP
proved by the undersigned. The practice now
except in the of the fourth class Is To dismiss
at the June examination only, which leads too of
ten explained by the Committee, TO carelessness
on the part of the Cadet, for the first six months OF
his second, third and fourth years. courses in the
expectation that, by dint of extra exertion, he will
be able retrieve himself in the second six months
In other words, the preparations, in the opinion
| the Board, for the January well for the June
| examinations, should be made under the saiutary
apprehension Of dismissal, in the event of failure
Again, and in conclusion of this part of their
port, the Board cordially adopt the recommends
ton OF the Committee on Instruction, that the du-
ties at present performed by the Chaplain, and
which include not only ethics which are peculiarly
appropriate to his sphere and calling but also con-
stitutional and international law, should be divi-
died. and the two latter given to separate professor
whose previous studies and other qualifications
might fit him for the place. Under such person
the course of law might be extended, so as to EN-
brace the rules of evidence, and matters relating
| To courts martial, without materially trenching
upon the time now given to other studies.
| The military education of the Cadets appeared
to the Board TO have been well attended to; and they
derived great qualification from their drill as in
fantry, cavalry, light artillery, and heavy artil-
lery. Their instruction in all matters peculiarly
connected with their future calling seemed in every
respect satisfactory; and il gave the Board great
pleasure TO observe that all this proficiency had
been obtained while the Cadets were at the same
time acquiring, in an admirable manner, the best
| scientific education that our country afford.
Indeed, the bodily exercises of the one seemed to
| accord well with the mental labors of the other
counteractng the evil consequences to health which
the sedentary life OF mere student generally gives
rise to; the result being appearance of strength
and activity surprising, or at least equallng, the
most favorable anticpatons of the Board.
1t has been suggested to the Board that more
attention should be paid to Particular of the
service in the military education Of the Cadets.
But the Board see difficulties in the way Of
mendng any change in the existing state Of things
| in this respect. They would recommend, however,
that all the material required for their instruction,
as they taught, should be put upon the best
| footing, 80 that every weapon and imminent of
war should be of the best Kind, and kept up with
| the very latest improvements. The combination of
such just proportions that neither would interfere
with the other, and that the result should be the
well educated soldier which West Point now pro-
duces, has, doubtless, been matter of difficult adj
| justment, and the Board would be unwilling TO
recommend, even by way ofexperiment, any thing
| that might, by possibility, interfere with what
seems already SO well ordered.
There is, nevertheless, deficiency in the means
OF military instruction which was most apparent to
the Board. The number Of horses is quite INSULT
Gent, and their character is far from what il should
be. OF the forty horses, with which the Cavalry
and Light Artillery exercises were performed, thir
ty had, at the time, been condemned; and although
their places to be supplied by Others as the
Board understood, yet it evident that the more
judcious course would have been to supply the
place OF a defective horse by good one, whenever
1t was necessary, instead of waiting until such
numbers OF them became disabled. Involving as
this matter does, and as the Board themselves saw
that it did, the lives of the Cadets, they would be
remiss in their duty if they did not press it upon
your consideration. The number Of horses should
be so increased, that it should be unnecessary to
use, at any time, weak inefficient animal in
the Cavalry or Artillery exercise of the Cadets For
this purpose 1t has been suggested that eighty or
one hundred horses would be necessary.
In connection with the scientific and military
education of the Cadets, the Board have considered
their discipline. The report of the committee on
discipline is 30 full that is unnecessary to do more
in this place than TO refer it for all the details
connected with the subject. As there stated, the
Cadets are divided into four companies of infantry
forming battalion with the proper oficers-each
| company having its captain, subalterns, and non
| commissioned officers and the whole being under
the charge Of officer of the army whose title is
| the Commandant of Cadets, with four assistants,
taken from the line. The government is of course
| a military Minor offences are punished by
the superintendent by confinement to quarters, ex-
| ira guard duty, reprimand, &c. Graver ones are
| tried by courts martial, the highest punishment
being that of dismissal from the Academy. There
| Is also a system OF punishment which consists in
| what are termed dement, marks, varying in num-
Der according 10 the nature Of the offence the
Of which is taken into consideration determining
I the situation, at the annual examination, which
Cadet shall occupy in his class-so that 10 hold the
highest place, the individual must combine subor-
dination and good conduct with talent and industry
| The Board have every reason 10 believe that the
government of the Cadets, far il depends up
on the officers Of the institution IL kind and JUST
| and that the necessary severity of military disci
pine il properly tempered in the hands which are
here entrusted with Its administration. The sys-
ten, in this respect, presents nothing which the
Board would desire 10 changed On the con-
trary, they would take this occasion 10 reiterate
what they have already said in regard TO the neces-
Of int. th. Of
Board at West Point, by respecting, except for
very weighty considerations the sentences Of dis
missal which are pronounced here.
| The general administration of affairs at West
Point has been examined by the Board with par
ucular attention; and for all matters Of detail
| nccted with il, such the organization Of the
| Academic Board, the number Of Professors and
Assistants, well for suggestions in regard 10
certain alterations the Board refer 20 the report Of
| the Committee Administration, which will be
| found in the appendix. In what they have already
| said, the Board have testified their sense of the
kindness, justice, and ability with which the af
fairs OF the Military Academy are administered,
and II Is only necessary 10 add, this point, that
they fully accord with what the Committee has
said upon the subject.
There are, however, some matters TO which the
Board have thought IL proper TO call your particu
| lar attention. These relate TO the manner in which
the Cadets supplied with board and necessa-
ries. Under the present system, there IL a pur-
veyor who receives a regular salary, and whose
business II IL TO buy whatever may be required for
the Mess house, see TO IL proper preparation,
troll the walters, laundresses, &c, and in fact at
tend 10 all matters connected with this part Of the
establishment. The amount expended by him Il
sscertained every two months, credit IL given for
whatevs may have been sold, such a. offsl, &c,
and the balance IL charged to the Cadets, whose
board accordingly varies with the markets from
time 10 time-the average being about nine dollars
per month. From the very minute Investigations
that have been made into this subject by a Com
mittee Of the Board, there i some reason 10 be-
heye that this average may be sufficiently reduced
10 Justify the experiment Of change in the pres-
ent system; not that the Board would be under
stood TO doubt the propiety Of the purveyors con
duct in the responsible position which he holds;
but the present system i tself Improvement,
and very great one, too, on that which preceded
IT, and the Board reason TO think that the
minimum cost Of supplying the Cadets with fare
equal in all respects 20 that which they have,
has been attained The change which they would
| recommend would be the employment here Of a
Commissary, a officer Of the army who should have
the whole matter In charge, with such assistance
| might b. necessary for The proper management oi
the Mess house. The Board believe that in this
way, the expenses Of the Mess-bouse may be
brought more nearly on par with similar ex-