Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-05-30
Military Department at the University.

We hear with great satisfaction that the Visitors Of the
University OF Virginia have determined establish at
once military department in eouue1ion with that nsti-
tuition We are possessed fully OF the details OF the
scheme but the object Is 20 afford every student op
por,uuity TO acquire knosledge Of military tactics.
This is a movement 10 the right direction. Whether
Che war hand be long or Short our destiny il to
become great military people. Military tactics must
constitute uportsn part OF all education in the South
Every white be brought up the use of arms
aud made familiar with the manual This knosledge Is
easily acquired without seriously interfering With the
binary pursuits Of college life. Indeed the exercise
oesstry 20 ts acquisition will contribute greatly TO the
bodily health aud cor Of our young men.
THE want OF Just such arrangement as IS con
tmu,aeJ the University, felt a; the present time
The best educated men ia the State are almost wholly
superseded AID thrown aside from the service Of the
STATE because Of defect Of education single, but at
this moment very important branch. Every body, Who
ever vere a the Military Institute advertised to
forssrd 70 receive military commissioners tho they
alone we're 70 lead the treemen Of Virginia against the
Yankee foe And IL may be sowe DO rot refer 10 il 20
complain Of tho has excited immense heart burn
irg l ;be Commonwealth. We presume it is fair to con-
c1i. hat those Who have received military education
are a general rule they who best qualified for Of
fetal positions in our army. wesay general rule
for does 10. uec slrly follow that all who have been
az the Institute mus: be embryo Napoeons There have
been grsa, Captains, Whenever saw a military school
Cesar Cromwell Marlborough, Washington aud Jack
son. never eroyed the benefits Of Institute, they were
militia Generals and yet they made their marks ia their
6ay The exceptions hOSeyer do not disprove the rule
We coacede that those educated TO arms other tbDgs
0slcg equal are those bsst fitted to command Only,
would not have the rule pushed to the extreme Of in
Guiding an Of on, class and absolutely excluding all Of
another
Military eilol.i3u ia couneIiou with other education
Be- hat vbicl desirable. Because a man can coustrue
with ease Poybius aud Ivy aud appreciate the beauties
Of sophoces aud Horace it does not argue oorclasvey
as und.ues, to 6gh, the battles Of freedom.
The broad principle to adOp. in society Ike that Of
0a-s is chat military education should form part Of
every vbi-e mans education in fact, military tactics
might bee wisely euioned by Law part of the course Of
studies in every public school In all time to come shall
have 70 maintain our ascsndancy At home and abroad at
Che point of the sword This ia fate, and shall
act the part Of wisdom to prepare for it.
TIE University sets the example Of supplying the tx
-,irg defect a The system Of education among Us. By
The addition OF two three Professors Of the art mill
,irg Oh, OF 600 young gentlemen, whom it annually
sends out 20 the world NAV be rendered cOnveant with
Che use Of arms and the fundamental principles of the
science vbou: jstrimen; TO their classical studies Let
the example be followed by all the colleges aud academies
bob t.e Stale