South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-05-05
From the Al r.iulbssg Statesman.
West Point Cadet Competitive
BOards-Daty o. Members OF Congress.

NEssRs. EDIroEs: The duty and ob.
legation resting uroD Representative in
Congress, who is allowed the privilege
! OIL RECOMMENDING Cade. % the Militia
~ Academy ~ West Point. has become
subject OF sose discussion In Tic M
rers OF this Congressional district /
avn pleased to Bee that tho popular mind
u awakening 10 The enquiry. 1t has
too long been ,realtst as one of those
''prerogatiyes' which the VULGAR eve
shoaid not too curiously pry into. /
nave read all that has SO far been written
on tie subject ia chr District papers.
and Sith yonr permission. Dir. Editor. /
propose through your Journal 10 express
my views on the subject.
1t Is an error 10 suppose Thai Ll,era ia
any law OF Congress which gives t. a
member oil that body the power 20 make
The appointment Of cadet. The power
OF appointment Is hy law exclusively
vested in the President OF The United
States, With no other Limitation upon
thGt power, except the qualifications
prescribed for tEo applicant, AMI that
The selection shall be made from resi-
dent OF particular Congressional dis
drics. by usage which has prevailed
Tor maay years, the President has oui-
ely relinquished this item OF patronage
10 The representative OF the Congress
ional district, and Why has this been
done Because il was naturally sup-
Pose that the Representative living in
the District, and acquainted personally
or hy Information with the young men
J IL
the general wishes amt sentiment OF his
! constituents would be more capable Of
presenting to tie notice OF the Govern
ment proper candidate for the place.
/ than the President could possibly be.
&c was rot given 20 the member OF Con
Sress as bis personal PEcCLIuNf, TO usa
the expression OF tbn Roman law: a.
was not given to him as his personal
/ "prerc1aiive' as the shlo editors of the
rice I3eSS suppose IL was rot re.in-
pushed hy The President, that uem.
hera OF Congress might use il 20 CRAFTY
personal iavo.it!sm on manufacture local
popularity for selfish purposes, but IL
"as surrendered rs TRUST. 10 10 80 a 4.
ministerod as would best promote the
wishes Of tie people. and advance The
honor and interests or tie country.
an well aware that this Wow Of that
representative function is no. entertain
cd by all members Of Congress. know
too we'll, that this item of palronaoe
IKE so many others in our system OF
government, has been prosiitutea 10
selfish, ave and some times 90 di>bon.
orabio purposes know that SOME
have bestowed 10 upon their sons. and
their acphews; that some have usei H.
10 create little local Or persona! popu.
larily IN particular counties and nciyh-
ooThooda, willis. others have heeH ar
ra'gnod before Congress itself for hay
'ng shHAejaUy AMI UNANIMOUSLY sold
their recommendations for money.
BY what mode should the ,ecoumeo-
Galicn OF Cadet DC made?
We bave been referred 90 "a prccedcu,
IN this district, aud been t,ld chat our
late Representative, Hon Beniqmia +
Martin, refused TO appoint a Conps,.
tive BOard 10 ascertain Tho most pro-or|
selection IN his District. AMI assigned
80 the reason for The refusal. his ,ser
that the Board might not recommend
ms iay1rite Whether Mr. Martha So
spoke anu acted | cannot say. we have
Only the authority az c0rrespaugpnt
Ut the Free Press for the fact But IL
he did SO act and assigned such q reason
for his conduct, it ouIy Shows the rro
prieiy OF tie present popular enouiry
into that subject
Representatives Of She people, in their
official action should hive M personal
favor'cs. Ills affections shoaId he
bounded alone hv the limits of his dis.
trig', and sil within 10 should be the ..
quail objects Of lis attention acc1rdin,
T. their merits. The .piecaient of sI-.
Martin, IL such precedent cxistci
which may lie matter Of doubt is more
30 DO hoaorcl in ,ne breecl chan 10 Tue
observance
II precedent from This district is 10
be quoted, LEI me refer 20 one which IT..
lrac'cd attention 20 the time, and - iuc'l
know mot with the approval &c ths
int iliceEl editors 81 The Free Press. a.
Z did tLat OF every rtaec,iag voter iu
the district.
Whilst ~. Fluiknor waa member
OF Tie 4t'h Congress 1879 vacancy
occurred Of q Cadejship IN this CON (
gre ,.)Bai district. lie Immediately
gave HorfoC Of 'Lst vacancy in an Che
pnucrs published in .'5 eighteen com
ties, and invited applications from a,l
who icIt disposed % compete f1r tine
commj. ION. lie then nrg7rize3
Competitive Board OF E<lmipltfon
composed Of Col. jones McMllsn.
officer OF iae army. .lo.
tailed hy Dr Faulkner tc.sest for
fi.f official srfr t- tt.. g.