New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-13

West Point be ottergise than preparatory
school for treason while the War Department
holds such positionf
IL appears from the Report Of the Sectary that
the Board of Visitors at West Point have very
properly directed their attention to the morai
corruption OF the United States Army and the
extraordinary treachcry displayed by officers at
West Point. The Secretary says that in their
supplemental report the Board have pointed out
"oat they conceive to be the cause of this evil.
namely:
OF discipline. which, It sppssrs FINN fact. o,,,,d
n'es'gsion. ignores rrae,isa1y ras e,,es,sci s,,
1 0,0n' IA nem'ese', ard aess oae bsasss BRO.
e" " pee'a reuiasioni The report state. tbs. NO dios
cree made In the penalties afixod a, p,,i hor, s 49,
ess Oh euehsos Is argued with tia, s.ea ,v .
deE calculated 10 eoTad IN ne ssind Of 0s pspa "a. .
snen' beiesa right and rorg and to substitute N tbs 49,
ion Of grave moral questions, habs for eoasehse.,
True as Gospel, Mr.. Cameron: the Board has.
bit the nail on the head; they have given tina
key 20 such official acts a. the promotion of
Emory; they have pointed out the great evil
prevailing not only at Wost Point and ia the
army, but iscrFsding the administration of the
War Office aud other Departments of Govern
ment. Ths confusion Of distinction between right
and wrong; the force of ksJh overcoming con-
science, account for Emory ard Harvey, and beef
and steamer contracts. and many other enormi.
ties. A most striking example Of tits confusion
"of distinction between right and wrong" 10
furnished BY Mr.. Cameron, his report enamsrat-
ing, along with the exploits of Anderson at Sum-
ter and Slemmer at Pckens, what the Secretary
facetloudy calls the gallant action of Lieut..
Roger Jones at Hsrper's Ferry, and the hand.
some and successful manner in which he exc
cuted the orders Of the Government at that
important post" The orders Of the Govern
mont in respect to Harper's Ferry have never
been published, but what was doue there 10
known; and while every patriotic heart burned
with admiration Of Anderson and SIemmer every
head hung with shame ct the Harper's Ferry
miscarriage. What was that gallant action A
few buildings burned, o small quantity Of arms
taken away, but arms, ordnance, and munitions
of war, in great stores, armory machinery aud
engines Of the vast arsenal left ia hasty flight,
safe and unframed for tho enemy. This is tho
exploit lauded by the Secretary with Sumter and
Pickens.
The gallant action Of Harpers Ferry, for
soOth What will be the next achievement
boosted of, and praised by the War Department.
1t is wonder that Tw,ggss gallant action" at
San Antonio was condemned This Confusion
" Of the distinction between right aud wrong"
for the fact that there has been no
inquiry into the shameful treachery aud surrender
of the Department of Texas; no 20 'rtmartiaa
of the officers who participated with Twiggs in
that transactions; no trial of the scuttliDg Com
modore who destroyed three ships and gave up
twenty -four hundred cannon to the Rebels at
Norfolk. The War Department must recover
from its confusion Of the distinction between rghs
" and wrong" AID be governed by conscience,
and not by habit, before the reform Of tho
Army and Of West Point can be hoped for.
If the Board of Visitors have obtained facts,
upon investigation at West Point, exhibiting
greater confusion between right and wrong. or
luore dep'Orssse substitution Of habit for co.,
science than is betrayed by the operations Of tho
War and Navy Departments, it is 10 be hoped
they Will not reveal them the heart of the PEG.
pic is sick with such facts, and joins the Secre-
airy in the prayer that Congress will address
tself to an investigation OF the system by which
hey are produced.