1519 H. OF R.] Cadets at West Point. consultation with the committee. As to the notice which [FEB. 15, 1828. might diminish their impression. He was entirely oppos. ed to raising any committee, or taking any measures on the subject. Let the reporters go on, as they had done, reporting the speeches on both sides, and let the country judge. Mr. HAILE, moved to lay the resolution of Mr. FLOYD upon the table. The question being put, it was carried in the affirmative, Ayes 89, Noes 30. CADETS AT WEST POINT. The House then proceeded to the consideration of the following resolution, offered by Mr. WEEMS, on the 12th instant. "Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed to furnish this House with a list of the Cadets now at West Point; their names; the States, and Congressional Dis tricts, from whence they were sent ; and the dates when they were received. Also, a statement shewing the present existing rule of the Department as practised relative to the manner of filling up vacancies," &c. Mr. WHIPPLE had no other objection to the resolution, except that it was needless, inasmuch as the infor mation was already before the House. The rules of the institution had been published, and the law referred to might be found in the documents. Mr. WEEMS said the gentleman was mistaken; and the question being taken, the Ayes were 37, Noes 42. No quorum having voted, Mr. WEEMS said, as it was a mere call for information, he hoped the members would vote upon it, and if the House did not choose to make the call, he was very willing to submit. Mr. LUMPKIN, said, that, with feelings of profound personal respect for the gentleman from Virginia, and the gentleman from Pennsylvania, who had spoken in Mr. HAYNES said, he was not in the habit of intersupport of this resolution, he must differ from them as to the propriety of making this matter a subject of inquiry fering with calls from the Departments, but he had himor of action by the House. If evils arose from any mistakes self corresponded with the Secretary of War on this subor misrepresentations by the reporters or any of them,ject, and all the information that was sought by the resothose evils had their counter parts. The thing had its lution, could easily be obtained by a personal application advantages, as well as its disadvantages. Without enter- to that officer. Mr. WEEMS said, that he had made such application, In the mean while an impression ing at all on the question, as to the correctness of the reports given, he was of opinion that, while the House left but without success. the press at full liberty to publish either truth or falsehood had gone abroad that Executive patronage grew out of they would still find a redeeming spirit in the American the management of that institution. This was denied by People, that would counteract any evil effects that might some gentlemen, who asserted that each Congressional be apprehended. Let the representations on both sides District was entitled to have one Cadet in that School, go before the People. He considered that the very es- and that this Cadet might be nominated by the Represensence of Republicanism lay in the confidence of the Peo-tative from that District. He wanted that the People should ple. He felt that confidence in its utmost degree. He know how this matter stood, as well as every thing else believed them not only capable of self-government, but about the Academy-its advantages and its disadvanof wise self-government. He therefore hoped that the time tages. of this House, which was the property of the country, would not be consumed by any investigation on the subject of the reports of debates. Let the reporters and the publishers proceed. The American People would hear and judge. He hoped, therefore, the resolution would be rejected. Mr. VANCE, of Ohio, said, that he thought, in justice to the reporters, it was necessary to be understood when gentlemen proposed to hold them responsible for their representation of the speeches on this floor, that, if a balance was to be struck between the speakers and reports, the speakers were likely to appear on the debtor side of the account: for it was his sincere belief that the reporters corrected more errors than they made blunders. Blame seemed to be thrown on two of the daily journals for misrepresenting the debates, while a certain other daily paper was left wholly out of the question. Now, he did not know whether it were worse to make an occasional error, while giving the speeches on both sides, than to present the speeches on one side only. One of the journals, which was certainly as much to be considered a State paper as any other, published the speeches on one side only, without presenting the replies which Gentle Mr. MILLER said, that the only objection he had heard to the call, was, that all the information it requested, was usually given by the Secretary of War, when pub lishing the names of those who were admitted. men who supposed this, were in error. did not designate the Congressional Districts from which This was very desirable to be obthe Cadets