Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-07-02
7th. An Adjutant to the Superintendent
Sth. An Adjutant to the Commandant of the

9th. A Surgeon.
10th. An Assistant Surgeon.
llth. A Quartermaster.
18th. A Treasurer
Of these officers the Superintendent, the Com
mandant of the Cadets, Of Engineers, of Caval-
ry, and of the Artillery to be members of the
Academic Board
The effect Of this organization would be to cs.
tablish the proper subordinate relations at the
Academy and Post, and to give the Artillery
and lnfan ry that representation at the Aca-
demlc Board which is now denied them, but to
which they are justly entitled, and which the
public interests demand.
The aggregate of the Academy and military
forces OF all arms at West Point is numerically
equal to a regiment of the line An organiza-
ton assimilating to that of a regiment is there
fore proposed, giving to the Superintendent tho
local rank of Colonel By this arrangement,
whilst efficiency of command will be secured.
the field for the selection of the Superintendent
Will be greatly enlarged.
In designating the salary of the Superinten-
dent an ample allowance to enable that func-
tionary to meet the requirements due TO recep-
ton and hospitality should be made. The pres
ent Superintendent and preceding ones nave
oeen Obliged to expend more than their salaries
whilst in Office. This should not be. Simple
justice, as well rs decent respect for the pro-
prletles properly incident to an important off
0ihi Position, requires Judlcl0uS llbeFalIty in
regard to this matter
Convinced as we are that very important and
radical changes are necessary to secure all the
beneficial results which the country has a right
to expect from the Military Academy and to
the end that the suggestions and recommends
tons OF this report may receive due considera-
ton, we beg leave respectfully to recommend
that the whole matter of instruction. discipline,
text books, military organization, &C. be re-
ferred to select board, with power TO sit at the
post and to call for information from all sou
whence it can be derived
In this cautious and deliberate way we are
persuaded more judicious and efficient system
might be elaborated from that now in opera
ton. 10 insure wisdom, experience, imparti-
allty and confidence in the action of such a
Board, we suggest that it should be composed
OF the Academic Board of this institution to-
gether with two officers of Engineers two from
the Artillery, Infantry or Cavalry and four
civilians, eminent in literature and science !;
and that the Superintendent of the Academy
should be its Presiding Officer. One word in
regard to the general effect of strict military
discipline and training, and an evil to be guard
ed against, and we have done Whilst proper
esprit dM corps should always, and under all
circumstances, characterize the American Off
Ger, it should be leading idea inculcated dur
ing the term of his education at this institu-
ton, that the real force of his country lies i'm its
OitiIoH SoiuIcTy tudt ne Is educated under q
system of national military organization, which
Is an anomaly in the history of the world
and which is adapted to the peculiar po-
itical system of the American Republic.
That while the educated officer is necessary to
promote the high efficiency of active forces in
the field, the spirit and patriotism of free citi-
zens is the soul and the substance of that force
When, therefore, in the exigencies Of the public
service he may be brought into contact with.
or assigned to command forces of this descrip-
ton, he must remember that they are the free
citizens OF the republic and not mercenary
soldiers like those which chiefly compose the
other armies OF the world and while they are
intelligent enough to know the necessity Of and
to yield obedience to, wholesome military dis
cipline, the very spirit which impels them to
the field revolts at what they may conceive to
be harsh or dOmineering exercise of authority
All OF which is respectfully submitted.
WIN. Ii. CHASE, of Florida.
President of the Board
GEO. W. 1IoUCK, of Ohio Sec'y.
NOBLE 5. ELDERKIN, of n. Y.
Il. +. BUTLER, of Mass.
SAMUEL H. BLAZE. of Me.
CAMPBELL MoRFIT, of Md.
X. b. LINDSAY, of Ala.
HENRY c. DEMIyG, of Conn.
r.. III. BRYAN of Miss.
PAUL j. SEMMES, of GA.
JOSHUA PHELPS, of Iowa.
DANIEL READ, of Wis