Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-01-09
To GEORGE MASON"

TO GEORGE MASON"
After several weeks incubation upon an address
lately delivered by the Superintendent OF the Vr
giuia Military Institute TO the Cadets OF this lnstl
tuition, q writer in the Richmond Enquirer, over 10.
signature Of George Mason" has delivered hn5ei''
will not say OF mouse, but OF tissue OF misrePre
sensations and false assumptions which have ncVei
seen surpassed He commences with IN ex'ravagan
compliment to Mr.. Wise, very much III the boot
licking stye, no doubt intended 10 strengthen the
nnfayo.sble esmste vi the Virginia Military lnsi
iute which he uutruy ascribes TO his EIcelency.
did not hear the address OF the Governor 10
which he refers, but from what heard OF II, Am
persuaded that he hes misreprsscnted the Governor
as much as he has the Superintendent have heard
land believe correctly that the Governor sad mol
one word 10 the disparagement OF the Institute, or
represented it az rival to tbs Colleges and Universe
". They both. he commended, were valuable instl'
tutions, designed for different purposes and bosh ao'
mirably fulfilling the purposes tor which they "ers
intended that there should be no rivalry between
them, there being room enough for all. Inc Super
iutend.n could, therefore, have had co cause To nave
taken exception 10 The remarks OF Mr. wise, uor nave
heard OF his taking any. Hence the lns'nua'loil-
uf"Mason That the address oi the superintendent "n7
intended AS an answer Governor Wise, perfectly
gra,ui,ou. and not warranted by any thing IN the
address.
Bu, lhsve charged "Nason'' al the outset With m4-
representation and falls. assumptions Take, Tor an
example, the following choice specimen oil vuiE"r'y
anI misrepresentation at 1.-THE Virginia Military III.
,t;ute,l never WIS intended 10 be the iussy, wrig
Cling rival of Colleges and University, which it ha-
constituted Itself" This is an assertion rs false IN
fact as vulgar in expression aud defy the common.
tstor TO produce single line in the address of n"
Superintendent 70 eusaia the charge. So ia. from
having constituted itself "ths iussy, wriggng rira!
Of Cocgel and University" tho superintendent
hes always commended, and does so in his address,
,hs, III. Institute was the efficient silly Of all ;ho lite.
rary institutions Of the State fact susceptible Of
proof which no candid mind can resist. can, my
self, bear testimony to to influence OF inc Nrsa
Military nstitntc in two different paFs oil the STATE
in stimulaay the esre for education IN tho parts OF
the S,nt, TO which refer. We all know how mpo-
ring the public examination OF we'll drilled scholars
in Mathematics il. This branch OF science was IN
,roduced in ,he,e schools by graduates OF tho Virginia
Military Institute, and Tie effect OF the public e1ami-
nations held NJ them, was marked and Immediate, in
multiplying the pupils which attended them. Aud II
r fair tn pr.suIns that similar consequences nave re-
suited from the establishment: OF thess schools III
other parts of the State. Oa this subJect can say
Haud inerpcrtus ioquor. speak from experience,
the most satisfactory OF all information Have not
item proved that the Military Institute has had some
thing more to 60 with the increased demand tor edt.
cation snc the great multiplication OF sehoiars IN all
our institutions, THAI it bas bad IN regulating inc
! nr;ce nj "wh.at and tobacco But Mason Seems
10 bs either unable to understand The PLAIN,
common ssnse address Of the Superintendent or
determined to m.understanG and misrepreseIti. u
the former wogM advise him 10 direct MS attention
better eniteu 10 lDt Vi
Such, for instance as how many yards OF mooushne
will il take 10 make COW petticost Or announcer
equally az difficult; VIII ch exercised the wits OF the
ancien, schoolmer, viz. Which Is OF the most value
IN the eye of Deity, pnssiole angel or an aetuay
existing Hyl Perhaps, in tho investigation OF these
imuortau, pyob!ems be might derive some aid from
the "Miss ,oli:es" of:he V. N. L. who have received
such Ha,teriny notes frcai lie very polished and
geriienunly pen. II is well :!:st tner6 should be
difference ot opinion upon many scnylec1s' FOR my
| Z ..aI thof
higher order of mind to master the higher branches
of mathematics than il does to learn the Greek Ian.