came. tained. That statement Mr. VANCE said, that it was impossible that the Secretary should give this information, as no register was The register designated merekept in the Department of the particular Districts from which the Cadets came. ly the States. The usual course, however, was to ap point one Cadet from each District. But it was a rule universally observed, that, where one of the candidates was the son of a Revolutionary officer in low circum. stances, he was preferred. In ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, the choice was left to the Representative from the District, unless his State has already received more than its proportion. Mr. V. said that he possessed a register of the Cadets, which gave their rank and standing in the institution,the State from which they came, and all other facts respecting them that needed to be inquired into. FEB. 15, 1828.] Internal Improvements.-Military Appropriations. This book might be consulted by any gentleman who wished to see it. He had, however, no objection to the call. Mr. McCOY thought the gentleman from Ohio was in error in supposing that there were no data in the office stating the District from which the Cadet was received. The main object to him was to know how the Secretary filled up the vacancies which every year occurred in the institution: for it was well known that a considerable proportion of the students admitted, either from want of capacity or inclination to continue their course, left the institution. Mr. RAMSAY said that some gentlemen appeared to be in possession of information which he was not so fortunate as to possess, and which his constituents, as well as himsel', were desirous to obtain. If the gentleman from Ohio had a book containing all the particulars he had stated, Mr. R's constituents had not. Here Mr. STORRS rose to order-the hour allotted to resolutions having expired; and the debate was consequently arrested. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. On motion of Mr. McDUFFIE, the House then went into Committee of the Whole, Mr. Moone, of Alabama, in the Chair, and resumed the consideration of the bill making appropriations for internal improve ments. Mr. McDUFFIE expressed his hope that the debate which had occurred yesterday on the item providing for plans and surveys, would not be continued; or, if it must go on, that it would be reserved until the bills came into the House. He believed that the amendment ought not to pass, because the sum proposed to be inserted was in part due for services actually performed since the first of January. Besides which, there was a brigade now in the .field. The question was then taken on the amendment proposed by Mr. MARTIN, which was to strike out the item of 50,000 dollars, for the continuance of surveys, to be made under the direction of the President, and decided in the negative-ayes 45, noes 101. Mr. BASSETT then moved to strike out the enacting words of the bill, and stated, as his reason for so doing, not that he expected the motion would prevail, but be cause he had been somewhat tauntingly asked by a member, now in his eye, [Mr. SPRAGUE] why he had not opposed the other items of the bill as well as that for removing the obstructions in the Kennebec river, from which it would appear that the word "no" was not considered by that gentleman as sufficiently expressive of opposition. It might be very proper for gentlemen who expected to receive the emoluments of the bill in their own neighborhoods, to be in favor of it; but he hoped the minority would be allowed to keep up their protest against the whole system, that it might no longer be said in debate that this question was settled-that the opposition to it was withdrawn; it was a question which never would be settled in that way, and, as he believed this was the first bill which ever professed in its outset to be for internal improvement, he was the more induced, on that account to make the motion. The question being put, it was decided in the negative -Ayes 35, Noes 98. Mr. HAYNES, after referring to the original agreement made at the admission of Ohio into the Union, and which gave origin to the Cumberland Road, moved, as an amendment, to insert the following after the 9th line : "Provided, There shall be remaining in the Treasury so much of the five per cent. fund, reserved by the act of the 30th April, 1802, from the nett proceeds of the sales of public lands lying in the State of Ohio to be applied to VOL. IV.