Spirit of the age., 1861-05-15


excellence of Military Schools and also the
prowess of Southern arms on the field of bat
tie: We believe every Parent as well as
Youth of the country, will peruse it with
pride and attention-ED AGE.
Extracts from an Essay on Military Edaca-
ton, aelirered at Wilminqton, NJ e., No
ceanber l4th, 1860: before the State Eau-l
cGtaonaI Convention, 6y MAI d. H. HILL,
Of the North Carolina Military Institute.
Published By order Of the Associats0n.)
But our Military, and Scientific schools
have still higher claims than those of pure
ly intellectual character. They present mo-
raj advantages, which no wise parent will
overlook, Is no great point gained when
our impeficus az, sIeif-wiifed youth learn TO
submit to authority? Is not great point
gained when irregular, unframed unsyste-
matte youth are taught habits of order and
system These are inestimable, priceless
advantages resulting from a military educa-
ton. But the manlinesS and independence
acquired, are to be priced if possible, still
more highly AS Officers, as Sentinels, as
Section marchers as Drill-masters, the Ca
diets are required to report all they see amss
And thus they learn to set their,faces against
wrong doing, and to manifest the boldness to
let it be known that they do So The world
is full Of a pulling, maudin sympathy for
criminals; and thus Williams of every grade
are allowed to 60 unwhipped of justice Who
can estimate the influence upon society, of
body of young men, annually sent forth from
our Military Schools with stern notions of
the supremacy of the law, and the necessity
OF carrying out its most stringent require
ments Again, the world is full of timid,
time-serving, Vacilating men, who never take
decided stand through sheer irresolution.
The young men who receive Military Edu-
cation, are in training during their whole COL
legiate course to come out boldly, and to come
out always on the side Of law and order
1t is impossible to eXaggerate or over esti-
mate this influence OF the 100 graduates
of West Point, | am sure that no man can
name II who have not been law-loving and
law abiding. | am sure that not so many as
II ever disturbed the peace of society, or ever
appeared as criminals before the Courts. The
healtaful influence of the military system is
felt more especially at West Point, because
the patronage of the United States Govern
ment has made it the most perfect of our mill
tary schools, and in fact, no other deserves
to be ment Toned IN comparison. During the
sixty years that this Institution has been in
existence, there never has been Cadet shot
or stabbed in an affray. How loudly does
this fact proclaim the soundnesS of the moral
ffHif9 ffHGf9a ali parts of the Country, Of every
ceivable difference of temper disposition and
character, and with every kind of deadly wea-
pons in their hands, and yet for more than
half century, there has been no mortal COM
bat in this vast and heterogeneous assemblage
of young men. Contrast this with the state
of our Colleges, i'll how many OF them have
there not been outrageous and cold-blooded
murders And in some of them, shooting
and stabbing are almost Of annual recurrence
And yet there are many persons, who obJec
to Military Schools on the ground that they
foster blood thirsty spirit. The truth i
Just the reverse. They foster courage, ant
courage is always generous and magnanlmous
The murderer in ninety nine cases out of
hundred, is despicable coward. He Kill
his adversary through the craven fear of be
ing hurt or killed himself Cowardice of tn
meanest sort is at the bottom OF all the bloc
shed in Colleges. A manler sentiment pr'
walls in Military Schools and these assassi
deeds are unknown in them.
Briefly, our Military system gives the moe
est and manly bearing Of the soldier instea
of the impudent leer and clustering swagg
disposition to uphold the officers of the |
stitute, instead of the contempt for authori
and the combination against it, which prev;
so often in Colleges. 1t imparts just MOTTO
in regard to the penalties due to tlansgrC
/ sion and destroys that sickly sentimentalit
I which does so much to encourage outral
violence and bloodshed. 1t imparts m;
! nanimity to the Cadet, which lifts,him abo
- the feelings and the tricks Of the coward a
S the assassin. Lastly, the exercise Of DIR
) parade and guard duty, gives health to t
4 body and vigor to the constitution, and t
- Cadet on graduating, is prepared to enter
a career Of usefulness; while the Colleg
r comes forth with digestion disordered
;, sedentary. habits, complexion sallowed
TOBACCO "rvnnS nS mors1 s1Ystem stem deranged by
!, bling and other vices. But if his moral q e
Il acter be good, if he have passed safely throI
II the fiery ordeal Of temptation, still, the O
m perfect ldieness he has led, and the a&os
81 phere of tobacco smoke he has so long blsl,
:. - ed have impaired, if not entirely destra
a. his health. | assume that the moral seh,r
Id ter of the Cadet must be better tharatha
us the Colegan' 1t is not possible thaVa !,
ur tenn :of direct inspection and visitation. 1
ac- very tarthest removedf f ON espionage)Sho
far not prove a healthful restraint upon The
nj det. 1t gives the Faculty an opportunit
at. knowing the habits, tempers, disposit
by and moral characters of all their pupils
with ordinary vigilance, it is impossible
intemperance, licentiousness, profanity, Q
bling, Sabbath breaking, and SO forth, to
ist to any great extent without their kn,
edge and had almost said their conniya
-, propose in the second place to show
~ Military Schools are peculiarly suitable
80 the South, since the genius of our peop
10y essentially military. The proof Of tbi
every where abundant. The South has
ent tary schools in every State and the North
fen but one. The South has military comma
a. every where through the country, the \
~ has them only in her large cities. The ar
the of the Revolution were commanded by "
,tt- ington Southern General. The off
les who distinguished themselves in an esp
A. mannerin the war of1812 were Southern
0ea and Southern bred, jackson, Coffee Fl
ely son, Scott and Gaines The comman
on" Generals in the Mexican war, Scott and
hat lor, We're both of Virginia The Chi
"a Ordnance under General Scott and the
''-'A most important officer was Hueer of s
Carolina. The Chief of Engineers was
of Virginia, the only man the army ack,
Iant edges to be fit to be the successor to Ge
fore Scott, The chief leaders in skirmshipr
1H y.