New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-27
WEST POINT MILITARY ACADEMY.

To Me EdiO, Of The N. Y Tribune.
SIR: This academy seems TO draw TO it at the pres-
ent time the attention Of the Government and country.
The resignation of 60 many officers educated there ss
well as their unblushing treason, calls loudly for tAe
institution of some plan by which the evil may be-
sbated, and the fidelity Of our officers secured.
1t is well known that politicians have the rghs
to provide pupils for West Point. Hence eadetshiy
is procured by political fsvohsm; and what is the
result Why, it happens that many of the cadets,
after trial OF year or more found incompetent,
and are therefore discharged. 1t would be an interest
ing thing to calculate the amount of money thrown
away on such political trlsh,' as II would ccnyiDe-
ingy show the country that il had paid too dear foT
the whistle, and agree with you Sir when yo9 say;
Our army can he all that II should until this
Fundamental vice of West Point is removed
But what is the remedy proposed The NsD-York
Tablet advocates this scheme:
Give those yonths who neither polan, thself
OF the Great Rel ie be based democratic pnnep
L. so sSS 5 a & ~fs GI puSs
the ruber of votes lie control Let Board Of Eramt
be- certain sse. be enabled to present. themselves
inatiOn and the most worthy be appointed"
This so far as civilians concerned, Is certainly
advance on the present system but il far from being
AS democratic its author supposes. 1t certanlyE
not a remedy radical enough TO meet our views.
One wfi er 10 The TKIBUHE hits the " nail on !be
head, when he says "that all officers in the annJ
should rise by merit from the ranks" This is DOs
only true democracy but is also justice TO the army
whose rank and file utterly ignored by either G
the above schemes. / assert that in RepubDcal
Government the rank and file Of the army should q
right have the privilege oil rising by merit 70 the high
est official grades. Now, Sir, we propose plan coz
sistent with views OF right-that pupils for The
West Point Academy be selected generally from ibs
noncommissioned ranks. The advantage TO be gained
by this mode of selection would be, the securing O.
sb.,k ka2x.~ Vl. "a
moral certainty Of having reliable class of OBJ
GERS the raising of the moral status Of the army By
inducing better class of men TO enlist.
As an auxiliary this scheme propose that schOok
of instruction Tor non-commissoned officers be esae-
lshed at each post, tue army 10 be so arranged az
easily can bel make them a. effective possi0e
the necessary ns ruction 10 be Impaired by the mos
competent officers Of the post, by such as may %
detailed for that purpose. BY this means one or TIVE
years. at most, at West Point would be sufficient 70
quality the non-comns.ioned officer for higher duties
potent incentive than the mere raising Of The
pay is needed TO draw into the army men fgofd
morals aud education. So long officers are mafl-
facturei at West Point, and bar is put TO the aa-
vancement of the rank and Il he go long will army
generally speaking, Dc constituted Of an ntericr cAss
of men. Every one must admit that IL Is desi0sf-
atum greatly needed that the morals OF our army
should be OF high order, as there Is nothing mCe
essential 10 oscip plne and efficiency Than good mora'
sympathy between officers aud men Is one great es'
ment OF success in government, and II I'M, Is lacking,
the rank and le must OF necessity be sn6Ject 10 tne
caprice incidence and tyranny OF their odeia super
ors Every Que who has had any experience IN n Ibf
matter well knows this statement to be true. lDsN
is not more arstocratic and yranDical set OF men
any army in the world than West Point graauaes:
Why is this The answer is simpie. They never n1e
any experience in the rank and tile They imagin.
by force of circumstances, II not Of education 's
enlisted men are mere animals, subject 10 and desispse
for their arbitrary rule. They look upon themseNs'
as superior order OF beings designed by Governmen
IL not by Providence TO govern the mudsii: OF soco
forgetting the low condition from which many "a
them, by mere political wbm, were raised TO s.as
of consequence and authority. This spirit OF
Is the loe cal resul, of want OF sympathy bet"ese
the classes, radically sprngDg from the present anu
republican mode vi sePardttsg ne Interests y G 81
ioned officers from those Of the rank and ('S;
know some officers both IN the United States ss wen
"a ia the so-cslled Confederate service, sose hNe'
have often been jeoparI Ized by their unuany tyranny
West Poiht, with all its advantages, canpot puise
men bravo or capable o: governing. IL may mASs
them scholars, good engineers, aud topographen e1
Cineere. And lnis is about It's limit. Now, nov II
we stlnd ia relation to West Point graduates a.
have found among them the most das,srdly eo"s a,y
on Gods EARTH aud also such sswere deiclen. J"
element Of government. But than this-asnah s'..h
know what say--I have found many cadets "s .ss .
from Wes. Point ''srly ineoDPet"t 70 PenS'~