Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1860-07-21
Military School at uarpers- Ferry.

'ion OF the following document, to-"li:
TO The Board Of School Commissioners
Of JG6erSOm County, Iirginio.
Tie Secretary Of your Board has sub,
mited to me The resolutions for improv-
ing the Public Schools of Jefferson Coun-
~, pending before the Board, with tbe
request that would give the legal opin-
ION called for in the 9th Of said resolI-
.ons. Upon the first question submitted
10 me whether any legislation and what
Legislation If any, may be necessary in
4 iurlherance OF The proposed system Of
educalon--
would submit that The system of Ed
ucallon suggested by these resolutions is
AT present 100 indefinite in lis character to
enable me 10 state whether any legislation,
and II any, what legislation is necessary
to further the same. When the Board
shall have definitely determined upon the
system of education, il will give me lea.
sure to give them my opinion, as to what
| legislation may be necessary. would
! add, however, that | have no doubt that
any Legislation may be had which may
be deemed advisable, after The Board has
finally determined upon what changes in
our present system they deem advisable.
Upon lhe second point submitted 10 me,
whether military, mechanical and agri
cultural school be practicable at tlarpers.
Ferry, am of opinion thai such a school
Is not only practicable at Harpers. Ferry,
bat that the present time is the most suit
able TO make the effort 10 establish such a
school, |! seems 10 me, however, that
The suggestion contained i'll these rcsOlu-
nons, that such school should be open TO
.esidenlS Of Jefferson county only, Is IN
practicable. Aid from the State and Gen.
cral Government is essential 10 the estab
lishmenl Of such a school, and such aid
would not be given il the benefits Of the
school were TO be confined TO the residents
of this county.
But if this feature be omiled,it appears
TO me mol improbable that aid could be
had not only from the General Govern
ment, but also from the State Government.
1t seems to be generally agreed that Con-
gress will shortly dlrecia military force
to be stationed at IIaGpers- Ferry TO guard
the arms and public property; and the
Senste's Committee on the llarpers Ferry
outrage have already recommended ii in
their report. What amount it will be ne
cessary for Congress to appropriate Tor
this purpose, cannot stale. do not,
however, suppose that the appropriation
! l.. L., Il. !. =,
Virginia Legislature formerly appropria-
ted $4,000 year to guard the arms and
public property VI The State a, Lexington.
This place Is far less exposed than Har-
pers- Ferry. and the amount OF property
10 be guarded is Ear less. Ii is therefore
reasonable to suppose that the force which
will be regarded as necessary TO guard the
iIarper-Fery Armory will be much grea-
ter than the force deemed necessary by
Virginia to guard ,he public property q
Lexington, and that The appropriation
which Congress will make for that pur
pose will largely exceed tho amount for
merly appropriated at Lexington for this
purpose by Virginia. Again, the expc-
renee of.Virginia has shown that the pub
lie property and arms at Lexington could
be much better guarded by The students Of
military school than by soldiers station
ed there for that purpose. Many years
AGO she authorized the establishment. of
military school there, and appropriated 10
| the school the $4,000 a year, which she
/ had therefore appropriated TO the guard a,
! Lexington. the students Of the school I'M
dertaking TO do what lhe guard had for
merly done.
| think with this action OF Virginia as
president, Congress could be induced 10
make an appropriation of ten or fifteen
thousand dollars year TO a military
school at liarpers-F Ferry, the students un-
dertsking regularly to guard the property
there.
No constitutional objection could be
urged to such an appropriation. While II
is clear that Congress has no power TO
make appropriations for Educaiiona! pur-
poses, il is equally clear that she has an
uuquesllonabIe power 10 make approprla-
lions TO protect the public property And
+ if the appropriation Is limited 10 the a.
mount necessary to provide guard for
The public property at iiarpers-Ferry, no
constitutional objection can be urged that
the appropriation made in the manner
proposed incidentally aids the cause OF
, Educaticn-the amount appropriated be-
, ing only necessary to protect the public
, property, and il being the best mode OF
, furnishing this protection. Virginia at
f this time is disposed in every manner she
, properly can. to promote the mechanical