The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-08-13

Hon. G. j. FAULKNER,
House of Representatives.
From the comments which Mr. Letcher makes in this let
ter, we extract the following:
AZ have read the letter of the Secretary carefully, and
loss to know why my district selected the
district to be denied cadet have called the attention of
other persons it, and have yet meet with the first
who determine from it upon what principle the Secretary
acted appeal to each and all of constituents to decide
whether the letter presents single that justified him
in Withholding from my district right which prompt
y accorded to others. Can any rational tell why the
Secretary should have selected the district of my
league Mr. Faulkner and should have repuated the
district which representa- y
Can any rational tell why he should have selected the
Sd, 5h 10TH and 18th Districts each of which then
cadet West Point and should have repuated district
which represent, and which vacant; conceive
principle which would work out such results: does
the Secretary inform us what the principle isl
We have omitted that portion of the artcleby far the
greater part of itn which the writer it ques-
ton between his district and Virginia. because
appreended that with this the department had nothing
do; in its view the State unit and the question
between the congressional districts not between eastern
Virginia and any other portion of the State With regard
to the point made in favor OF Mr. Letchers district as he
ing vacant, while the others had cadets may well
dispose of it here by stating that all the appointments
were made for the next academic year, commencing in
June when the cadets from the 3d. 5th l0th and 18th
districts would graduatethus creating vacancies which
the appointments fill and the only difference
between them and the cadet from Mr. Letchers district
that they had passed their examinations and would
main the Academy till the close of their time while the
latter had failed pass his examination and left the cad
envy His district can therefore derive additional claim
from this circumstance.
The difficulty in the thus; In redisricting
the State last year. the legislature threw into the new
fourth district, which had a cadet additional county
from which there also cadet the Acaden1ythus
putting cadets the district If now the other
twelve districts to be kept full there would be in all
fourteen cadets from Virginia. which than the law
allows the alternative therefore presented either 10
dismiss of the cadets from the fourth district or to
leave district vacant until the number should by
graduation casualty, be brought within the legal limit
The first branch of the proposition could not be enter
tained-that to dismiss from the Academy cadet sim
ply because his State had thought proper to annex the
county OF his residence to congressional district already
having cadet at the Academy. The only method was,
then to leave untitled district already 1t APP
feeling the difficulty of deciding between them asked the
aid of the representatives from those districts by addressing
the following letter to each of them:
Wan DEPARTMENT.,
Washington, April Is 1854.
SIR The object in making the appointment of cadets some
months previous the time of their admission the Mill
ary Academy is to enable them make the preparations
necessary to their entrance therein.
As the period for their admission is fast approaching
specially call your attention to the vacancies in dis
rcts of Virginia. and request that the nominations Of the six
cadets which they entitled may be made by yourself
and colleagues at early day practicable, you de-
cline to act that you viii notify of such decon in order
that the department may till them.
would suggest that it is not necessary to await the pas
of the resolution increasing the number Of cadets
pending, before taking action in this matter The existing
vacancies be filled they viii have to be if the reolu
ton fails psss) without reference III and should pass