The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1852-06-30
Pierce as an Anti-Galphin-West
Point Academy.

extracts. Let etevery anti Galphia. every ad-
yoca,e Of economy. aud friend o. Democra-
cy, read them Gen. Pierce is the man to
kick out the whole brood Of Galphins aud
l'ardeners. lTo Sill do IL
"Mr Chairman:-An attempt was made
Turing The lasr Congress TO bring the subject
oi The Reorganization of the Military Acad-
emy before me c0nnTy, through a report Of
committee. The same thing has been
donezdaFing- the present session, again and
again, but alt efforts have proved unSuccess-
full Sill, you do not cease TO call for appro-
priations; Jou require tie peoples money
fofthe support Of the institution, while YOU
refuse them the hght necessary to enable
Ihsm tojulge OF Your annual acquisitions.
Sir, why has this investigation been res
sisted? Is il not al institution which has
already cost this country more than three
milioas OF dollars, for which you propose, in
this very bill, an appropriation Of more than
one hundred and thirty thousand dollars,
and which at the same time, in the estima-
ton of large portion Of the citizens of this
Cnion has failed, eminently failed, to full
fill the objects for which it was established.
OF sufficient interest and Importance to claim
the consideration ola committee of this House,
itself?
"Itis graiuitous, because those who are so
fortunate Us to obtain admission there eceive
their education without any obligation ex-
cept such as a SENSE Of honor may impose,
10 return either by service or otherwise, the
slightest equivalent. 1t is exclusive, mas
much as only one youth out of population
Of mere than AZ, 900 can participate in its ad-
vantages at the same time; and those who
are successful are admitted at an age, when
their characters cannot have become deyel-
oped, and with veryiittle knowledge of their
adaptation, mental or physical, for military
life. The system dlSregards one OF those
great principles which. carried into practice,
contributed, perhaps, more than any other,
to render the arms of Napoleon inyncible
for so many years. Who does not perceive
that it destroyes the very life and spring of
military ardor and enthusiasm, by utterly
foreclosing all hope OF promotion to the SOL
dier and non commissioned officer. How
ever meritorous may be his services, how
eyer preeminent may become his qualfca-
lions for command all unavailing. The por-
tcullis is dropped between him and prefer
ment; the wisdom ofyour laws having pro-
vided another criterion than hatofadmitted
courage and conduct, by which to determine
who are worthy of command. They have
made an Academy, where certain number
of young gentlemen are educated annually
OF tho iio 4 i,l,, u d:
OF consequece, general rush, not so much
from sentiments of patriotism and a taste for
military lie, as from motives less worthy
the avenue, and the only avenue, to rank
in your army. These als truths, Mr. Chair
man, which no man will pretend to deny;
and leave it for this House and the nation
to determine whether they do not exhibit a
spirit of excusveness, alike at variance
with the genius Of your Government and the
efficiency and chivalrous character Of your
military force.
"Sir, no man can feel more deeply inter.
ested in the army, or entertain higher re-
gard for it, than my self. My earliest recol-
iections cannot themselves fondiy and CRATE
fully with the names OF the brave men who,
re linquishing tie queit and security of civil
life, were stalking their al! upon the defence
Of their country's rights and honor One of
the most distinguished among that noble
band now occupies and honors a seat upon
this floor.
Il, is not fit that should indulge in ex-
pressiops ofpersonal respect and admiration,
which am sure would find hearty respose
in the bosom OF every member OF this com
mittee. ] allude to him mrely to express
the hope that, on some occasion, we NAV
have upon this subject. the benefit of his ex-
perience and observation And il his opin-
ions shall differ from nay own, promise
carefully to review every step by which
have been led to my present conclusions
1ou cannot mistake me, sir; | refer to the
hero Of Erie. have declared myself the
friend OF the army, Satisfy me, then, what
measures are calculated torender it effective,
and what all desire it to be, and go for the
proposition with my whole heart.
''But cannot beive that the Military
Academy, as at present organized, is calcu-
lated to accomplish this desirable end. It
may and undoubtedly does, send forth into
the country much military knowledge; but
the advantage whien your army, or that
which viii constitute your army in time of
need, derives from it, is by no means COM
mensurate wilI<he expense you incur. Here,
Mr.. Chairman, permit me to say that deny,
utterly, the eXrediency, and the right to ed
ncate, at the public expense, any number of
young men who, on the completion of their
education. are not to form portion of your
military force, but to return to the walks of
private lille,
"The magazine Of facts, to prove it at the
same glance the extravaganza and unfruit-
fulness of this institution is not easily exhaus-
ted, but | am admonished by the lateness of
the hour 20 omit many considerations which
regard as both interesting and important.
viii only detain the committee to make
single statement. placing side by side, some
aggregate results. There has already been ex-
pended upon this institution more than three
hundred thousand dollars. Between 1915
and 1921, thirteen hundred and eighteen
students were admitted into the Academy, and
of all the cadets who were ever there, only
two hundred and sixty five remained in the
service 81 the end OF 1880. Here are the
expenses you have incurred, and the pro-
ducts you have realized.
IL leave them to be balanced by the pco-
pie, But for myself, believin as do, that
the Academy stands forth as an anomaly
among the institutions Of this country, that
il is at variance with the spirit, if not the
letter Of the Constitution under which we live;