Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-18
THE CADETS, ElGhT.
Report Of the Court of Inquiry and UT
ders OF the superintendent.

tercSt, ana reviews tne hcSohniN"
Taliaferro fight OF the Virginia Military
Institute:
.HDQRs. VA. MILITARY INSTITUTE,
LEXINGTON, VA, Nov. 6, 1890.
General orders. No. AZ.
The Court of Inquiry, OF which Colo
mel John NJ. Brooke was president, con-
yened under General Orders No. AZ,
headquarters Virginia Military Institute,
September ~, 1890, TO ascertain and re-
port the facts, and TO express an opinion
upon the facts connected with the most
calamitous occurrence Of the 2jth OF sep,
tember, after tedious, laborious, ana
patient investigation. have forwarded 10
the superintendent the certified record
OF their proceedings and findings. The
court is emphatic in the expression OF
the opinion that the fight ought not 70
have occurred. and that itsoccurrence was
due 10 q false code OF honor, which the
present corps OF cadets found in vogue
and received and accepted from theirpre-
decessors. There has been q concur
renee Of condemnation of this code npon
the part Of the religious and secular
press of the State and country and o.
the general public. This righteous
verdict we must accept. The authon-
ties OF the school have incurred much
censure and no little odium by reason
Of Their alleged tacit recognition
Of this code The fact that fights
have taken place in the barracks IS
made the ground OF grave impu-
tation upon the discipline Of the school
The identity of the rules under which
fights have been arranged with those OF
the prize-ring has been made the sub
iect of bitter denunciation. The facts
elected by the investigation clearly and
fully indicate that in proceedings under
the so-called code Of honor, for the orr
Gin Of which the present corps IS not
responsible, most scrupulous regard has
ever been made TO securing fair play that
combats between parties unequaly
matched in size OF strength have not
been permitted to take place that every
practical precqution has been taken to
prevent serious bodily harm, and that the
most distressful termination OF the COM
bat in question, WAS accidental. Ihe
Investigation discloses evidence upon
which might be based charges against
the seconds and other parties to tho
fight, and against the sergeant OF the
first relief on the 18th day Of September.
The sentinel on tho fourth post, within
the range Of whose beat the fight took
place. appears 10 have done his duty IN
bringing the matter to the attention oil
the non-commissioned officer in charge
of his relief. Through false reasoning,
erroneous conception OF obligation and
responsibility, and yielding to wrong
precedents, the DOn-cOmmlsEoned officer
failed 10 discharge his duty IN the prem
ises. But, in the presence OF the calam-
ity that has befallen US, the Superlntend-
emit adiudgos it best in the inter
est Of discipline 10 grant an amnesty for
what has been committed or omitted,
and TO strive to bring it about with
the hearty and willing cooperation
of all concerned that the recurrence
Of such calamity at the institute
shall be impossible. With the solemn
memory Of this fatal fight fresh IN the
mind of all. the Superintendent makes
IN earnest appeal to cadets to rise to the
dignity OF true manhood, to discard oil
false codes and standards, and to fear
nothing except to DO wrong. Quarrels
and differences among gentlemen arise
from real or fancied insult, offence, OF
injury. If real, a proper resentment IS
natural until due apology, Almonds, OF
reDarotion ia made. But this resent
ment should be m exhibition OF
displeasure and not of passion.
The parties to quarrel mutually
smarting under a sense Of injury anl
wrong are in no condition to make
calm, judicial review of the causes OF OF
fence or difference, nor 10 see and pur
sne the course which Christian charity
and gentlemauly courtesy make obllga
tory upon all. Hence has arisen the
usage, now almost universal among gen
tlemen and soldiers, OF organizing
| board of honor or a committee OF arm
tration 10 whom the differences that arls'
among gentlemen are referred for al
iustment and she who declines to abid,
| The Judgment of such friendly court and
IN make honorable amends for any wrong
which he may thus be adiudged to have
committed. puts himself beyond the pale
of eentlemanly association" showing
that he prefers the guidance OF passion,
rather than Of reason, and wants yenge'
ance and not satisfaction. 10 quote
the words of distinguished soldier,
"tbe civilization and refinement OF the
present age emphatically condemn per
sonal encounters between gentlemen
| gentlemen do not deliberately engage
in pugilistic encounters. For many
wears IL required great moral courage tc
decline q challenge to personal combat
courage Of far higher order than that
displayed by the pugilist or the duellist
But this is no longer the case en-
lightened public sentiment ever sustain.
| him who declines such an encounter, and
emphatlcally condemns him who engages
in it. There is no longer any excuse iol
| gentlemen who arc amenable TO the
same social laws TO resort to the IN
civilized practice Of settling their differ
ences by blows. To batter and be bat
tered may display courage, though OF
| very low order, such as IS possessed by
the lowest grades of men, but it consu
tutes no real atonement for wrong
Frank apology and substantial PREPARATION
for any wrong committed constitute The
only atonement consistent with th'
honor and courage Of q irnt
gentlemen" With this presentation o.
the subject, which the Superintendent
hopes will convince the understanding
! and enlist the cooperation Of all in eli
fectipe a reform which will reflect homo
upon the institute and upon the corp
OF cadets. the attention Of all concerned
is directed to sections l47, 14S, 149, o
the academic regulations. All officers
cadet-officers, and non-commissioned OF
ficers. and sentinels. will be held f
strict accountability under the regula
tons for the suppression of fighting II
the barracks and on the grounds OF tn
institute and any cadet known II
have been q party to prearranged com
bat will be dismissed.
By command OF Brigadier- Genera
Ship.
A. l.. DUNCAN, Major and Adjutant.