The true Democrat., 1854-05-16
Benton's Speech on the West Point
 Riding House.

Mr. Benton. The riding house IS not abso- lutely new acquaintance with me. l recol- lect years ago. applications were made, some of which were successful, for appropriations for this house for quitation-learning to ride on horseback. believe they were called "exer- cises in equtation," which being translated into English, means riding on horseback. Laugh ter. recollect that about 1886, $3O,OOO were appropriated at one time for this house for ex- ercising in equitation, which sum was in addi- tion to the appropriations made before. I thought when that $3O,OOO was added, that we should have no more of these appropriations, but here is an application for $2OOOO more. I have read the recommendation which the vi- sitors have made in behalf of it. Doubtless the visitors are very clever and popular men,
 But l have been accustomed to look at the reports which come from these visitors at West Point as coming from the professors themselves, through the hstrumentality of committee of these visitors. Every one of the reports which have examined seems to be drawn up by the head of the branch of business which that par ticular section of the board is assigned to exa- mine. l never had good opinion of these boards of visitors. When we paid them trihe there was an overwhelming number of applica- tlons to get appointments as visitors to West Point, and members of Congress often carried the day, getting little mileage and some small pay besides. We afterwards stopped this, but made appropriations for subsistence and .din- ners, while the visitors remained there; and such is the love of office and compensation of some kind or other, that for a mere belly full of meat and wine there has always been throng of applicants to the War Office for appointments upon the Board of Visitors.
 For near twenty years was chairman of the Senates committee on military affairs. From my position, and from the fact of having once belonged to the army myself, 1 was a sort of natural line of visitors to West Point, but I would never go there. The reason why was this: l knew that no person who begged their appointment there as visitors would ever sign report that would draw up, and l knew that never would sign report which they would draw up, or would be drawn up for us; and so never went there. 1 recollect very well the old debates about this riding house. I am not able to say how many appropriations were made for 1t, but l recOllect one of S3O,OOO.- When that was made, members from the West were astonished at hearing of the hardships of these young gentlemen, in having to ride upon horseback in cold weather, in hail and snow, and also in the hot, burning sun, and it was sug- gested by various members that 1t would be economy to reduce the young gentlemen to the degree of protection against bad weather to which the young women and old women of New England were subjected by giving them parasol for the sun, an umbrella for the rain and pelisse for cold day. It was then said by New Eng laud men-and 1 could name one gentleman who said that the young women and the old women of his State all rode about dur
 ing all kinds of weather in the open air; and New England was further north than West Point; and that the people of the country work ed in the open air; not two or three hours a day. but for the whole day; and that their sons did the same-even half-grown boys
 Well, the objections were voted down, and the appropriations were carried-how many 1 do not know, but I recollect one of S3O,OOO. in the academy about that time When read the other day the recommendation of those vi- sitors, and saw the appeal they made for help to the young gentlemen; when saw the words "danger to life and limbo-those were the words, I think; am mistaken?
 MT. Haven. did not hear the gentleman.
 MT. Benton. Danger to life and limb''- were not those the words?
 MT. Haven. Those are the words believe.
 Mir. Benton. "Danger to life and limb" not of the horses, but of the young cadets in learning to ride in such naughty houses which had cost so much money. When that was read in my family, it was suggested by some of the children that the floor be carpeted, and mattresses be placed around the room, so that when the young men roll off their horses they ma m met ba of endanger life and limb" Laughter1 Why, sir the fve-year old boys of the Utah nation would be ashamed to have themselves put into boys will drive away the stock outside of any stockade in which these house taught riders con- mand, who have learned to perform equestra- tion in house. Laughter. Ihave authority for saying these fve-year old Utah boys would gallop around these house-tought riders all day, and drive off their stock in their view.
 l want the yeas and nays upon the amend ments when we get to the place for them, when the bill gets into the House, and wish the pro- vision in regard to the entertainment of the visitors stricken out. Surely, the race has not gone by, the race is not wholly extinct who do something for their country without a mer- cenary motive, and reward either in meat or IuOuty. Cdu TeCOlIcCC when the noaQS or the community, men of some age, who had acted their parts, and provided for themselves and their families, were ready to giveup some share of time fort benefit of eleemosynary and chari- table institutions, and for public institutions, such as colleges and universities, and do it at their own expense. And then high order of men were got for the purpose. Now, disnte- rested service is getting out of date. Congress offers inducement, in meat or money, to get vi- sitors. Those who value the inducement ap- ply fer the place and getit. High-minded men will not contend with them. The visitation falls into unfit hands, and the result is areport from the professor himself, fathered by com mittee of the visitors who have begged their places, and get their meat and wine free while wondering at what is shown them, and singing what is drawn up for them.
 "FLL SEE TAAT ONE AND Go FIVE BET TER''-If the following, which we clip from the last Spirit of the Times, is not from the pen of the author of "The Arkansas Gentleman" we loose our guess:
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