The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-04-30

been much greater than it was at Annapo-
lis, or ~ one to four.
It is true that many Of the disadvantages
that would naturally arise from Newport
by the students while they are at the Acad-
envy, because their practice trip generally
occurs in the months Of June, July and
August. which 10 the time that the water
ing season is at its hight but there are cir
cuinstances connected with its being wat
ering place that are regarded by those who
are most familiar with the institution as
exceedingly deleterious to young men.
would not say, and would not have it
inferred from anything ! may say or do,
that the Academy has not been conducted
since it has been at Newport as success
fully az it possibly could be under the ex-
listing circumstances. ] know the worth of
the superintendent and of the command
ants, and other officers, past and present,
who have been connected with the school.
/ know they are men OF intelligence, as
well a. fine officers. am perfectly well
aware, and ! think the parents of all the
young men who have been there, or who
are there now, recognize the assiduity and
the efforts Of those gentlemen to discharge
their duties fully to the country and to the
young men under their charge. But am
only speaking of the sentiment entertain
ed, as shall show hereafter, by those very
know that the Academy, even at New
port, is more successful than any similar
Institution in the world. have letter in
my pocket, written by an English officer
to distinguished citizen Of this country,
after he had been at Newport, had remain
ed there some days thoroughly inspecting
the school; had heard the boys at their re-
practice, and other practice, and other ex-
ercises, and at their exercise on board
ship, and he pronounced that opinion. But
still the Academy has not reached that de-
gree Of perfection which the naval officers
connected with it think that it ought to
reach, and which think it ought to attain.
We cannot guard the morals and pre-
servo the health Of the young men who are
committed to our care as our duty requires
Of us.
The allurements and temptations at the
ing from the service many Of our best
young men. 1t is utter folly to suppose
that you can establish any rule or any ar
tificial line in q city across which there are
temptations to allure young men who are
between the ages OF fourteen and eighteen
years which they will not sometimes trans
gress and pass over. The fact that they do
temptation that Is forbidden, may not Of
itself be an evil and wrong except that it
is violation Of the law Of the Academy;
and one of the first things that is taught to
an officer at the Naval Academy is the du-
ty Of perfect obedience: for it is one of the
axioms Of that profession that no man is
fit to command until he has learned to be
commanded.
Two classes at the Academy are kept on
ship board. Those ships, l believe, are the
Constitution and the Santee. They are dis
mantled; they are nothing more nor less
than barrack ships. One part of the deck
is assigned to q school-room, where the
young men study in q common school,
room; another to q dormitory, also one
none of the advantages can be derived that
could be secured by being on board of q
regular, properly manned and properly
furnished man-of-war. These ships are
moored about three-fourths of a mile from
the shore, and the only connection that the
young men or the officers on board these
ships have with the shore or their teachers
is constantly kept, at considerable expense,
plying between the shore and the ships
The other two classes are kept in hotel in
the midst Of the city. The officers, instead
of being within the walls as at Annapolis,
and Immediately associating with the young
men, occupy houses, one in one portion Of
the town and another in another. Hence
police or guardianship over the young men
that they would at Annapolis or any other
properly established and well-regulated
school. The result of all this, as said be-
fore, il that q perfect system and discipline
cannot be obtained there, and in cOnse
quence of it the service is losing many of
the most promising younsters who enter
who would make admirable, dashing, no.
BILE, glorious sailors, but who cannot be
restrained from violating some Of those
minute regulations of the Academy which
are necessary to be established and to be
obeyed.
There il no hospital connected with the
Academy at Newport. At Annapolis there
was q hospital large enough to accommo-
date all the sick. There is no observatory
know whether 1t this moment the library
is now open and occupies q house or not;
but for . long time It was kept boxed up
In one Of the casemates at Fort Adams.
Mr.. ANTHONY. II the Senator will al
low me, the students Of the Naval Acade-
my have the free use of the Redwood
library, which ia infinitely superior to the
-one Of the oldest and best libraries in the
Mr.. GRIMES. Then, Mr.. President, as
to the question Of expense. At Annapolis
We have our own grounds, our own dor
mitories, recitation-rooms, observatories,
library-rOOms, and means for imparting
all the essential and necessary branches Of
education to naval officers. At Newport
we have none ofthese. We are obliged to
rent houses for our officers and students to
occupy, and to maintain ships at large ex.
pense, which are constantly needing and
undergoing repair, and which we shall be
obliged to break up in little while. Weare
between the ships and the land at consider
able expense. fsuppose the additional ex.
pense Of keeping the Academy at Newport
over keeping it at annapolis would not be
less than 500, 900 year, although ON that
subject am not we'll informed.