The daily republic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1853-1853, 1853-07-25


despising the clamor of the ignorant, the impu-
dent, the selfish, and the envious.
Your obliged fellow-citizen,
Thomas H. BENTON
From the Union.
Report Of the Board of Visitors to the
West Point Academy.
@ WEsT PoMr, Juno lS, 1853.
Sin: In acceptance of an invitation addressed
to the undersigned by the Department of War, we
assembled at West Point on the first of June inst,
and proceeded, by the election Of president and
secretary, duly to organize the Board of Visitors
for the year 1853. Immediately after our organi-
1stion we were conducted by Colonel Lee, accom-
panied by the academic staff, through the several
departments of the Military Academy, and there
by afforded an ample opportunity to become ac-
quainted with its internal regulations and arrange
ments.
BY vote of the board, committees were an
pointed upon the subjects of instruction, disci-
| pline, police administration, and fiscal affairs
who, after having attended to the duties assigned
them, reported to the board, and their reports ara
herewith transmitted. The examination of the
cadets commenced on the I'd day of June, at nine
clock a.. M, and continued till one o clock D.
m, and from three o clock to FIVE O'Clock D. M,
| and during the same hours from day to day, Sum
days excepted, till the 18th day Of June, when it
was concluded. The examination was conducted
in the presence of the Board Of Visitors, chiefly
by the professors in the several departments aided
by their assistants, and extended to all the branch
of instruction through which the several classes
had passed during the previous year. The mode
OF examination was eminently thorough, and
adapted to test severely the scholarship Of cadets
| With but few exceptions, we are happy to report
that the test was borne with distinguished success
At the board there was but one opinion as to the
great value of this institution to the American
Republic. The conviction was clear in every
hath hos
ence be difflsed, and skill in the art Of war at
tanned, so generally and successfully as by this.
II war is still to be practised among the nations,
and if we as nation have no guarantee of per-
/ etual exemption from it's calamities, then the
cultivation of the art of war, even to the highest
possible degree, is entirely consistent with the
strongest claims of humanity Here knowledge
becomes invested with the attribute of mercy as
well as power. The truly skilful general, who
knows how to adapt the best means to the end
proposed, while, he conquers, saves human life,
| and often saves but to conquer.
The moral power of this institution in its adapt
edness to secure to Union internal tranquility
and preserve unbrOken our pacific relations with
foreign powers, can hardly be over-estimated In
the highest and most comprehensive sense it is
national IN its character, representing in its MEM
bers every State in our growing Confederacy, and
Proffering It's high privileges to intrinsic merit,
regardless of the Fictitious distnc tons incident to
almost every form of human society. No sec
tional or social jealousies can here be awakened
The cadets are al! the sons Of the Republic, and
learn to regard with 6al affection every part of
it as their common country. At the very COM
mencement of their cadetship, under the solemn
sanctions of an appeal to their Maker they pledge
themselves to o life of fidelity to the American
Union; and through the whole period of their
training, they are brought under influences admi-
rably fitted to cherish and strengthen within them
patriotism as broad in it's scope and lofty in its
aims as was the spirit which animated the i'm
mortal founders Of this priceless Confederacy.
At the same time, by the efficient maintenance
OF this institution, foreign powers admonished,
that while it shall ever be our aim to render exact
justice to them, we have both the disposition and
the ability to maintain and defend our rights and
honor as nation. History abundantly proves
that IN adequate state of national defence is the
surest guarantee for the continuance Of national
peace; and events in our own history, fresh in
every mind, show that we have no arm of defence
on which we may rely with higher confidence than
the skill and bravery of the sons Of West Point.
Moreover, if it is important to the perpetuty
of our popular system of Government that useful
knowledge should be generally diffused among the
people, what agents can be found more efficient
in the accomplishment Of this end than the we'll
disciplined and highly accomplished graduates of
this institutiOn-scattered as they are through
every State of eur Underwriting theory with
Notwithstanding the practical value of sci
cnce- charging its Observation-Disclosures the
mans dominion over nature? ~
We all agree in sentiments of profound respect
for the learning and high character, the wisdom
and discretion, of the officers at the head of the
institution, composing the academic board We
were strongly impressed with the high physical
intellectual, and moral bearing of the cndets, and
the evidence exhibited at their examination of
their close attention to study, and their DISPOSE
ton and ability to learn. G&
We are of the opinion that important improve
ments should be made in some Of the present
buildings, and that several new ones should be
erected. We are entirely united in the conviction
that nothing should be left undone necessary to
place the institution in the highest state of eff
ciency and that the present is the time to accom-
plsh the object, while we have at the head of the
War Department an officer who knows how to
appreciate its value, from its effects upon tho
welfare OF the country in war as well as in peace.
LIST. The revised regulations for the United
States Military Academy require that instruction
shall be given in cavalry tactics. To carry out
this requirement, we all of us entirely salts
fed that new building should be erected with
out delay A decent regard for safety to the lives
and limbs of the cadets requires this, well
their successful progress in this branch of nstruc
ton. II is the opinion of the Superintendent that
the course OF equitation cannot be properly taught
without it, and that the room now used for the
purpose is extremely dangerous to the lives and
limbs of the cadets.
1t is estimated that, in addition to the amount
appropriated, ($2,0O0,) the sum of $2l, 1877 will
be required for this object.
Cd. The cadets hospital should be enlarged and
improved. brick front should be built extend
ing to the centre, flush with the front of the
wings, to connect wards with the additional space
70 formed by cutting the present windows into
la, IN