Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-01-05
For the Journal.
. ~, CnroIlaa Scientific and Military Academy
Nn 4.

zI.ssDs EDITORS y am pleased to that Col.
,,aoros has in the House of Commons, introduced
LII 70 create Scientific and Military School tor
North Carolina think it is quite time tnat our
roonIe were moving in the matter Why not suggest
the calling together of the people, IN the various
towns and counties, to express then opihio" uPon
This matter. | have conversed With ln"hy VI o"i
ople in different parts Of the State IN relatlon 70
THE school and all to be In favor OF organizing
onoa and that this Legislature should take the
rooossor,, steps TO " set the ball IN notion"
Ts hardly necessary to tell any one, at this day,
.,ot what our people want in the way of an insttu
; If learning for their sons, is scientific and Proc-
5 school A school where the boy is taught hoU
10 he a useful citizen, and if the time should ever
come (which God grant may never be,) for the South
n take arms in defence of her institutions, these boys
will be ready to take the field in her sacred cause,
with such kaoayedge will enable them to lead you
on 10 victory Again, the time may not be distant
when North Carolina may be called, once more, TO
send forth her sons in defence of our common coun-
trv' Is there any member of this Legislature that
yonl3 not blush to see her gallant volunteers badly
Offered, led in such a manner as TO disgrace the
State? or to hold position in the line inferior to
he otherwise, if we do not provide for some perma
nent military Observation-Disclosures that may be
difused Throughout, the State by the graduates, as
well as by the instruction that will be obtained by
those invited to attend the annual encampment. AL
most every other State has moved IN tins matter al
ready and shall we be the last, the gerry last TO give
our sons such educaons as will enable Them 10 stand
proudly by the side OF any on me pdIUIe-nelu or at
the COunCboard
1t is proposed, in this bill, 10 combine the military
with the scientific; to make men Of boys; to give
them such educatons would fit them at once for
the active and practical duties of life. The military
department is made subordinate to the scientific. The
real Cgn of incorporating the State military schools
was to copy after West Point" where the comblna-
ton (there from necessity, as TO ut young men tor
the amy,) wasa Thought to be admirably adapted TO
deVelOpe all the mind Of the student without impair
ing his healh At West Point the student is required
to study ten TO t1celUe hours day. How could STU
dent endure this great tax upon the mind without
corresponding exercise of the body? Hence the daily
drill infantry, cavalry, or artillery, for every day in
the year, except Sundays Christmas, and the 4th OF
July BY requiring this regular exercise the health
of The student is preserved, and his body kept, with
his mind in condition TO learn the most in the ten
tlrelue hours allotted to study.
The practice, at schools of this kind has another
feature that calls out all the energy and industry Of
the yOuth-that is the class rank The classes are
usually numbered from one to four, the first class be-
ing the graduating class. The 4" merit rol' Gas it is
called at West Pont,) contains the names of the Ca
diets in each class, arranged in the order of general
merit" which is the " standing of the Cadet Tt
explain: Each study, as Mathematics, Philosophy
Engineering, &C.. is made to count certain number
as 3, 2, /, SC Each student is placed in every
book he has studied, according to his proficiency
then all these studies combined according to their
vaue, and his standing" is determined by his mer-
it numbers. Here system OF &C rewards and
punshments,n administered in so fair and impartial
manner, that all who ADMIRE and if the boy has
ambition in him, it will show itself before the four
years have elapsed. There will be few drones, but
many honorable competitors for the highest positions
and every one strives 10 be above the foot of class
1t this feeling of honorable ambition, this pride OF
place, when sought & won by honorable means which
has, all the world over made men great statesmen,
heroes and dlvines 1t is this feeling, in every walk
in life, that has made men great in all that call
great earth. Let u.s. then, cultivate this sentiment
this honorable feeling this pralseworhy desire to
cell Let us create school that will dsvelope and
put in active operation all the latent energies of the
student Why send SO many boys 10 college to idle
aWay-as is often the case-fOur years of the bes
portion of their lives when we can, by judicious
system such as this, properly administered, command
their entire time for study, for exercise, recreation
and rest leaving none for dssi patton
When could there be more opportunate time thar
THIS TO create such scientific school. Do we no
now require numerous corps of Engineers for oul
works of internal improvement of Biologists anC
Mineralogists, to make thorough and elaboEate sur
yeys Of the State, to enable her mineral wealth to b.
developed, without sending abroad for the educated
OF other States
Cast your eyes, Messrs. Editors, over the Report
which herewith send you, of the Superintendent
(CO Francis H. Smith, OF the d" Virginia Militar
Institute" see the vast good this school is doing TO
that old Commonwealth. In 1853, Col Smith says
there were nearly 100 sons of Virginia graduates Q
that school then engaged either in teaching in tn
public schools or employed as Engineers on her pub
lie works.
will here close this hastily written paper, by re
questng you 10 copy the parts of Col. Smiths repo
| have marked. viii not the Wilmington Fayette
vile. Raleigh and IN TACT every paper In the State
copy these extracts, if they do not TO troubl
themselves with my poor attempts &c aid good cause
WEST POINT
PLAN OF THE VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE.
The Virginia Military Institute was established
and is supported by the State of Virginia. An ars
nal, Containing 80 900 stand arms, is located her
which formally guarded by company Of enlis
ed soldiers, at annual expense of about $4,000
1899, this appropriation transferred to the suI
port of company of cadets whe, in addition to the
duties as guard, should also be placed under
course of instructions, upon the basis of the Unite
States Military Academy, at West Point Upon tn
system the Institute has been in successful operato
for twelve years. The cadets admitted consist of tW
classes, State and Pau cadets. The Institute suI
plies to the State cadet his board tuition, fuel, ligb
books, matIrass, medical attendance and stationery
and IN consideration thereof, he is required 10 teac
Two years after graduation. The Pay cadet is at hi
own expense, which averages $500 per yearf ever
charge including clothing. The States cadet sc
Iecled from those who are unable to bear their ow
expenses The Institution has always had as man
pupils as lis buildings would accommodate, and nun
OerS Muiy-tW0 State and One-hundred Pay cadets
Applications are made, by letter, to the Superinden
prior 10 the first OF July, each year, and appoint
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