-96 [H. or R. the laying out and making public roads leading from the navigable waters emptying into the Atlantic to the Ohio, to the said State, and through the same, and not otherwise." Mr. II. declined entering into the constitutional argument as to the power of the House to make internal improvements, or to make such an agreement with the State of Ohio. Nearly two millions of dollars had been expended on the road, while the Ohio fund did not amount to more than half a million. He mentioned this, merely with the intention of bringing back the public attention to the state of the facts. Mr. MCDUFFIE said he was aware of these facts, and he had been himself opposed to the whole course of legislation on this subject; but the Committee of Ways and Means acted on the principle that an implied obligation grew out of the course pursued by Congress for the last two or three years, in relation to this work. Contracts had been extended to a certain point, and these he was willing to fulfil, but should oppose the entering into any new contracts to extend the road West of Zanesville. Mr. HAYNES said he differed from the gentleman from South Carolina in this, that that gentleman, deeming the course wrong, was nevertheless willing to persist in it to a certain point, whereas he was for stopping short at once. Mr. VINTON denied that this appropriation had any relation to the contract with Ohio at all. He explained the particulars of that contract, and stated that the General Government, in appropriating for this road, had only anticipated the revenue arising from that fund. The value of the land was far beyond any appropria tions that had been made. Mr. RAMSAY had intended to vote against the appropriation, but had changed that determination in consequence of what was stated by Mr. McDUFFLE. Mr. HAYNES called for the reading of the act of 1802 on this subject; which was read accordingly; when the question being put, the amendment of Mr. HALNES was negatived without a division. Mr. S. WOOD, of New York, moved an item of $20,000 for surveying the coast of the United States. But this motion was pronounced out of order, inasmuch as that subject was now before the Committee on Naval Affairs on a resolution of Mr. VERPLANCK. The bill for Internal Improvements having now been gone through, it was for the present laid aside. MILITARY APPROPRIATIONS. Mr. GILMER moved to strike out the item "for erecting new buildings" at West Point. He thought the number of Cadets ought to be diminished rather than increased, and, holding that opinion, was opposed to extending the establishment by the erection of any new buildings. The question being put, the amendment of Mr. GILMER was negatived, only thirty six memhers rising in the affirmative. Mr. McDUFFIE moved to insert a separate item of $1,500, to defray the expenses of the Board of Visiters annually attending at the Academy. This motion gave rise to a debate, which occupied the House till past four o'clock, in which the general policy of the Military School became incidentally involved. Mr. KREMER thought the Board of Visiters entirely useless. Most of them were men destitute of all military talent, and when they got there a report was prepared for them, and all they had to do was to sign it. The Government might as well send so many wooden men. Mr. McDUFFIE stated the practice of the War Department on this subject. The Committee of Ways and Mr. RAMSAY asked whether the travelling expenses of the Visiters were paid. Mr. McDUFFIE replied, that there was no fixed rule. Where the Visiters could not afford to pay their own expenses, they were defrayed out of this appropriation, but in many cases they were not paid for. (FEB. 15, 1828. tlemen knew how he had attained what education he did possess, and he was as sensible as they could be, that it would have been a burlesque for him to pretend to draw up that report. But it was a foul calumny, to say that the report was prepared and drawn up for the Committee. [Mr. KREMER explained by saying, that he only meant that the report was not drawn up by the Chairman.] Mr. VANCE resumed. As it had been customary always to put upon that board one of the Military Committee of this House, he had last year been apponited Mr. BARNEY stated the facts as they occurred when to that duty, and this had drawn out the taunts of a cerhe visited the institution. The Visiters were allowed tain set of men in this House. But when an individual, the actual expenses of their journey. Such of them as who was now Governor of Tennessee, and whose literawere members of Congress were not allowed their rates ry and scientific attainments did not greatly exceed his of mileage as members. To refuse to pay the actual own, had presided in that board and signed its report, travelling expenses of such visiters as were in slender all was suffered to pass very quietly. The gentleman circumstances, would exclude a very valuable class of now at the head of the Military Committee [Mr. HAMIL itizens, particularly the professors in most of our col- TON] had likewise once presided, but even he had not leges, who could not afford to come from a great dis-drawn up the report which he signed. But no sooner tance at their own charges. did he [Mr. V.] fill that place, than he was sneeringly reflected upon, as if he had wished to palm himself upon the public as the author of that report. He was above any such meanness. Mr. WICKLIFFE remarked that it was possible the member from Pennsylvania, [Mr. KREMER] (and not Mr, BARNEY, from Maryland, as reported) was mistaken in the opinion he had expressed, that this Board of Vi Mr. JENNINGS said, he was far from wishing to