The comet., 1880-04-17


here at the proper Department. l do moi
know; I am giving no opinion about this
matter; but | desire that the Senate may be
informed of the facts with view that il the
necessity should arise the Senate may then
take such action as they deem proper, il
thew should deem any action proper at all,
for the purpose of making an inquiry in
reference to this case.
Mr.. Maxey. If the Senator from Illinois
will permit me, will give my reasons. A
court of inquiry is legal body acting oy
authority of law, authorised by law TO sehd
for books and persons and papers, to sum,
mon witnesses, to make an examination and
report; and thought we should get more
satisfactory report Of this matter from
court which the law authorizes to make
report. / do not want to interfere IN the
slightest degree with full investigation;
only want reliable report from legal
body, as think that is.
Mr. Logan. The Senate will OBJ
serve that the only way we shall get the re-
mort of the court of inquiry is through a
resolution; and this resolution, because that
court has been convened, will not by any
means prevent us getting the information,
nor will it hasten the information; 1t only
payes the way for us to receive the lntor.
nation. 1 offer the resolution because OF
the extraordinary character of the dls-
match es which | have seen. Without re-
fiecting upon any officer or anybody, must
say that these dispatches are extraordinary
The accusation against an individual thar
he would cut off his own ears is something
have never understood before, except in
one instance. I remember once defending
n man before court for mayhem. He was
accused of biting off the nose of another
party, and I undertook to prove to the jury
that the man bit off his own nose, but did
not succeed. (lIaughter.) This is the only
instance | ever heard of since where
man was accused of mutilating himself IN
this way and on account of that fact, l
desire the information, and that Is the only
reason :,
hope the resolution will pass, because it
will not impede any court OF inquiry OF
prevent any action.
Mr.. Voorhees,. 1 rise to ask the adoption
of the resolution, not for the purpose OF
obiecting to it. have for many years
looked with wonder upon all graduates
from West Point. have looked upon them
as spared monuments of system of bru-
tality and barbarism, and the wonder is
that they have passed through it and are
alive in our midst. have known for years
of Young men, not colored young men but
white men, who have been driven away
from that place of national education by a
system of conduct on the part of their fell
low-students SO disgraceful that | will not
attempt its description. will support any
proposition for an investigation. l will
assist as far as in my power to create public
opinion against such practices, and to hu-
MAMIE and civilize, if not possibly Chris
tianize. West Point. Ibis ought to be done,
or the Military Academy ought to be abol.
ished. If this unspeakable and Internal
outrage of which we read in the last few
days has been perpetrated, there is no
length to which this Government ought not
to go for the purpose of correcting such
abuses, even to the extent of abolishing the
institution. If it is impossible to conduct
the institution upon civilized and humane
principles, it ought to go down. l have
institutions of learning in my
earlier days, and SO have other Senators
about me. I know that it is possible for
young men in large numbers to be assem-
bled together and pursue their studies and
vet treat each other as gentlemen. know
that is possible from my own experience.
But it seems to me there must be something
in this seminary of war on the
Hudson River that inspires young
men, after their arrival with
taste for brutality and blood that is per-
fectly amazing. Whether it is because they
are being educated to war with their kind,
I do not know. Whether it is the fault of
the management there [ cannot say. But
if there is any sentiment in my heart that
is stronger than another it is that of abhor-
renee for the violence and outrage which
have SO long and SO often characterized the
conduct of the students of West Point.
| take no stock in the idea that this young
man cut his OWE ears. 1t is absurd, ridicu-
Ious. Such report is part of that system
which | have denounced. l favor the
of the resolution.
Mr.. Maxey. do not suppose there is a
man living who would be more in favor of
The most thorough and complete and search
ing investigation into this alleged outrage
than myself. If the reports in the news
papers be true, it is not only brutal but it
is contemplate and cowardly. There is no
there is no bravery in such an act
Is that. 1t is absolute cowardice, if the
reports be true. The point that l was
making, and the only suggestion that 1
made to the Senator from Illinois, was that
congress has created by law court for the
purpose of making inquiry into matters
ike this The court of inquiry has the
bower to make inquiry into all the facts and
and when the report of the
court of inquiry is made, it is simply res
,ortoJ fbrono.b tho ,,ronnr nha 1nnlc to tho |
Secretary of War. When that report comes,
hen we shall have from the Secretary of
Var something tangible, something definite,
instead of wild, floating rumors. That is
II there is in it. If we can expedite that,
S a matter of course / have no objection
n the world, because desire it under
TODD that 1 am in favor of investigating
his thing to the very bottom, but believe
he law has provided channel through
Jhich we must start in that direction, and
hat channel have pointed out.
Mr.. Burnside. Mr.. President, | hope
his resolution will pass, because l want to
ee the most thorough investigation made
nd in every possible way.
Just one word in answer to what the
enator from Indiana Mr.. Voorhees, has
nd in reference to hazing at West Point.
fter an experience of four years there 1
IN bear witness to the fact that the
ldets are no more addicted to that habit
IAN students in other colleges, aud cruel.
es have never to.my knowle lg been per-
atrated to any extent except in an indis>
'eet, certainly not in premeditate1, way.
have never known but one cadet to be
armed in my life. I never heard of an
stance of this kind before, and am sure
am very anxious as graduate of that in.
tuition to have it investigated, not only
court of inquiry of which the Senator
cm Texas speaks, but by every possible
cans that we can adopt. shall therefore /
vor this resolution.
1 have felt bound to say that much in 7
swer to the Senator from Indiana, be- ]
nse I did not want it to go abroad from
high a source that West Point is
,rse than other institutions, because it is
t. 1 think this habit of hazing on the
rt of students at the colleges in the
lited States ought to be stopped; it is y
ry bad habit; and we as promoters of the
bic good and makers of the public laws
ght to do everything in our power to =
'p it. |
Mr.. Bruce. Mr.. President, 1 indorse
cry word that the Senator from Indiana r,
5 uttered For three or four days t Fl
WsDanerS have bean laden with ranorta 90