The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-21

nn0y Ststot OF tho comb 1cracy, asseubou ~ IN q
place on the lat day Of june, sad organised tue
Board Of visi,ers fer tho year 1863 Tbs purssses
designed were TO attend thu snnusi exasisstisa 81
the coasts, 70 investigate TIA condition u the Ill
tsry Academy, in reference TO several subjects
brought TO their notcc By ysur Latter and 10 report
TO .ou the result of their Inquiries tegeshet with
any recommendations which might arpesr 30 them
\ Juo,otous or i'm portsnt
The board commenced their proceedings under
the profound conviction that q national Military
Acsocny, organised IL tho best manner and con-
Quoted on Just principles, iDust be OF the vcy high
est value 70 the United States II iseonscivod thst
ire pctod III stsbt when the passions OF individuals
she'll be subduet 70 perfec. hursnity aud tho sun
| bitious and cften interruptions rivalry Of DAaons
shall be diverted into the elevated paths Of generous
ana honorable competition in Industrial aad othor
| pursuits. War must, therefore, colt,nue Co be
prsctised and the science and art which guides its
arns to the surest aud speciest res1lui. while ia
volvDg in their study the usea and scqusintan ,cs
! with sfl the exact sciences and many of tho arts
should be thoroughly instructed TO oriit such in
struction would no TO place this conlcderscy far in
rear of all the enlightened nations Of tho world in
the scale Of importance, which 10 likewise that Of
self interest and responsibility, and the power Of
! self.Wotection would he greatly impaired. II may
| be we'll supposed that this country 10 not SO re-
mote in geographical position, 20 werful and -
prolific OF mcsns and appliances for resistance, "a 20
be exempt from the possibility OF hostile Invasion,
with IT'D train OF injurious consequences. Tho U-
tia Will con ttute the Of dcfen; 20; and
as in psst warfare, SO again in that Of the future
guarantees against entire suhjugaton. But to cast
among them tho seeds of military kuo Wedge;
to tso,n t.em in tho highest principles Of metbodi-
cal Uar; t1inpart TO tacm skill, and inspire thom
WITT confidence, would serve TO ensure and hasten
succese, while often averiing pors and always
pug the disgrace which 80 frequently results from
misdlrectcd efforts
Il may be assumed thst Impressions similar to
these induced the part Of Washington che urgent
and repeated Recommendations Of the fcuudstion Of
national military institution TIE very last (rub
shed) letter Of his life, OF the 18th Of December.
1850. contained plea ID its behalf. He desircd
such seminary 10 be established respccta-
BE anu extensive hoss" and he regarded it IS IAN
object of primary importance to the country. AS
the arewo legacy Of the father Of his coultry this
conception, afterwards embodied into durable form.
and existing at the present day, al ornament and
an honor to tlc ccnieaeracy, whilo It e q proud
nent to his patriotic forecast should DO f's-
tered and cherished by the American people.
The Academy ct West Point wss erected under
the administration Of Jefferson; and IN its humble
beginning destined to educate officers solely for
the corps Of military engiaeers. During the war of
1872 It's cloves distinguished for capacity aud
shi, and proved themselves the equals at least Of
their British antagouists. About chat period the
number Of codets was increased and tho course CT
instruction was enlarged. With the favor Of the
government and tho people, tleso have continued
their prog-eae 60 The present timo. Tho army, in
al It's arms Of service are recipients Of highly cdu-
cGsed ond accomplished officers. And the branches
ofknowiedge taught have become, in .heir variety
end extent, al chat eau no studied in the term Of
| four years IN consequence of the efficiency, the
eeant-y, and tha skill Of its graduates. displayed
more pa. ticula1y in the recent war, the Academy
| appears o: length to be duly appreciated by all
| classes Of our fellow. citizens.
The moment is favorap,e 20 extend lis usefulness
| 70 the entire country by emerging its sphere Of
| beugfts.