desiters was totally useless. Without intending to express rogate from the merits of the gentleman from Ohio, [Mr. any opinion himself upon the valuable results of the VANCE.] He viewed him as belonging to that class of Boards, which have heretofore inspected and reported practical men, among whom, he had understood him as upon the nature and character of the course of instruc-placing himself. Such men, in company with others of a tion which was pursued in the Military Academy, he literary and scientific character, ought to be appointed. would content himself by a single reference to the But this had not always been the case He believed report of the late Board, laid upon our tables at the some had been appointed to this duty, who never could present session. If it be not important in reference to demonstrate a proposition in Euclid. He should vote the course of Military instruction of our officers, its im- for such an appropriation with much reluctance. But portance in teaching them the use of our language in a he would not withhold the public money from such rhetorical flourish, may not be questioned. uses as would really give the public an interest in the character of this institution. [Here Mr. WICKLIFFE read from the report the following: "Engineering, in its two departments, particularly in its civil features; is of importance to every country, and to none more than to our own. The importance of scientific education to the Engineer is evident: for, to material substances, his thoughts and meditations must be directed. Hence, it is of importance to become familiar with the laws prescribed by nature for their action. He must grapple with his agents, and foresee their effects, calculate their energies, and become, as it were, the dictator of their actions. Nature must be forced into a bond of alliance with his views. He must interrogate her on her modes of action, study the laws by which she governs, enter into the recesses of her hidden processes, arrest her in the act of operation, and enter on his own labors with possession of her secrets."] Sir, who will say this sentence alone is not worth the sum proposed, with which to fill the blank? Mr. KREMER declared that his views were in no way altered. He believed that the reports were prepared for the Visiters beforehand, and all they had to do was to sign; and appealed to every visiter to say if such was not the case. Mr.BUCK opposed the appropriation on the ground that there was no necessity or utility to justify the appointment of a Board of Visiters at all. He then went into a history of the West Point Academy, from its earliest origin, when the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers were first separated. The officers of the latter corps then constituted the Academy, and there were no cadets, and no salaried professors. He then traced the gradual introduction of Cadets, first two in a company, doing duty in the ranks, increasing from 60, till, in 1809, they amounted to 80; and, at the close of the late war, their number was augmente 1 to 250. The institution had then been entire. ly re organized. The course of instruction altered and enlarged and, since that time, a Board of Visiters appointed. He admitted the high character of the persons usually selected to compose this Board, but could see no useful result from their appointment. It entailed an unnecessary expense upon the Nation, and he therefore resisted the present appropriation. Mr. MALLARY took the opposite side, insisting upon the advantages of this visitation as tending to preserve the school from those abuses to which every human institution was more or less liable. It guarded the rights of poor Mr. VANCE repelled the insinuation with much indig- and friendless students, and preserved them from oppresnation. It was false in point of fact. The Board was usu- sion. It greatly stimulated the ambition of the young ally constituted partly of scientific and partly of practical men to excel in their studies. It spread a knowledge of men. That portion of them, who were possessed of their respective standing throughout the Union, and gave scientific and literary attainments were, of course, select-the public mind a stronger interest in the welfare of this ed to draw up the report. Mr. V. said, he had been valuable institution. Those who now conducted the prepared to expect that the report of the last year school were the very last whom he would suspect of any would receive the sarcasm and the taunts of certain thing like injustice or mal-practice. But, it was wrong, men on this floor. Though he had been appointed to in itself, to leave any great Public Seminary without supreside on that occasion, he believed he might say, and pervision and control. Besides the moral effect of such the House would bear him out in the assertion, that he a visitation, the Board exercised an inspection over the was as unpretending as any member of the House. Gen- pecuniary expenditures of the institution, as well as over its general police and the comforts and accommodations of the students. Mr. PEARCE