The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-15
THE CONSTITUTIONAL TEACHINGS OF THE
WEST POINT MILITARY ACADEMY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.


WEST PoINr, Oct. 9, 1861. !
In your paper of Wednesday, October Q, editorial
entitled "Wcst Po;ut-Its Merits and Defects.n
The intention OF is the public interest. But 1t is
part Of your intention TO be unjust either the nstu
lion to individuals living or dead.
May be that disoyalty government has not
been from teachings at the Academy but in despite Of
them.
For more than thirty years the constitution has been
stadied there, with Kent Commentary the text book
under different professors Neither that wonderful in
strumcnt the work Of Chancellor Kent teaches the
political opinion which you very properly
nounce, that " the American government is league Of
separate nationatcs.D
May it not be that the teaching has been sound but
that the young men have been influenced by tho
notions Of their localities by the instructions in their
homes BY the speeches. pamphlets and volumes in
which theory directly adverse to the constitution has
been presented? The time for the study Of the subject
is limited by the programme That and the text books
are prescribed by authority 1t is conceivable that the
right view Of the constitution has been uniformly taught
but that il impossible in the prescribed limits to
ovcbear adverse impressions from the outside and from
carly The Bible and the pupits OF Chrisen
dem show that good instructions given than
are followed.
Whatever may have been the fact with others, some
Of whom dead the Professor in charge has
taught uniformly the principles given in the pamphlet
herewith sent you, which contains Introductory
from him Ie has taught that this govern
ment is no confederscy OF States, but organize
tion by people who Ordained and "establishedo
that constitutions that allegiance bound men to this
national government that the tic permanent and not
dependent the viii Of the individual that in the call Of
those educated by the government there additional
sanctions and bond ndissouble but by death those
who have been dsloya have acted contradiction to the
Instructions which they have received this institution
On the eighth page Of the lecture e following defni
ton Of the constitution
The constitution 10 the supreme political law aud egs
standard for the United States .ordaned' and 4esta.
bsbed IN written form tfor the national objects in the
present aud future which named in preambe)
The people, as sovereign, and the o All
political power; which supreme law attaches 10 every
citizen Gnd subject OF the United States, aud neutralzcs
within tie national boundaries every law whatever uhah
is contrary to its provisions.
Again On the seveoh page is 4 brief but conclusive
argument historical form, which thoroughly dsprayes
every petition hut HAT Of the extreme sovereignty Of
tho people above the States These pouts
FOR the eolonie. tho sovereignty the crown Of
England.
Tho Declaration of Inaepenicncc declared The transfer
OF sovereignty TO the people Of tar "ootetl
The treaty Of peace with England recognized such trans
fer
This sovereign people ordained and established the
constitution Of the United States.
The chain is thus shown to be complete.
These bu examples Of the instruction uniformly
given. and they directly at variance with The unsound
principles used 10 support secession.
ask. therefore, that for The sake of Justice and truth
y may be known tkst the deplorabe dsoyaly exhibited
has not been irom but against the instruction officially
given Erroneous views have not been disseminated
from the great military school Of the natonH
In Justice 70 yourself let me say that heartily agree
with that editorial, except in the particular which am
wishing 70 The study of the constitution is I'M
portant It should have time. Tho term al study
sund he long enough 10 suffer national instruction TO ex
pei local ~ inons u Is 70 30 desrei "that il should he
made morally impossible for tbs graduates Of the
Academy 'to stumble into the pitfss Of secession
nd The professor or his colleagues deserve blame tho
same hsnse q justice would compel me say, let them
receive But knowing, in this case, the facts am not
hesrods that the public should SOCK the eaae of dsaec
Lion N the wrong place JUSTICE