These would upqueaticnably enure from Increasing
tac number Of pupils: from impelling the energy
and kindiing tho enthlasu Of It's conductors Of all
grades, by justly, Il not generously ccmpensating,
taeg services; from adding ali the facilities OF COM
fort convenience, AID Of Instruction. by liberal ex-
penditures towards tae various improvements here
insitsr nentioned from extending the term of study
20 Ave years, which would elevate tae standard of
education teyord thct of any similar institution in
| tae yor.d; IN word, from Regarding the Military
Academy. Us the great national sarinary CT tue
science II var, and Is the nursery of mon fitted for
| sii the higher spheres of huUau sctop. anG in ac
corda1ce, chershing it With the nations affections.
ald QtoIo.lDg i.s nchlcst eads with TIE nations
| bou1 q.
III: Beard of Viaitt-s, after m;auts and faithful
eEsmDGtioc, eie eretifQd ii expressing tter entire
| sppfoiation Of the basis upon which the institution
w2s founded ard their concurrence WisL its general
| management. The 1ccuoH!ating er~rien3e OF fifty
| yesrei cSreiulv noted and improved upon il prao
tice frc tre "a time. when possible 20 do So leave
| little now TO bo altered. Ard tic board in the
/ I2Gin aaTe oply 20 rc0ormeno appropriations Cor
necessary ply sieo- improvements Il efo.d comfort
10 the professors aua give ftc.ties for certain il
st'uction while pacing tte Acsncny on The most
respectable inot,ng III III tie departments arc ds
L
ard tie efficiency il The aGaEtatio of tho r.eans
&c seeure the design. IL the external improvements
i tie military exercises u The branches Of study,
(cxcSrt;nc loeic): II The administration md super.
rteudeh 90 Of uis It's oGairs and IN flo discipline
which, sanctioned by the aGthority Of law and in
dispeasable r. tic emieeut Of military in
stituton, is the grand cement OF all the parts CIV
| ing symmetry OF form and yigor Of action TO the
united whole, the board give their cordial assent
| ard commentator
With the view Of inssituiing the most searching
scrutiny which tie brief period OF less than three
weeks would permit, committees were appointed
| from the board, TO each Of which prominent sub
4 jeet was intrusted Reports were rendered, and
having been discussed before the board, aad adop-
| ted in some cases after being amended, they con
stitute tho BODY Of The general report, and accom-
| papy it in the olGcr ia which they presented
ana accepted Ia order 70 attract moro readily the
| attention. the general recommendations OF the
board 20 BIO found distributed through tho reports
Of the cominittess and few rot reported on, are
| grouped together AID numbered as follows
| Lit ia Recommended thGt sixty-t~o additional
cadets be authorized 10 CORES pond 70 the Senator's,
| allowing two for each 6taio.
| 2--That the pay Of tue cadets be increased 1920
ronth, or making $3.50 per mouth, which was
granted previously TO isi5; the smocnt at pres.
ent is insufficient, (S2i). Nearly al who graduate
are Involved in dsbt in despite Of the practice here
/ Of the most rigid 81 stem Of economy
That the ray Of the supeTintendent be in
creased frou 81 900 to 81 900 The eutestaiuement
Of distinguished lleu, scientific and otherwise, from
ab!oaj and ct home VITO visit this place, IS thrown
almost wholly on THIS ooer. And Tor the credit Of
| the tospi'rlity Of the nation, it muet be and is
| homo. lhe present superintendent has in somo
ycare since being stationed at .his post, ex
1 expended GS000 over us pay
4-TEat ite pay of instructors Of drawing aud
French, be made equal with that o. the principals
in other departments. They receive 81 500 year,
tbs others 81 co.,
5-Tsat tie instructors fpriucipal), Il practical
engineering GRd OF ARTILLERY, &c, be allowed the
same ocnp. asOtion as other principal professors.
G-That tho irst assistent instructors of drawing
md Ffcueh to a.lcred tic ZANE pay the fr5t as-
sistput il o. She other departments. There il
reason in the world Why The present distinction
should exist
THAT I'll the secondary instructors and teach
ers taken frcua The ermy DO allowed dollars per
month extra pay. The expenses OF dress aud board
Al q much greater here than elsewhere in servicc;
~. -. Ia 70 Ind