expressed his regret at the course of the debate, and especial surprise at the source from which some of the objections had proceeded. The gentleman who objected to the course of visitation, [Mr. Buck] had, if he mistook not, been once himself an alumnus of that institution, but had not graduated there. Mr. P. traced the institution of the military school from its conception by Mr. Jefferson, through the succeeding Administrations, until it received the assiduous and fostering care of the gentleman who is now Vice Presidnet of the United States, on whom he passed some very handsome compliments for his zeal in its behalf. He dwelt on the necessity and advantage of a system of visitation, and taking it for granted that a Board ought to be appointed annually for that purpose, he insisted on the impropriety of taking them from a single portion of the United States, in the immediate neighborhood of the school, but urged the propriety of collecting them from every part of the United States. If this principle was adopted, he thought that the sum of $3,000, as reported from the estimates in the War Department, would be barely sufficient to pay their travelling expenses. He contradicted the statement of Mr. KREMER, that a report was prepared for the Board to sign. The visiters were divided into classes. A part of the report assigned to each class; their several productions afterwards brought together, and, by some leading member of the board, selected for the purpose, reduced into a general report. Such had been the process when he attended. The report was drafted by the Professor of Modern Languages in Cambridge University. Mr. P. concluded by moving to fill the blank with 3,000 dollars. Mr. DWIGHT rose to correct the mistaken views of his friend from Vermont, [Mr. Buck.] He denied that the Seminary had grown up by mere military legislation, and referred to the several acts of Congress by which it had been founded, and from time to time enlarged. The present expenditure for the travelling expenses of the Board of Visiters was a mere regulation of the Department, and did not rest on any law; and, as the appointment to a seat in the Board of Visiters was an honorary appointment, and, as such, highly valued, he thought it would be sufficient if a sum was provided to cover the expenses of gentlemen while in actual attendance at the institution. In reply to some remarkes of Mr. WEEMS, Mr. BUCK repeated, and explained some of his former statements. In reply to the remarks of Mr. PEARCE, who, he said, seemed to have recurred with some interest to a portion of his biography, he stated, that, after he had left college, he had resided for 16 months at West Point, during which time, he had applied the knowledge he had acquired in his collegiate course to the military studies at that school. It was true, he did not graduate there, because he had received a commission in the infantry, in which corps he had served to the close of the late war, when he retired to private life. Mr. WEEMS professed himself satisfied with this explanatic, and wished he could say the same in relation to the speech of Mr. MALLARY, who seemed to think that the benefits of the Military School were bestowed chiefly upon indigent young men of genius. If he thought that, he would willingly vote three times as much as was now asked. Mr. HAILE said, as it seemed to be the understanding of the gentleman, that every one on the floor was to occupy his share of the time of the House, he should avail himself of the same privilege. He objected to the Board of Visiters, on account of the pride, pomp, and circumstance, which attended their visitations. He was opposed to the school as extending the Executive patronage [H. OF R. educating the children of gentlemen in both branches of Congress sending into the States, the mere creatures of the General Government, who could not sympathise with State Rights, nor follow leaders appointed by State authority-leaving too much to Executive discretion-excluding poor and meritorious students-giving a prefer ence to the aristocracy of the country-usurping to itself the patronage of the Government, in preference to insti tutions not of a military character: and, finally, as endangering the liberty of the country, by aiding the cause of consolidation. Mr. McDUFFIE, declaring it to be his opinion that nine-tenths of the members of this House were in favor of the Academy, conjured its friends not to prolong the debate by entering into its defence. Mr. BURGES made a short speech, going principally to repel the charge that poor students were excluded. He stated several instances to the contrary, and argued to shew, that, unless the children of the rich were paid the same as others, a degrading line of distinction would be introduced in the school, more injurious to the poor students than any other feature in its management. He thought the travelling expenses of the visiters ought to be paid-otherwise, the inhabitants of distant States would not be put on the same footing with those in the vicinity of the institution-gentlemen