Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-08-05
EVENING STAR,
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
U. s. MILITARY AcApENY,

U. s. MILITARY AcADExY, I
WEST POINT, N. Y June IL, 1856. (
hon, JEFFERSON DAVIS, Secretary Of War:
SIR The undersigned, composing the
Board OF Visitors of the U. s. Military Acad-
emy TOR the. year 1855, having met and or.
and having discharged the duties committed
to them by your letter of Invitation and by
law, beg leave to make the following report
70 facilitate thom in their various duties,
committees were appointed and charged with
minute inquiry into the particular subjects
brought to the attention Of the Board The
reports Of these committees, together with the
journal OF the proceedings of the Board, ac.
| company this report and furnish the fullest
information relative to the actual state of the
discipline, instruction, police, administration,
fiscal atfalrs, and other concerns of the insti-
| tuition, to all OF which your attention is spe
clally directed. Subjects of a general nature,
involving In an eminent degree the useful.
ness OF the Academy were taken up by the
Board, acting as committee of the whole,
and will be found embraced in the report
The attention Of the Board has been most
deliberately given to the administration of
the Academy, and in presenting the result of
their deliberations upon the important ques-
| tiOns connscted Herewith, they have kent
| steadily before them the distinctive objects
contemplated, and so successfully accom-.
plished in the operation of the institution.
As first IL Importance, they have considered
the proprlety OF enlarging the field of selec-
ton for the Superintendency of the Academy,
to embrace all arms of the military service
To right understanding of this most delicate
question, they would remark, that for a pe-
| riod of fifty four years the Superintendent of
the Academy has been confined by lar to the
Corps of Engineers; and this has been the
case, although the range of the institution
has been extended from its original and linn
| tied design as School of Engineers, to en-
brace the wants of the Typographical and Ord
| nance Cops, and Of the artillery, infantry
and cavalry services 1t cannot be supposed
| that this exclusive rule has been the result of
mere accident, or has proceeded from any
partial consideration in favor of the corps of
Engineers. They know otherwise Looking
to the peculiar composition of this ccrps, it is
perceived that 1t essentially represents tho
highest scientific elements Of the military
service, and it may be fairly presumed that
TINS fact has mainly controlled the provision
OF law with regard to the Superintendency
Important as are qualities of high military or
administrative talents, which may be pos
sessed alike by officers Of all departments of
the army, the main design has been, while
securing these as far as possible in the Super
intendent, to make them, however, at all times
subordinate to tn It higher and more essential
III ouCu u eCnOOl az tllS, VIZ SctSH-
tttc MERIT. 1t is believed that this principle
Is founded in wisdom and Justice. That
which has given to this institution its eminent
character is its high scientific standtng Its
reputation In this respect is not national
merely, it is world wide-for the graduates of
this school have commanded the respect
and distinction of every enlightened nation
Even with regard to these arms of the service.
not strictly scientific, it cannot be doubted
he htAk thoxr Lox-
for themselves, and the honor they have won
for their country, have their foundation essen.
TALLY In the scientific basis upon which their
military education has been founded
The Board would most earnestly suggest,
therefore, great caution in any change which
should, in the least degree, depreciate the
high scientific character Of the Academy 1t
should be most carefully preserved and main
tanned, and, if possible, elevated The Su-
perintendent is President of the Academic
Board. He directs the Academic exercises
his position should give prominence to the
main characteristic basis OF the Institution:
and his personal qualifications should be such
as to command the confidence and respect of
those WHO are trained for ell the branches Of
the public service.
With these principles clearly directing the
ADMINISTRATION of the Academy, it is the opinion
of the Board that as the corps of the army are
at present organized, officers possessing the
necessary qualifications for this special SER
vice may be obtained from all the scientific
corps, and they are persuaded that the efi-
cheney of tho Academy may be greatly pro.
moted by extending the range of selection for
its Superintendent, so as to give the Acade-
my the advantage of their services. But they
would most earnestly press upon the Depart
ment the importance Of subordinatory, in this
selection. military and administrative talents
to the essential one Of scientific character
The successful issue Of the late war has had
tendency to give prominence to the militia.
ry element to the neglect or depreciation of
the true cause Of that success, viz the discip-
line of the mind in the severe scientific train
ing of the Military Academy. How the pres
ent restrictive rule may be removed without a
sacrifice to the Institution they are not fully
prepared to say, unless it may be done by con-
inning the lnspectorship to the Chief of the
Corls OF Engineers, as at present, and by
such legal conditions as shall limit the selec-
tion to those graduates of the Academy who
belong to any of the scientific corps, and who,
at the same time, possess the highest military
and administrative qualities
Or, considering the rapidly increasing bcun
daries of our extended country, and the need
OF all the appliances of geniu. and of art in
the military service which just regard to its
full defence may demand, it occurs to the
Board, as an alternate proposition, which may
at no distant day be found absolutely necessa-
ry, and which would solve the chief difficulty
In this complicated question, to establish an
other military academy with special reference
to the necessities Of those arms of the military
services not strictly scientific, while this Acad-
emy shall be exclusively appropriated to the
preparation of eficers for the scientific CORDS
The Board have been sensible that the sub.
Jects of instruction here have been too much
crowded, and that the time and attention
gwen to the military exercises have mate
rally interfered with that properly due to the
severe scientific course of the Academy. 1t
easy to divert the youthful mind by tho at
tractive duties of the cavalry and artillery
drills from the labors of the student life and
while they are thus made to the eye of tho
casual observer better soldiers, they are really
less efhcient for all the higher and more i'm
portant demands of the military service. The
suggestion bears the prestige Of the example
OF European services, and may be worthy of
consideration
Whether either Of these recommendations
hn ral g ..