The sun., 1870-03-28
TIE CADETsHIP sMUoGLERs.
How California sufertd-Cadets Appointed
who had never b en- IN the siate-Nice
Family Arrangements.


Judge Cradlebaugh. the delegate from Nevada
Territory, once received u letter from a Mr. Howe
President Of The Park Bank Of the cb Of New York,
uuClng hin $500 " he would app int his son n ca lei
to West Point. The JUDGE very indignant espe.
cy the tone ~ the letter was as much as 10 saw
this Is quite legitimate matter Of bu ,iup. and las
been done 10y other members Of the same Congress -
lie found that several others hid received similar let.
tiers, and there could be bat hv doaOt that appoint.
nents had been secured through pccuniary consde.
ratlons The plan Of appointments to tie Military
and Naval Academies was devised for the purpose oi
giNiug 10 every Congressional District representa-
ave and thus disseminating military education
throughout the country.
The Number Of cadets and midshlnmeu is one for
sach mem 1er o' Congress ami Territorial dele ate .
~ addition there are ten appointments at arge to
be made by the President, TaeSe were especially
ue~lghated hy Congress as intended ior the sons OF
ohcers OF the army anu navy VINO. by reason Of
thelr profession, we're not permanent residents OF
any STATE. There was an additional one for tue Dis
trict OF Columbia.
The term Of study at each Academy is four years |;
anu whenever NH'ahe! existed ~ virtue OF grac-
uaon or other cause, n II happened among the mid
shipmen, the Nav Department no ihed tie proper
Congres-nan OF he facts, requesting that he oni-
nate person, and the DepaI tIpent would forward
the appointment ald the necessary Instructions 10
appear at certain time at Annapolis TO undergo the
preliminary examination.
The same course was pursuad by the War Depart.
ment with faGari +" .h- West Point cadets, There
N",1 certain rules and regulations that were
quired to he complied with Among others that the
recipients OF these appointments should be actual
residents OF the district from which they We're APP
pointed and that two brothers should not be educated
duced as strict matter OF justice. because by shrewd
management certain families had educated a number
OF sons OF the Government expense. In this manner
the Bache. Meade, Graham, toldsborough and Ram.
saw families had all their Connections and relatives
pensloned on on tue Government One family alone
had TWENTY-FIVE relatives IN the Army and Navy.
Richard W. Meade. Jr, Ia put down on the Navy
Register M appointed from California an IL actual
" credited AZ a resident of this State. lie Is now
commander In the Navy, but ron the date of his
appointment up to the present time has hesn citi.
zen either Of the state 0f New York or New Jersey
There Is another representative IN the same way nn-
Justly credited 10 this State and tor which the pres
ent Rep esentatire from this district deserves
severe tensure Commodore Selirige, citizen OF
hassachusetts, when he Was ordered TO the com
mand OF Mare Island atcW years since, was accom-
panicd by his family. They were only temporary
reAdents OF the state, aud the close OF tho Com.
modore term OF service returned With him to the
Atlantic States. Yet 4. A Sargent, then a member
OF IongieSs In 1854 pissed by tue application OF
california boys aud appointed James X Selfridge,
Rn OF the Eommodore, midshipmIn from
California, and this also In spite OF the tact that his
elder brother had been educated Ia tie Naval
Academy, and was then a Lieutenlnt Cummand der in
tue Navy. Inis unjust action to his own constitu-
cnts, when generally known, viii not add much To
his popularity or assist him In any attempt that no
may make At reelection.