could go with perfect ease and comfort from Rhode Island to West Point, for $5. But what would be the expense of gentlemen attending from New Orleans? If the visitation should be abolished, the finest stimulus would be abolished that ever was applied to youthful ambition. The cry for the question was now loud from every part of the House, when Mr. BARNEY rose, and declared that this was a small game-arrows were flying from every part of the House, at the visiters to this institution, the average of whose expenses did not exceed $30. His friend from South Carolina, [Mr.HAMILTON] had come all the way from Charles. town, and returned again, and received for his expenses $70. He then spoke in vindication of Mr. VANCE, who had presided in the Board with an intelligence, dignity, and impartiality, which entitled him to the gratitude of that institution, and of his country. That gentleman has never assumed what did not belong to him. He had subdivided the Board in a very judicious manner for preparing the report. The mathematical part of that report, with which the gentleman from Kentucky, [Mr. WICKLIFFE] seemed so much entertained, had been drawn up by a professor of the highest standing and celebrity in the city of New York. But he would observe to that gentleman, that it could hardly be expected of the Board to furnish to gentlemen both reports and comprehension. Mr. WICKLIFFE said, in reply, that he regretted any remarks that had fallen from him should have given pain. He had said nothing in condemnation of the report, but was willing to acknowledge, on a slight exanination, his incompetency to understand it, and for one he believed that those who signed it did not understand it much better than he. The question was then taken on filling the blank with $3,000, as proposed by Mr. PEARCE, and decided in the negative, ayes 46, noes 107. The question was next taken, on filling the blank with $1,500, as moved by Mr. MCDUFFIE, and decided in the affirmative, ayes 97, noes not counted. Mr. INGHAM moved an amendment, going to confine the expenditure of this sum to the expenses of the visiters while in actual attendance at West Point; but before any question was taken on this amendment, on motion of Mr. BASSETT, the committee rose, and reported the two first bills to the House. Whereupon, The House adjourned to Monday. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1828. MILITARY APPROPRIATION BILL. On motion of Mr. McDUFFIE, the orders of the day were postponed, and the House went into Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, Mr. TAYLOR, of New York, in the chair. [FEB. 18, 1828. country, in all its branches, conferred on the Secretary of War the power to make regulations for the government of the Military Academy at West Point, and the Secretary under the last Administration made a judicious system of rules for that object, and, among others, the one that he would read. [Here Mr. W. read an article of the regulations for the government of the Military Academy, The consideration of the bill making appropriations for making it the duty of the Secretary of War to appoint Vithe Military Service was resumed; and the question be- siters, annually, to attend the examination, and prescribing on the amendment moved by Mr. INGHAM, which ing their duties, &c.] It followed, necessarily, that this went to the appropriation of $1,500 for the expenses of was a regulation made in pursuance of an authority given the Board of Visiters of the Military Academy at West by law, and in pursuance of its provisions, which regulaPoint, and to their subsistence while in actual attendance: tion had been printed, laid before Congress, and sanctionMr. INGHAM briefly explained the amendment. There ed from year to year until this time; and it was due to were but two parts of the expenses of these visiters, viz. the present Secretary to say, he was only acting upon a Their travelling expenses while coming and returning to system proposed by his predecessor, Mr. Calhoun, and, so and from the Academy, and the expense of their subsist- far, sanctioned by Congress. There was, therefore, no ence while there. It had been settled, as he under-ground for the assertions, inconsiderately made, that this stood, that this money was not to be applied to their tra was an illegal exercise of power. Mr. W. said he would velling expenses. Of course, it must be for their subsist- make one other remark. At the time he was a memence while in attendance at the school. ber of that Board, its business was divided among its Mr. STRONG opposed the amendment, as he believ-members, in committees, who examined the various deed that their travelling expenses ought to be paid as well as their expenses while at the school. Mr. INGHAM replied, that the Committee of Ways and Means had stricken out one-half the sum, estimated by the Department, as sufficient to cover the whole expense of travelling and subsistence. This had been done on the ground, as he understood it, that the travelling expenses were not to be paid. If $1,500 were sufficient to