The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-28
He REPUBLIC.
Report OF the Board OF Visitors or the Mill
itary Academy, West Point, 1919.
To the Hon. GEO w CRAWFORD,
Secretary OF War.

To the Hon GEO. W. CRAwroRD,
Secretary OF War.
wrsr PoiSr, June Is, ls4s.
Sir: The undersigned, the Board of Visters in
yited TO attend the examination of the cadets of the
Military Academy, commencing on the first Mon
day of The present month, and TO take into consid
Grafton the various matters suggested in your let
ter of invitation, met mt this place at the time APP
pointed, and, having performed the duties deyolv-
ing them, make the following report
The object Of the institution being the education
of young men, with view TO their becoming Of
hcers in the different of the military service
of the country, the effort of the Board has been 10
ascertain, whether this was accomplished in the
manner designed BY Government; whether the sys-
TEN pursued for ths purpose was proper one;
and if SO, whether any thing was wanting to make
il more efficient and available.
The education of the Cadets is of two kinds-sci-
entific and military. In some arms OF the service
both of these are directly brought into reausiton
In all arms the union Of the two may become
valuable and important. The same course of study
therefore, is pursued by all the pupils of the insti-
tuition: and those who cannot, from want of capa-
city, or will not, from negligence, attain the ex-
ceence in their respective studies which has been
fixed upon as the standard, are dismissed from the
Academy, as their deficiency is from time to time
ascertained But, as the degrees of excellence
must be as various as there are individuals who
accomplish the course prescribed, the opportunity
is always afforded, in the distribution Of gradu
ating class among the different of the service
of giving to each of the individuals whose acquire
ments are particularly adapted to it, system of
rewards IL thus created, under whose strong iniu-
ences the pupil finds himself from the time he en-
tiers the Academy until he receives his promotion.
A better system could not well be devised, or one
more likely to produce constant exerton, either to
attain an honorable position, or to avoid dismiss
SAL which, however mild may be its form, must be,
at all events, an unpleasant memory, if not OBJ
stacle TO success in after life.
This possibility Of dismissal scarcely seems to be
sufficiently considered by those upon whom the
appointment of Cadets depends; and young men
are too often sent to the Academy, who are so to-
tally unfit, to make it cruelty to subject them
the course of study necessary to qualify them to
enter any one corps in the army. Sometimes they
are dismissed at once. Sometimes they struggle
on, year after year, only to be dismissed at last
and after they have acquired habits inconsistent
with the pursuit of civil life. Sometimes, after
dismissal, they returned to the Academy by
superior authority, only to be dismissed again.
Sometimes this occurs more than once in the
of the same individual; and, at last the army may
receive officer whose ignorance or insubordina-
ton, Cadet, has furnished ample proof of his
want of ability to command with intelligence or
success,
These considerations have suggested to the Board
to recommend thus prominently in their report,
greater care in the bestowal of appointments than
has heretofore in all cases been observed, well
TO save the Cadet from modification and injury as
the Government from discredit and loss and espe-
stitution, that the sentences Of dismissal pro-
nounced at the Academy should be considered as
final and conclusive, unless upon the clearest and
most satisfactory evidence that gross wrong has
been done to the individual. Unless this last recon-
mendation should be acted upon uniformly, there
is much reason to fear that all the salutary nflu-
ences of rigid discipline will be lost the inst-
tuition, and the authority of the Academic Board
grow into q matter Of contempt.
The Board have attended regularly the exam-
of N he'll lies
from day TO day, and have compared the impress
sion made by their several performances with the
record showing their standing from week to week,
during the term. They have also far as
they deemed it necessary, by a change of propo-
stions and the suggestion OF incidental questions,
tested the character of the examination and have
como unhesitatingly to the conclusion that the
method of instruction is admirable, and the in
struction itself most thorough and full To pass
the examination at West Point the Cadet must un-
derstand what has been taught him. No exercise
here can be committed to memory and glibly par
roted as a string of words. The Communications of
the Board, thus cheerfully expressed, are not due
merely 10 the smooth recitatons Of the Cadets, or
any of them, who were examined before them. On
the contrary, il more frequently happened that the
most satisfactory examination was one where the
individual hesitated first, and perhaps through
oot, bat who, finally and slowly, came TO the cor
rect conclusion, he stood before the Board, by
the strong and concentrated mental effort which
be was most evidently making, not TO remember
adjustment would bring him to the right results.
The Board are quite aware that single cxzmi-
nation can afford but imperfect means Tor ascer-
tanning the proficiency Of any one individual ex-
amined, and that the determination of this must
necessarily be left TO the Judgment OF the Academic
Roard But no such difficulty exists in forming a
INDICTMENT Of the merit Of the Professor, whose ex-
animation OF his pupils continues from Gay to day
In the presence Of the Board, who are thus enabled
90 see the extent of his knowledge, his facility in
"a nd ms
performing the duties of an instructor. And when
Inc Board have observed that the dull have caused
no impatience, that the inaccurate have not been
permitted 90 slur their ignorance, and that the
intelligent and quick, while they have been tested
by varying questionings, have been treated with
no more consideration than the heaviest scholars
in the class, they would be withholding the NEED
of a Just praise il they did not on this occasion
commend in the highest terms the Professors
whose classes have been examined before the
Board ,
There il one matter, however, which, in the
ooinion of the Board, IL not az II should be, and
which might be considered az almost character
i.tic of the examination. They refer 10 the indis
tnct utterance Of the Cadets. They stood with The
erectness hrmness, and respect OF soldiers; with
what indeed might generally be called gallant
bearing; while in too many instances they spoke
even when they were most familiar with the sub
iect. in a manner almost inarticulate; 30 that i
was necessary for their instructor 20 tell those
"speak out" who were shortly 10 be called TO com
nsnd men in situations where the tone OF the
voice would be one Of the most potent means o.
inspiring confidence. To these remarks the Board
are rlad TO say there many exceptions, which
Of itself induces the Board 20 believe, that, II :
clear and distinct utterance II made part OF ths
instruction which a Cadet receives along with hi'
mathematics or philosophy, these exceptions vii
become in little while the general rule Of the in
stitution.
The Board see no reason 10 recommend any
other change in the course of study than That o.
substituting Physiology for Logic, az recommended
IN the report Of the Committee ON Instruction, anc
Tor the reasons there given at length. That th'
Cadet should have been able 10 pass the eramina-
ton which they did in pure logic, wa most credit
able 10 them and their instructors But useless or
comparatively useless, knowledge may be ably
taught and thoroughly acquired; and the Board
cannot help thinking that logic falls into this cate
CORY an regards young men whose powers OF close
rr.soning would seem 10 have been improved te
,hefr utmost by other stnAis-, taught hsta.i..a
tics and Natural Philosophy are taught at the ~'h
tary Academy.
Anoong ,ther matters which have been suggeste'
a. The Hard for consideration, has been the exPe
G.nrv OF increasing the length Of the term OF IN
,r,,ction AT est Point 10 FIVE years, which woul'
10 adding a year 10 the time which IL now requires
80 compIete the course. The great argument y
favor OF such addition would EXIST IN the iac'