The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-08-13
APPOINTMENT OF CADETS IN VIRGINIA

Our attention has been attracted by article in the
Virginia Valley Democrat Of the 18th ultmo the sig
nature of the Hon. j. Lecher crcsng the action of the
War Department in regard to the recent appointment OF
cadets from Virginia On referring the papers cited by
him, find the facts to be as follows
Some time after the appointments made this year.
article appeared in the Valley Democrat of June Sd
speeding "a fragrant outrage committed by the Secretary of
War in the appointment of cadets from Virginia, and
charging that he had given eight cadets to the dis
trcts of Virginia. and but FIVE cadets to the six
districts of Virgna"thus giving to district
in Virginia two cadets and to the Tenth
Legion district Whereupon occasion is taken to make
violent assault upon the administration for its Partially
for eastern Virginia and neglect of the districts in ques
| ton.
This article being brought the notice Of the Secretary
of War by the Hon. Mr. Faulkner, drew from him letter.
which is given at length in Mr. Letcer article and which
| we republish
WAR DEPARTMENT
Washington, June "a, 1854.
Sm: have received your letter enclosing slip from
The Valley Democrat of the Sd instant in which there is
an editorial article charging that this department. in making
the annual appointments of cadets for the Military
Academy gave cadets to congressional district in
eastern Virginia. and to the Tenth Legion district
This exhibition of Partially by the admin
istraon for Virginia. and outrage upon the tenth
district.
There is only district in Virginia he 4th) which has
two West Point. These cadets however, APP
pointed by the late Administrations and before the State
dsrcted under the They residents Of
the old I'd and 4th districts respectively and appointed
those Districts but by the act of the Virginia legislature
part of the I'd district from which its cadets
united the 4th to form district which has thus two
by the this department of this admins
raion but by the act of the legislature of Virginia in
modelling districts from which appointments had been made
properly according law under the late administration
the number of cadets from every State is limited by
law the number of representatives Congress- is obvious
congressional district has two Cadets other
be without any, This difficulty occurred in Illinois
Ohio and New York, well in Virginia, those State,
having been dstriced since the last appointments
made and the department. in order to determine which dis
the loss should fall upon asked the advice of the
Congress from the districts in each State
They however, failed in the two States to agree
conclusion the department then determined that
those of the districts should remain
which cadets had recently been appointed There
great difficulty in applying this principle the districts
question made of portions of other districts from
which appointments had been made at various times, but
best consideration the department could give the
subject the 9th district of Virginia believed to fall with
/ in the rule.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JEFF. DAVIS,
Secretary of War;