Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-08-20

1.-TWO yenrs alter their gfajUHfion. and deFoli
this time to the business ri instruction. j h.
wisdom Of this provision is felt in two fold
operation. Within The Institute il places tn,
State caJet -iJe by side with the pay cadet on
terms of perf.c; equality. IL brings honorable
and rneritorious poverty into Competition with
wealth. station aud influence, in the race for
honor; with the prize hefore them inscribed de-
tnr dignlori and the er ainty thati will beawar
ded rs inscribed. Without il is permea'ing III e
mass of the people with sound instruction
through, thoroughly taught teachers; and is
banshing the ignorant and pretentioas peda
gogues, who, in TOO many cases, have dIsgra
ced their vocation. ard retarded improvement.
Nothing should be left unIone to gather all
the fruits from his fertile germ and it has seem
ed 10 me that broader field for selection, and
a more rigid system of examination Into the
merits of this class Of applicants ight be safe
ly iried and would meet with punlic favor
II should he laid down as a principle, that. IN
HE institution If State CadCts. The otject aoas
MT o'ducat, tie poor as such, but 10 faster tai
ent when .f0und IN a pos,tion requiring such aid
as the State here furnishes for ITS Development
This at once deprives this provision oi a feature
perhaps the most disissteful To the American
mind the cleemosynary one. To Carry This prln
clple INTO practice, let some central spot neach
grand division of the State he desig ed where
mn examination shall be held annually by one
'r more examiners appointed by the Board
ut Visitors. Of all persons who shall present
themselves with the prescribed oondit ons Of
applicants. Let a carefully prepared report Of
tn. 81 examinations he forwarded To the Board
OF visitors al their annual meeting, stating char
acter. talents, requirements &c. 9th candi
dates; and let The Board select one, from
amongst The tire hig hest on each list. for the
ac'nt position In the Institute. This plan
strikes me us perfectly feasible considering the
number OF graduates now in the State. who
would doubtless accept this duty of examiners
with alacrity and who, Out OF regard 10 tn, rep
utaiion Of their alma Mater would through her
protect the interests of the State by inhexbie
Justice IN their decisions. There is no good rea
son in fact WI y this system should not he made
TO apply also 10 the pay cadets; and should it
he carried outfit will give the institute advanta-
ges possessed by no other institution in The
country, and in time make it to Virginia, what
The Polytechnic School has been 80 long 10
France and in fact to the world priaceps inter
or,ncipes,
But, after all, having done all this. how shall
they he taught without ,cacherl This class
mus, he men OF talents, men of high attainmcnts
aud men OF sterling chisracter.-nMIo narrow
minded State or sectional views should enter
into the selection OF these men Mr.. Jeffer
sons views on Il is point. with regard to the
University, were wise, but carried too far. With
hut rare exceptions, fore gners do not readily
enter INTO the American mind, and. when
brought to work with us. CO operate with diff
Guilty. This is more particularly true Of Col
l,.ua hraH Th.u 1T
can with difficulty conceal certain degree Of
contempt for American attainment and capn.
hility. Hence they have seldom been successful
when placed in the chairs of our Colleges
would not say exclude all such, but would say
admit with extreme precauiion. But would
60 no farther than this | would throw every
vacan, proiessorship open to the competition
OF the whole country, and would invite this
compeiition and the man who best met the
prescribed requirements should have it. ire
spectve of any other consideration. 1t will
he found. believe, as great mistake here.
las 1t has been seen even in the Polytechnic
IN France,) 10 confine such appointments to
alumni who have never been separated from
the school II will he found. | firmly believe,
| as deterorailng To the mental system as breed
ing IN and in Is known To- be tn the ply sical.-
] independently Of this, YOU Commence by con
| hnf e our selections to the limits Of the State;
imprrceP'ibly these become narrowed to a
neishborhood. with all the odious features of
4 a mere Clique, close borough. With this ex
/ elusive policy. l woud also discard the mig
\ sardly one that has too long disgraced all Con
dnions with us, THAI of remunerating teas hers
| and treating Them as the lowest class of hire
lngs. None hut U'en ofihe FIST talents should
be called to your chairs; and you should com
nand such hy wise and liberal treatment
And that such men. when so placed, should
ieel secure. would have them displaced only
upon specific charges openly prosecuted be
fore legally constituted tribunal for such
Purposes.
The Military Institute, l was gratifed to
find. has won strong y upon the confidence ard
good will of the people throughout the State
| Conducted, as il has been thus far, on princi.
pies of lmpartiality. and we'll considered
military estraint. it must retain these feeling.
and speedily become the fondling of the PEG
pie. Ii is in truth noble foundation, cvncng
| The wisdom of your public councils, not sim