pay the whole, the Department must have made a great mistake in estimating them at $3,000. partments, without being at all influenced by the Academic Staff; and, after a thorough examination, each com‐ mittee reported, which report was incorporated in a general one, and the special report was also, in some instances, sent. On the occasion in which he was Chairman of the Committee on Civil Economy, that report, made by himself, was sent ; and if any one said or insinuated, that the special or general report on that occasion was written by, or in consultation with, the Academic branch, it was entirely without foundation. Mr. W. said he did not like to engage in any debate not immediately connected with the interests of Florida, but this much he considered due to the Secretary of War, and to himself. Mr. EVERETT was opposed to the amendment. He could see no reason why the travelling expenses of these visiters ought not to be defrayed. He had himself once had the honor of serving on that Board, and had never been engaged in a more arduous service. The visiters Mr. HAMILTON said, that he rose, more for the purwere hard at work from morning till evening, and that at pose of expressing the reason why he should vote for a season when severe application was the most unwel- the smaller sum reported by the committee, which he come. The duty involved a great sacrifice of time as well believed was $1,300, in preference to the larger sum, as of labor, and he could not conceive why the Govern- which had been asked by the Department. He would ment should ask of a citizen to spend three weeks of his take occasion to say, that he was altogether opposed to time at West Point, for no public advantage, but merely the amendment immediately under consideration, which for the public good, and then, in addition, call on him to restricted the expenditure of the appropriation exclupay his own expenses while thus going on a public er sively to the subsistence of the Board of Visiters at West rand. Be the sum, great or small, which is requisite to Point, without making any allowance for their travelling defray this charge, he would vote it with cheerfulness. expenses. He fully concurred with his honorable friend Of all the apparatus in that valuable institution, there from Massachusetts, [Mr. EVERETT] with whom he had was none of greater importance to its success, than this the gratification of serving on the Board of Visiters, three attendance of the Board of Visiters. They did not, per-years ago, that those who attended at West Point, in haps, impart any great light to the members of the insti- this capacity, were fully entitled to their travelling extution; but this sort of supervision was all important to penses, and he believed that not one cent more was its welfare, and constituted, indeed, one great advantage ever received. He admitted that $1,500 would not pay which distinguished that school from others. The want the travelling expenses and the subsistence, while at the of such a Board of Visiters constituted the great defi-Point, of so large a Board as had been usually convenciency in most of our institutions for education. There ed. It would pay all the expenses of a Board, consisting was little temptation for gentlemen to go there. The service was attended with much fatigue, and no very great honor or distinction; and why private individuals should be asked by the Government, or even by the People, to do their business for nothing, he did not perceive. He put it to the candor of gentlemen to say whether such a requirement was reasonable. of from six to nine persons, which he, [Mr. H.] thought sufficiently large; indeed he had intended moving a resolution, for the Committee on Military Affairs to report a definite plan for the organization of this Board, with some specification of their duties, and an enumeration of such expenses as should be allowed for travelling and subsistence, as well as a proviso limiting their number. Mr. WHITE said, some remarks had been made on The Board itself, he considered of indispensable value; Friday, in the debate on the appropriation for a Board visitorial bodies, of an analogous character, were consi. of Visiters to attend the examination at the Military Ac-dered essentially necessary in all learned institutions, ademy, which required some notice from him, as he had and he believed, in the very foundation of many on the once had the honor to be there in that capacity. It had other side of the water, provision was made for them, been broadly asserted that this Board of Visiters was crea- and that they practically existed in almost all the seminated by the Secretary of War, very lately, without author-ries in our own country. There could not be conceived an ity of law, or precedent. Such was not the fact. The institution, where an examination, at stated periods, of Rules and Articles of War, enacted by Congress, for the its actual condition, and its means of requiting the pub government of the Army and Military establishment of the lic bounty, by meeting the public expectations in its |