The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-04
Reports Of the Board Of Visitors to
the Military Academy.
VIEWS OF TAE,MAJoUITY AND MINORITY.
The General course Of Instruction Declared Salts
factory, bat the Discipline Defective More
Rigor and sternness and Less Fashiona-
BILE Entanglements Necsssary-spanish,
German and French, but, Above
AL, Spanish, Should be Gull
tivated-Ethics and Bellies
Lcttrss Neglected.
WASHINGTON, July 8, 1871.

WASHINGTON, July 8, 1871.
The report Of the Board OF Visitors to the United
States Military Academy for 1871 has just been COM
pleted and presented to the Secretary OF War. 1t
will be seen from the signatures that only seven out
OF the twelve members OF the Board have signed the
report. 1t seems singular that the law should pro.
vide for a mixed commission, made up OF seven
civilians. two United States Senators and three
Representatives. who all to constitute one Board
and report to the Secretary OF War, while the Con-
gressional members OF 1t are to make another
and distinct report to Congress. From this provt-
sion OF the law have resulted some confusion and
irreguarty the discharge of their duties by the
members; and an evidence OF this the present
report shows that the moral weight OF the document
Is lessened when 1t Is endorsed by only bare ma
jorty OF the whole Board-and even that Is quail
fed endorsement. Only four out Of the twelve men,
beers have signed 1t without any qualification. The
other three members whose signatures are attached.
namely, DR.. Sunderland, President Of the Board
Judge Miller, OF Alabama, and Governor Aiken, OF
South Carohna-have slgnifei their disapprOval OF
the article discipline. although they make no mi
norly report 1t is understood that these three gen.
tlemen differed very widely from the fOur-Messrs-
| Carpenter, Johnson, Woods and Edwards-as to the
nature and objects Of discipline. There was radi-
| cal difference of opinion upon the causes
| Affecting the discipline at the post, and also
| upon tho present condition OF that disci.
| pine. AS this Is a question to which public
| attention has been particularly attracted the
| reasons upon which the minority have founded
their conclusions will he OF special interest at the
present period They mold, in substance, that the
| uniform testimony Of previous boards has been
highly laudatory OF the Academy In this respect.
II the object OF discipline be not merely subsection
to q state of penanee, reducing of cadets
to condition OF mOnasticsm, but rather to
bring out the soldierly qualities OF men and
prepare them for the greatest effectiveness in
the duties OF their profession; If 1t be to lay the
foundation trurhfulness and honor in the personal
character, and consequently OF subordination and
fidelity the corps; If 1t be to teach obedience to
the commands OF authority, to incucaIe the lesson
of rigid sef-control and patient endurance ofthe
means necessary to the development Of
general manhOod-lf these, say the minority,
be the objects Of discipline, 1t seems
from the present situation at the post
to have been well maintained, Notwithstanding the
occurrences which, during the last year, have
shaken the public confidence in its reality. They
argue, in the first place, that many OF the new
cadets come to the Academy from homes where they
have had little moral religious training, having
learned little Of either through parental precept
or example; that they are perfect 'plebes"
learn their first lessons OF new code OF
manly worth and respectability at the. Academy.
This is rather poor opinion OF the pebes'' enter.
tanned by the minority but II that estimate Is
accurate the result OF IA complete academic cours
shows how highly beneficial is the instruction
received at the national military academy The
sion West Point the cadets are as lar as possible
removed from the corupIing influence OF
nary IN na pGAS at the Very beginning. They
are made to know inc value OF system ana economy
mlnuIest details the experience OF daily lite. They
are made to understand the nature OF accountable
spect they may justly challenge comparison with
any class OF the same age ana number IN other
TO weaken discipline to render It ineffective they
must be traced not so much TO the laXlty OF author
Of humanity, and chiefly to the existence Of outside
influences, frequently remote, when have been
ionnd powerful Snc anu whon te .ne
series OF efforts 10 enforce regulations for wholesome
discipline the penalties OF have been
imposed upon the corps with little. II any,
consideration OF his moral or military stand
ing, one OF two things Is likely to happen
either q deploraple decentralization. IN which all
motive Of high and honorable conduct Is swept
away, eruption OF sef-assertng virtue, which
Tor tie time being In defiance OF all Its normal
conditions to expe the cause Of irritation; and the
in mtary as In civil he These illusions point
to the case which occurred &C the be-
he fs. Class nf in expeng from the Academy
three members OF the fourth Glass; with ali the
act, IS condemned and depiored by the minority as
wholly subversiye OF every principle 10, OF
opinion 1t rendered every one engaged in
it justly liable to the most speedy and
The severest punishment Of martial law; but while
in the discretion or the authorities Immediately con-
cerned that course was not pursued, 1t Is acknow-
lodged that the evils most likely 10 continue within
| events have wholly disappeared; and the members
OF the Board who dissent rom the article ON tnlsci-
pine, seeing that the excitement following upon the
the action OF the first class no longer agitates the
| peaceful precincts OF the Academy, but Is heard
only as the distant reverberatons OF the thunder OF
utility of the further discussion OF case which
they consider so singular and SO exceptional, but
| whicn every must hope will never be repeated
The regular report Is quite lengthy and enters
| fully INTO The details OF the examinations, military
exercises, gradua ion ceremonies, religious nstruc
tion course instruction. fiscal AFFAIRS, police and
all other matters pertaining to the Institution. All
parts OF the post were thrown open to the inspection
or the Board and every facility and attention paid
them In the progress OF tneir Investigations.
The candidates for admission to the Academy
were first examlned this beng change from the
ness the ordeal Proficiency In reading, writing
spenng, grammar, arithmetic geography and the
for admission. The result showed that out OF ninety
examined ten were rejected Tor physical disability
and TWENTY-FIVE Tor deiectness OF scholarship. The
examination OF the first class, consisting OF forty
three members, was continued Tor several success
slVe days. anu covered Tue principal toplcSOI the
last Academic Board. The discussions and answers
IN military anu civil engineering, IN military and
international law in mineraogy and geography, In
ordnance and gunnery and in cavalry tactics fully
evinced the atttinmcnts OF the graduating class In
the branches OF study. The second class numbered
sixty-tnree members, and was examined In ph!loso-
ply, chemistry, infantry tacucs. artillery tactics
and drawing The third class numbering fifty
members was examined In mathematics, French,
Spanish and drawing. The fourth class, number
ing nty-lve members, examined In mathe-
mates and French. The requirements OF the young
gentlemen I'm eacn Of these classes In their respec
tive studies, so far the Board mad opportunity to
Judge o; them were generally commendaDle
Military EreTcises.-Ihcso consisted Of the bat
talon ekirmlshng, light artillery, siege artillery,
sea coast artillery, p0ntOon and squadron drills,
together with the practical duties In the laboratory,
military signalling and Iclcgrapny, the use OF the