American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-11-22
Virginia MILITARY institute.


pamphlet, containing a Register of the
Officers and Cadets of the Virginia
Military Institute for the year 1856,
which represents that excellent collie
gate establishment to be in u high
state of efficiency and usefulness. The
record is prefaced by the following
"Remarks" which set forth so clearly
the aims and operation of the Institute
that we think it well to lay them be-
fore our readers:
The Virginia Military Institute was
established, and is supported by the
State of Virginia. An arsenal, con-
tanning $4,000 stand Of arms, is loca-
ted here, which was formerly guarded
by company of enlisted soldiers, at an
annual expense of about $4,000. In
1889, this appropriation was transfer
red to the support of q company of Gu
diets, who, in addition to their duties
rs guard, Should also be placed under
course of instruction, upon the bass
Of the United States Military Acadc-
my, at West Point. Upon thisencw
system the Institute has been in sue
cessfll operation fer seventeen years.
The cadets admitted consist of two
classes, State and Ply cadets. The
Institute supplies to the State cadet
his board and tuition; ard in considc-
ration thereof, he is required to teach
two years. after graduation. The Pay
cadet is at his own expense, which av-
erages $3.50 per year for every Charge,
inctuding elothing. The State cadets
are selected from those who are unable
to bear their own expenses. The in
stitution has always had as many pu-
pills as its buildings would accommodate
and numbers thirty-ttoo State and one
Hundred and Mtrty Pay cadets. APP
plications are made, by letter, to the
Superintendent prior to the 1st Of July,
each year, and appointments arc made
for both classes Of cadets, by the Board
Of Visitors, respect being had to their
due appointment among the several
districts of the State.
The Literary Fund Of the State con-
tributes $500 per year to the institu-
tlOll, lOl tIiC CbVSUilOil VI anu
the State has received tuition fees from
the pay cadets, to the amount of 500,
600 since it's organization, which sum
is applied to the increase OF the mum
Der of State cadets, and to the enlarge
ment Of the accommodations Of the in
atitute, and to the support of q part Of
the cops Of Professors. .........
1t appears from the Cadets Roll 81
ven in the pamphlet, that at this time
there arc 1862 young men receiving the
benefits of n scientific and military cd
ucation ut the Institute. ..'.
Too much Importance we think can
hardly be attached to the military fca-
lures Of this academy. There are 10
two lessons which the young men Of
our day SO much need to learn as meth
Cd AMI obedience, and at Lexington
the first thing impressed upon them is
to obey, and the next to regulate their
studies according to system. The val
TIC of time, the beauty Of order, and
the capacity to govern others, that can
only be properly acquired by being &C
customed to respect authority, which
the cadet has infused into him by q
course Of study there, he never forgets,
and accordingly in after life we find
him-whatcvcr may be the profession
he has acknowledgements among the
most useful and prominent men Of the
community. To slaveholding State,
such an institution is especially advan-
tageous, since the rulo Of the academy,
transferred to the plantation, ensures
order at the same time that it prevents
cruelty, and should the time ever come
when it would be necessary for our pro-
lection to call State army into the
field, corps Of well disciplined and
thoroughly qualified officers. would be
Of the first Importance. a..
Petersburg Express.