The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-27
The Citadel Trouble.
4 CARD FROM GENERAL JOHNSON ilA-
GOOD. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF
VISITORS.
3ARHwELL, August 81. 1885.

BARNwELL, August 81, 1898.
10 tAc Editor NJ Col"mjia Register !:
AT its session IL Charleston thu
Boar.! Of Visitors OF tie State Mill
tarv AcaIemy, with full attendance
OF its members, had to deal NTH
complicated ana delicate matters
affecting lhe welfare Of the Acafemy
as well ~ involving tie rights and
feelings Of individuals
they acted upon the ISSUES pre-
sented. giving to the pubic at tue
time in as Lriel terms as possible tile
results at which they had arrived +:
proposing also to themselves III dne
course to lay before the Legislature
in their annual rep p1rt. il full state
mcut Of the facts and reasons upon
which their action was based. Ibis
is the usuu! course in obedience to
the uaudatc Of The Act Of AssemDi?
establishing the military schoo'. that
the l,oard IN each and every year
make q minute and full report OF me
condition and management OF sa'o
school to The Governor, TO he ny nm
hid hefo:. the Legislature.
Another consideration inducing the
reae.nce of the Board at the time OF
its action was IL sincere desire to
ayoi.l wounling The feelings OF 'nai-
vidnals hy giving unnecessary no,o'
riety to what had been dcne III TIE
conscientious discharge OF paInt"I
duty.
Ei,uuliy-NeNs spaper discussion con-
temporary with the exercise OF d's-
cinllpe must. however tempcratrlY
condncte4, ininliously affect mill
tary institution. A standing order
of the Academy iorbids it to Officer
and cadets while they sustain that
relation: ard should the Board vol
UNFAIRLY embark on such a course and
the range OF the discussion by pos
sibilitr involve these persons, ther"
would be presented the ungeneEous
Spectacle Of it's criticisiug in the pub
lie prints those who by it were for
hidden to reply through that chan
Eel.
Siuce the adjournment of the
Board. communications have gone 10
the press from individuals affected,
or from their friends, which the
meagre statement officially made by
the Board, have been made the basis
of widespread discussion.
This discussion appears to me TO
be based in part upon mlsappre'
hension Of facss, and l know it to be
without full knowledge in the matter.
The Chairman. while the executive
officer. is only one member in seven
of the Board. aud they are gentlemen
of individual record and the habit OF
individual assertion. He must carry
out its policy as indicated 10 him
until the Board sitting as such itself
changes it. That body necessarily
meets to pass upon applications for
the beneficiary vacancies in the Aca
DENY in abont three weeks. 1t will
then be open 10 'hem t" decide
whether to retain their first position,
or, nn'ier present circumstances. to
give to the public. in advance Ut their
Ssp"rt 30 the Legislature. IL fu!l
statement Of the facts and reasons
which controlled its action in matters
which have been so generally COM
mented upon IN the press Of tie
State. Whatever conclusion sreach
ed will be dictated by tue interests
of the Academy us they see it
Let me add, in conclusion, that
the Board of Visitors. individually
and collectively. feel the gravity of
the duty which they have been in
stlncted in die management Of one
of the chef educational institutions
Of the State and they recognize, to
the ful est extent. their responsibility
to the people OF Sonth Carolina for
the wisdom and fidelity of that
management In reporting to the
Legislature they obey the law
under which they are appoint
ed. and report to the pco-
pie through their representatives.
They shrink from no c,itirIsm. II
just it must Ie'ionud to the benefit
of Tie Academy. which with them is
above personal consideration :; if un-
jnst. they have confidence in the SO
briefly Of second thought to make Ie-
paratiou. 1t is rot the first time aS
sons OF the State that they have been
called upon to do their duty TO her
Of consequences to them
selves. JOHNSON UAGOOD.
Chairman.