Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1858-08-02
Appointment Of Cadet, at We., Point

The report Of the lAs Board Of Visitors at West Point
contains vst and admirable suggestion in regard to
the appointments Of Cadets that wsIake pleasure 10 CT
tracing that portion Of the report and transferring i, 20
columns-wth the expression OF the hope that the
suggestion made will attract the attention Of the county
."d bs earrief out to the lester IN q sgOInrmeut.
IL has been eH the eass ihat ns has been entire
iy overlooked ~ CONFIRMING these apppta-nts-pohtcal
and family considerations interpreting suafd the ep.
ponsmsn to persons utterly unqualified either by uaure
education, TO derive any advantage from a term a.
West Point We call special attention to the following
extract:
the attention Of this Of many former Boards ss
directed the fact that OF the eighty or ninety ne ca
diets who annually admitted tnis Institution rarely
more than one-thrd graduate. The Government n con
sequence OF the difference between the number OF adm,.
sious and grAduates iDcurs annually large and u,lv
unnecessary expense 10 the maintenance Of Young gentle
men, who, alter one two years speut at the Military
Academy, either dismissed required 10 resign in
Consequence OF alleged incopscy to the Of
sndies designed u prepare them Tor military uselunes.
TO the county. How TO relieve the Government OF this
annual expenditure from which advantage is derived
aud also bow to avoid the modification ~hich the failure
Of 50 large number Of young men carries nome o %
many families and friends in every section Of the Uoion
subjects well deserving confederation and atent on
"a very large minority OF the cadets who fall to gradu.
ate Dismissed for misconduct in tho violation Of
the laws for the Government OF the Academy Those
uho canoo maintain respectable ing 10 their cs
and have from failures at recitation received the fatal
city and ignoAn which the result Of poverty and n
gect in esTv youth crimes although their effects
are, institution Of learning like ths cassed anon gst
ofences The present method Of appointment secures Tor
West Point large aud n+verfalng supply OF the mate
rial out Of which such offences" made wise dis
erection rarely, IL ever, exercised in the nomination Of
cadets for appointments by the President Inquiries are
seldom made respecting the talents education and pecu.
liar mental fitness Of those Who nominated Personal
fiendshp and still more frequently political considers
ton control Who possess the power OF nomination
lbs han fb.f.
o the cadets baye not The requisite qualifications for
snccsss this any other College in tie Union whore
graduation s not matter OF course alter the payment Of
iee4 for matreuaton. Many candidates for admis. ion
present themselves Who ignorant Of the eee oi of
education. We desire merely 10 general terms To re.
commend some change 10 the existing system leaving to
able and experienced 20 work out the desired
reform. The field from which select cadets shond be
enlarged by allowing lager number Of candidates for
admission than nov allowed by law.
"Tbe controlling OH ct Of the Government sbouId he
invite competition among the youth, Of each Con0res
siOnal strict for these prizes When vacancy occurs
In Congregational District, boy ambitious Of obtaining
the appointment OF cadet should be denied The Pvege Of
becoming candidate for admission. The present "cl,e
borough" method n0mnIton has reference 10 the al
merits Of the youth Who receives the appopt.
ment The people Woud feel that they had s1b4tan-
ta tngble interest IN the Of this miary fchoo
did the father of every promising boz know bis son
" superior ~ bis competitors would via the prizs Of
houorabls position 10 the army. The pfeudicfs nov sE-
istng sgaiust West Point 70 macy sections the rspub
Nc sood disappear II should be an institution
where the power Of nomination h entirely ia the hands Of
politicians
"1 IL the boast Of our Government That n fosters al.
snt aud invites competition for Ill officers vlihe republic
AZ fer the selection 81 ocers for the army concern
ed ere is truth IN this theory. There "a fair and
foil competition Tor the cadet appointments There u no
reference 10 tho large majority Of instances 70 the infe-
geDos and merits Of the cadets. We faf behind
Governments ess liberal end democratic than in
the method Of appointing cadets Tor the army.
THE ssgaoty and military experience Of other
tries have long since taught them the importance o
curing by generous competition, the very best talent Tor
The arny. Cadet In many countries u EarOpe,
lscted from humber Of caUdids es-tho ecou always
telling on The most tslented snd promising youhs In
France, for instance where the fret military achools n
the world exist there is fsvortm e1efoised 10 tho
appointment Of cadets 10 the military schools u Of
the States Of this Uuion uofml school, modelled sitter
West Point the Superintendent and Professors ~ which
graduates o West Point hss been Tor nearly 20 years
m successful ertcnce where board Of visitors aonually
select from severs hundred applicants for admission those
best qualified 10 epay The State for the money expended
on their education.
"rhe result Of this cours pursued n this issGudon
Word b. the selection Of The sbest youths Of the nd for
the army without regffd their socis fank political TO-
aaebce condition n lie, sud the graduation Of near
y ~ those Who are annually admitted 10 West Point ss
cadets.n