Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-08-19
vfrgfaia Military Imssituie.


vfrsiaia Military Imssttuic.
The following communication from Professor
Mahan. was published short time since in thu
Richmond Enquirer. As an able and valuable
tribute to one ofour noble State Institutions, ",
take pleasure in laying it before our readers.
To the Editors Of the Enquirer:
LYscHnuRe, Aug. 8, 1859.
Messrs. Editors: Professor Mahan, of the
West Point Military Academy, has honored
me with the following letter. the system oi
education taught at our Military Institute.
1t contains SO much that is practicable and vi.
uable, cannot. in justice 10 that institute, with
hold 1t from the public; and hope you may
conveniently. Mt an early day. find place for
II in your column. AS feel that the opinion
fone 80 eminen'ly qualified TO speak as he is,
both from education and from an experience
OF thirty years, rs student and professor al
West Point. must I've valued and appreciated.
Very respectfully Your obi srrv't,
JOHN G. MEM.
My Dear Sir: Our conversation on the Vir-
ginia Military Institute. respecting which you
expressed wish To have my opinion some
what fully, as made mp from my recent visit 10
II, was so short that am afraid il wes sat,stac
tory neither 10 you nor myself. Having now
q leisure moment. have though, YOU might be
pleased 10 have v hat then said Ihrowp into a
more connected form.
will premise by stating, that my opporiu
mites for making up an opinion on such sub
jeot, however may have profted by tlem,
have been mote than ordinarily good--belng
acquainted, from persona, observation, both
with The workings Of our own National Militia.
ny School and some of the best in Europe
j visited The Virginia Military Institute with
no prepossession either Tor or against tin
truth, had rather abstaincd from asking IN.
formation respecting II from some who were
well posted upon It's concerns. that might see
and Judge for myself In this condition Of
quasi indifference. can state that, sfier at
tentive and careful observation, ] was most
highly gratl6ed with tho qtial0ments ol it's pu.
pills, the stute of its discipline as military exer.
cises, and the excellent organization and ar
engagements in all its departments of inslruc-
ton aud administration, The results The
strongest testimony TO the wigdom and singu.
lar fitness for his position of Col. T. II. Sm:b.
Its Superintendent, and of the ability aud 6del
ity with which the faculty and other officers
under him have discharged their imporar,
duties II is but justice 10 say 1t, and certain
iy no dlspqragement 10 9ny other institution
that the exam nations throughout would have
done credit to any school IN tho country
Problems involving the mos, difficult scientific
principles were clearly and thoroughly discuss
cd. and in way 10 leave no doubt ON the mind
OF any one Competent TO understand them o.
their being perfectly comprthended by tn,
pupils. Even uheie futures took place
they showed that there had been no remiss
H.. - IL 4 1
what was sill better. that there was no at.
tempt nor aeslio TO cover UP any thing from an
attentive observer.
The value OF this school to Virginia is now
30 fully appreciated throughout the State. thu
seems hardly requisite TO ADVERT TO ii here
But. In contemplating our present abundance
retrospect OF iormer wants Is sometimes not
an Improbable employment Of time. II gives
assurance TO The prese nj and hope for the ia
ture Who. tina, recollects the state Of scen
tic instruction but lew years back-wthir
aperod familiar to the memory Of every ma 4
OF middle age in the Sta,c-evenin the highes
literary institutions of the Stale--cannot bea,
testimony TO ats low conditions If this is call
ed into question. let any one produce the tex
books explain the modes Of instruction then in
use, and state the amount Of requirement made
oy the pupils In abstract sci, nee. and say how
they compare with what obtains now at Tho
Virginia Military Institute and even in the hes
OF the common schools Of the State VIVA
was the CONDITION ofthose professions, in " hich
IKE the various departments OF engineer ring
abstract science 6nds its more mr ediate ap
Plicaions about the same period Was Their,
single native citizen of Virginia, educated
within the State, twenty Years ago, who coulc
1alrly lay claim 10 be called scientific, civi
or military engineer, as that term is now un
deistoodf What was then the condition o
nearly the entire class of school teachers the,
IN the State, both foreign and nativel tits true
there was no lack of pretensicn. even in Tia
highest schools. But il is fact, and one la
mentable enough. that. in too many cases. eithe
the teacher deluded himself. or deceived H.,
public. As TO the military knowledge diff
fused throughout the MALTA. there will proba
tly be no question. Amy claim for the light
est modlcum of it amongst the army of Gener
ais. Colonies. and other military tulars of,
State, with rare.very rareexceptions would sim
hstV mr. l.. T..