Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-02-04
TRAvsFFR or TIE HsRM,q.aa

Il has slrea6y teen stated that Gov JoERsON has
formally rendered i've hundred acres Of the Her
mitsge property, including the family msn.ion
and the tomb OF the iilustricns hero, which were
purchased By him in pursuance Of an cot OF the
Legislature OF Tennessee, to the government Of
the United States, on the condition that the Gov
eminent will establish branch Of the West Point
Military Academy there.
OF course the utility and cost Of permanently
supporting an additional military school by the
Government, will form large element in the dis.
cussion as 70 the pFoprety of accepting the donsa
ton with the view of carrying out the condition.
Heretofore the Military Academy has been ses
verely criticised and violentyt sssailed by many
who have maintained that twas sn sristocrstic in
stitution designed to educate the friends and ia
vorites of men in position at Washington, and for
many years it maintained but prscsrious exis.
tence against the congressional struggles to abolish
| It Time and experience have, however, demon
stEsted that some such institution is necessary II
GOT absolutely Indispensable TO the maintenance
Of the military spirit and the general diffusion OF
/ military knowledge, among people whose policy
| and principles forbid the employment Of large
| standing army, ct an enormous cost to the Gov
! eminent and at spprehended danger to civil So
| premGcy Our gallant little army, ohcered by the
esves OF West Point has proven Itself the nucleus
! of our military strength and the bulWark OF our
military operations in time of war. Their esprit DIV
corps engendered lsudable spirit Of emulation
among our gallant and immortal volunteers during
the late Mexican war, and greatly heightened the
enterprise and efficiency of both arms OF the ser.
wee In addition to this West Poi1t furnished
for the volunteer service, some of the most gallant
and distinguished leaders that now wear the lsurels
acquired by that glorious conflict. The regulars
acquired the dsshlng abandon which characterize
our volunteers in an engagement, and the volun-
teers promoted their efficiency by riVsling the $
pine and steadiness of the trained bands
such discipline, such gallantry, such efficiency,
such devotion, it must be admitted, were procured,
ct small cost, when it is remembered that Its
stimulus and source were the Military Academy
ct West Point and when it will be as readily COZ
coded that but for the long and thorough training
Of the officers at that Sch1ol, our victories could
never have been so complete and glorious, nor the
results OF the war in the aggregate near 80 salts.
factory without much longer, more bloody, and
more costly contest. Accordingly the former op'
position to this School, which has existed in some
quarters, has entirely disappeared, aud The Wes
Point Academy is now one Of the permanent In
: sututions of the country. In mere pecdnisry
: view, the Government has already saved vast sumi
from tue considerations above mentioned, and th'
extension of the system may well claim the stten
ton of Congress. Our population has more thar
guRdruped since the establishment of the Military
!. Academy and our commerce, wealth and TERRITORY
, / nave GAphuuGu hAluOAb D6lUuu u GAeAlOHs w.
| exposed frontier and coast detences require adol
tlonsl skill and science for their protection, AM
our more general and complicated intercourse viii
: foreign nations demand more enlarged preparation
T for conducting hOstihties. An additional military
| school would eBgender rivalry to excel between
the professors and students of each, and there l
nothing hich 50 stimulates the military spirit as
II lsudsbe spirit of emulation. Regard should b
u had TOO to the claims of the great sections of th
rhan oil Daf
= Of one climate to q more rigorous and severe on
during the trying and tender period OF youth
! It is worthy of the consideration of Congress
{ whether the diffusion of these schools would nc
intensity elevate the military spirit of couI
trymen and produce, to larger extent the result
which have rendered the Nest Point Academy
fsvorte with the people, 1t is far better and cheap
er to project the present system than to resort {
8 standing army to protect our ironuersy guar
our coasts and meet the FIRST shock of invasion
5, IF these views should be deemed sound, wha
N more classic or glorious ground could be selt CITE
ss a seat for the branch OF the National Academ
than the abiding place in lie and the resting plsC
Il in DEATH Tow that the COMMUNICATIONS hs
10 called him home to tie Headquarters above, {
2 the immortal hero of New Orleans the victor ovt
- the best disciplined troops Of Europe, and ii
chssGser Of the savage foes who invaded tn
hearth stones of our pioneers.
r The youthful soldier as be performed his eVolu
70 tons over these halowed grounds, or unused b.
,s meath the willows which pensvely bend over ID
heros tomb would catch q spark from the iudOm
- table spirit Of the place thst would irAIme h
heart until It burned with the resolution of tru
y soldier and raised his soul TO the standard of
at paU.ot-hero. Military glory 10 itself an insP,rl
20 tion and what filter spot is there on the esrIn
drink of lis in oxicstiog drSught than the hon
10 and tomb Of JACKSON? Marathon and Them
n py send forth their Inspirations from the pa.
It. Of History; but here is spot whose halo encirc
q, the hearts Of our own South aud Yves, and warn
= them with generous glow and pure fervor Ia
IS the mention OF no battle field can excite L
the Hermitage, then, be made the Mecca towar'
which tie military spirit Of the South and . e
will make It's pilgrimage Memphis Appel.