guage although Mason seems to think that OIL who
ara not put TO learn Il, deserved 10 DC unsefea ana
| converted into "Miss Mollies." How the gentleman
me-: have chuckled at bis wit when he bit upon so
brilliant oil 1sa; and how he must have g!or:ed IN
/ thinking low deeply &c Lad mortified the aforesaid
Miss Moies." In the scrEs arlihb.e temper. which
prompted the attack upon tine Miss Moies' We Hha
our commentator engaged in the charitable work OF
endeavoriuy TO SOW the seeds of dssensior between
Major Preston aud the superintendent: representing
tho latter, "a2 measuring out praise by the hn gill
to the former This assertion is ae destitute OF truth
as it is frauyh with maliGnity, 81 tie yhoe d"cu.
mentary evidence in regard to the origin OF tE- in
stitute will prove. The motive which prompted th-
assault is too transparent to deceive any. but, tor
tunately the gentlemen whom he has t:us sought Ia
nut at discord know and esteem each other TOO well
for this secta-an effort to create enmity between
members Of different communons to succeed-this
| GUT has missed hire.
! But acal, we have another instance Of the reck
essness With which this writer makes assertions in
defiance of facts Ii" says ;het they do not teach
study logic ct TIE ,nsi-te. Fog, i: SO happens,
that they not ony teach and study logs, s! the lnsti
tute, but informed, use the sane ts-t beck,
which are used in tho other colleges OF the state
will not say that they drink at the same orgine!
fountain OF the Platonic metaphysics at which Queen
Bees and Lsdy Jane Grey saked their literary thirst.
and which, presume, from the enthusiasm and con
style in which Mason" writes, that he largely
h.b:bsd. But believe Tint the course cf logic at
the Military Ir.t:tutc will fivorably compare with
that Of our other literary Institutions. And, while
Greek is omitted in tho OF The .c.i.u,e the
time occupied in this study has been most pruh;ably
supplied by an enlarged course of scientific studies
embracing Military science engineering, ANALYTICAL
| snd ssr'cc,tr.al chemistry, and drawing together
with the FrencE sEd Eng.h Languages. Metaphy-
sizes, however. ia daDu:ECeC, il the address OF the
SUPPLEMENTARY" Mason." To refdta t.ic aopea
TO the address ITSELF and ii there can be prnducec
| single line TO warrant The assertion. | Yield the
point But in opposition to the clsn q! the Superin.
! fendent Of having introduced the dement, system,
AID the division OF classes into sections, Ne have
from "has6n, -hat in the ancient game of pitching
at holes, We called rccaollager. lie has not only
Knocked tie Superintendent oLt o. bis hole bu: mas
planted himself so firmly in il, that il will Go npo..
siole to dlslodge him. Five years The saysj bsGrs
the Institute was established be was at an institution
where the demerit system was in full operation, and
the division Of the classes into ssctiuna. This may
possibly Dc Sc; Yet I'm persuaded thct It will DE
new. to those most familiar With the management of
the Schools and Colleges Of Virginia. But, be this
as It may, il lie very ceriaE that this greet unknown
institution, without location, name or title (which is
little remarkable, considering the great innovation
it made upon the established practice prevailing in
literary nstitutions never made the least impress
sion, in recommending lis system public favor and
consequently, cannot iuvsdate the claim OF the In
s.tuts 10 the merit Of having Introduced this reform
in school discipline Fulton did no, originate the idea
of steam boa; navigation, yet the merit OF having put
it in practical operation is universally conceded TO
him And with regard TO this claim Of the Institute
tho institution Of which Mason" speaks, ssrouded