West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-05-26
c.DET AprcINTurx--.
Duty Co.yressmrn.

lStter On (nt sat = Ct OF OduCt appoint
mems, which We take ffnm q recent num-
her 81 The ~ r ine hurg Sa,csr AZ. ere ius'
and timely, and meet our unqualified ap-
pr val and commentator. The writer
say:
The duty and obligation rcs'ips upon
Representative in Congress, who is allow.
cd the privilege OF Recommending a Cadet
10 the Military Academy at West Point,
has become subject OF some discussion
in the papers Of this Congressional district
am pleased to see vat he popular mind
IS awakcuir & 10 the erquiry. II has too
long been treated rs one of those "preIo-
gs'ivCs" which tho vulgar eye should not
too curicusly pry into. / have read all
that has so far been written on the IN, jtc'
IN our District papers, and with your pei
mission. MIR. L iitor, propose through
your icurnsl 30 express my views on the
SUI jet.
1t is 90 error 90 suppose that there Is
any law of Congress which gives 10 a
" ember Of that body The power to make
the appointment ola cadet. The power
of appointment is by law exclusively vcs-
ted in the President of tie United States,
with no other limitation upon that power,
except the qualifications prescribed for The
applicant, ard that the selection shall he
made from n resident cf a particular Cor
gressionsl District. BY a usage which
has prevailed for many Yeers, the Presi
dent has quietly relirquished this item of
patr' mage TO The representative Of the
Congressional District, ard why has this
been done? Because it was naturally
supposed that the Representative living in
the District, and acquainted personally or
by information with the young men If
premise sidirg therein, and,wilh the ger
eral wishes aud sentiment at his cops,iiu-
erts would be more capable Of prrsenting
10 the notice Of the Government n proI er
candidate for the place, than The Prcsi-
dent could possibly be. 1t Was not given
10 the mt mber of Congress as his persor-
al PecClium, to use tie expression Of the
Roman law IL was not given 10 him ne
his personal "prerogative" as the able edi-
tors of the Free Press suppose: IL was
not Teliuquished 10y the President, that
members of Congress might use il to graf
ify personal falorlism, or manufacture
local popularity for selfish purposes, but
II was tu'rerdered as a TRUST, TO be so adj
ministered rs would best promote the
wishes of the people, end advance the
honor and interests OF the country.
am well aware that this view of that
representative function is lot entertained
by all members If Congress. know ton
well, that this III N of patronage, ike SO
mnny Others in our system of government.
hes been prostituted to selfish, aye and
some times to dishoncratle purposes. l
know that some have bestowed il upon
their sons, and their nephews; that some
have used it TO create a little local or per-
sonal popularity in particular Counties
and neighboIhOods, whilst others have
been arraigned before Congress itself for
having shamefully and UNANIMOUSLY sold
their recommendations for money.
By what mode should the reccmme, de-
ticn of Cadet be made q?
Representatives. of The people. In their
official action should havo no personal
fevorites. His affections should be bonn
ded alone by the limits of bis district. and
all within il should be the equal objects of
his attention according to their merits.
If pre- cedeDt from ihis district is TO be
quoted, let me refer 10 enc which attract
ed attention at the time, and which |
know met with The approval of the inte!I'-
gent editors of the Free Press, as It did
that of every dieting voter in the dis.
tIict.
Whilst Mr.. Faulkner YVES member e
the Forty-fourth Congress (1S7G) vacau-
cy occurred of a G detship in this Cor
gressional District. he Immediately gave
notice Of that vacancy in all the papers
published in It's eighteen counties, and in
vted applications from all who felt dis.
posed 10 compete for the commission.
He then organizeda Competitive Board of
Examination, composed of Colonel James
Mcmillan, a distinguished officer Of the
army, 3etsiled by BIr. Faulkners request
for that cfflcial duty by the Secretary of
War, and who had been for eight years an
eminent Professor at West p int; Josepp
McMuTraD, Principal of Shepherds Col.
lrgc; William II. Cable, Principal Of
Charlestown Academy John p. Hyde.
Prircp8l Of LJsnoko College; Dav d Spec,
superintendent OF Public Schools. Mar.
tinsburg beside three Of the most expe.
rienced physicians Of Marlnsburg, % tcst
their physical qualities, and their vigor Of
bodily constitution.
That Board met AZ Nart'nsbu-r. On The
10h Of March, 1876. There were twenty.
two who had 6lgd their applications
at least, 1t - believed from every county
in tue District But fourteen, however.
OF the applicants submitted Themselves 10
the txaminatiOn.o the Board. A careful
and thorough examination was made of
these fourteen youths, which resulted in
the unanimous accommodation Of T.. 3.
Avis, Of Cnarlestown, Jefferson County.
So well satisfied were slI bis youthful
competitors Of the justice Of this award.
that they 30 q body expire Sod their salts.
faction with the judgment q the B.ars.
And what was the result Of This action
nf that Board Young Avis Who. fer.
eOnally, was unknown 10 Mr r.rit.r,.