Francis H. Smith

“ But if an enterprise is to be considered as successful, and the wisdom of its founders as fully vindicated when its general management has been characterized by consummate tact and ability, and when the great objects which it proposes have been realized in no doubtful or stinted measure, then, in the opinion of your committee, have we a right to proclaim and to indulge in an honest pride at the success of the Virginia Military Institute. ”

“ We may, therefore, without disrespect or prejudice to other institutions of learning in the State, call attention to its distinctive character and workings, and to the prominent facts in its history and government, so that all may be satisfied, that notwithstanding the impoverishment of our people, their own best interests commend this institution to the State, as eminently worthy of its confidence, and of whatever aid may be needful to sustain it in its present career of usefulness, as being, next to the University of Virginia, one of the great elements of education in Virginia. ”

“ It is a source of real pride and congratulation that amid the varied trials through which the Virginia Miliary Institute has passed during the last year, its character as a seminary of learning has not been assailed. Though the law of love has been somewhat violated by our sister institution, and anonymous scribblers taunt us with sectarianism, no one has been bold enough to question the character of the school, or to reflect upon the eminent service it is now rendering to the cause of education. ”

“ The duty now imposed upon the regular cadets in the military organization of the institution would not be incompatible with the course of the engineer, agriculturist, or artist. On the contrary, the military exercises and discipline, besides the special knowledge acquired, would preeminently promote those habits of order, police and obedience to lawful authority, which are important elements of character for every good and useful citizen, but are especially needed by those who may have the control of operatives, or who may be charged with the management of large interests. ”

“ There was a felt necessity at this time for a better discipline for youths attending college. There was also a demand for more thorough practical instruction in mathematics, and in science generally. Why should the Virginia Military institute be dependent upon Washington College for its course of instruction? Why could not the Virginia Military Institute, under its West Point code of laws, so wisely adopted by the Board, by a steady adherence to thorough discipline, and to a distinctively scientific and practical course of instruction, be to Virginia what West Point was to the whole country? ”

“ Waller Tazewell Patton’s death in the Gettysburg Hospital was just as beautiful and nobly pathetic as that of any hero in the ‘Annals of Liberty’s Martyrs.’ ‘His Saviour — his mother — his country!’ Compared with the calm sublimity of such a passing away, how the mere grim endurance of the Spartan shrinks! how the proud boast of the Greek dwindles! how the chivalry of a Bayard pales! We do not say this in the overweening and bind idolatry in which fervent patriotism is wont to indulge, but with the deep conviction that it is wholly true. ”

“ Every officer and every cadet respected him for his many sterling qualities. He was a brave man, a conscientious man, and a good man, but he was no professor. His genius was in the Science and Art of War. He found a field for the display of this genius when the war opened in 1861, and it is doubtful whether any soldier ever lived who won and deserved so high a reputation as was achieved by Stonewall Jackson in the brief period of his military career. ”

“ In my opinion, just in proportion as these fundamental principles have been adhered to, the Institute has prospered; if at any time they have been departed from, weakening more or less serious has been the consequence.
“The Institute has, in its history, vindicated the practical value of its training. Energy, Efficiency, Reliability have been characteristics of its graduates in every pursuit of life, practical and professional, in peace and in war. ”

“ Resolved, that the Military Institute deriving its students as much from the most remote portions of the State as from its immediate vicinity, as a State institution there is not, and can not be, any conflict of interest between it and Washington College, resulting from their proximity to each other. That we rejoice to see the harmony that prevails between the professors, students, and cadets of the two institutions, in the success of which we feel a deep interest, and the prosperous condition of which reflects credit on the County and State. ”

“ It was a most unpropitious day to begin the important work in hand. A heavy fall of snow rested on the ground. The work on the barracks had been delayed, and the buildings were in a most unfinished condition — without roof, and no rooms in a condition to be occupied except those used by the old guard. The Superintendent had to crowd the little band of Virginia youths, who had accepted their appointments as cadets expecting comfort, at least, eight in a room, in extemporized bunks, without shelter overhead. ”

“ While the School of Fine Arts, as proposed, looks to the development of native genius, by giving dignity and honor to the professional education of an artist, there is much that is comprehended in the school that would have a direct bearing upon the schools of Agriculture and Engineering, and which would, at the same time, exercise an important influence in cultivating the taste of an educated gentleman. ”

“ By the aid of military discipline, and from the facilities which will be afforded for instruction, the Commandant might give to the Institute the highest character, and as it will be a State Institution, and filled with young men appointed from the different Senatorial Districts, the officers of the institution will be constantly before the public eye, and will be sure to enjoy all the reputation to which they may be fairly entitled. ”

“ Cadet W. Y. C. Humes, the valedictorian on the Graduation Day, made a very graceful acknowledgment of the act of insubordination of his class, and of gratitude to the Board of Visitors for the clemency extended to them, and closed with an earnest appeal to his fellow cadets to take warning from their folly.
The mutterings of the war clouds which were beginning to be heard, as the Institute entered upon the second decade of its history, and which grew more threatening, as the years rolled on, admonished the Board of Visitors of the duty in peace to prepare for war. ”

“ After a very careful consideration of the subject, the following order was adopted by the Board, July 10, 1841:
“Resolved, that the Board would prefer that the cadets’ clothing should be furnished by the merchants of Lexington, provided good materials are furnished at fair prices. But if, at any time, in the opinion of the Principal Professor, there should be either a deficiency in the quantity or quality of the materials, or the prices should be, in his opinion, excessive, that then he take such measures as he may deem expedient to procure the clothing in some other form.” ”

“ Military discipline was made indispensable by the conditions of the establishment of the school, and, it was anticipated, that it might be of great importance in some possible emergencies of the State, while it was believed it had special advantages in promoting the health of its pupils, in training them in habits of subordination to lawful authority, to industry and punctuality, and to accustoming them to prompt obedience to every call of duty, small or great, without regard to preference or self-indulgence. ”

“ They are sometimes unreasonable in their demands, and they are not unwilling to get all they can. If dealt with fairly and squarely, they can readily be made to see where the limit is, beyond which they can not pass.
In my personal dealings with cadets, I never allow myself to doubt their word. Even in cases where there is occasion to doubt, I prefer to impress upon all that implicit reliance is placed on their honor. If this is forfeited, then summary discharge is the only proper recourse.
It is much more difficult to maintain discipline now than it was twenty or thirty years ago. ”

“ Washington College had secured the Cincinnati Fund upon very cheap terms, and the benefit to the Institute was so small, with many irregularities incident to the connection, that no one regretted the action of the trustees. Some temporary provision was made for the military instruction to the students of the College, but the time had come when it was clearly the duty of the authorities of the Institute to place the Physical Sciences upon a higher plane; and it was confidently believed that in doing this the step would be sustained by the Legislature of the State. ”

“ The expense of these additional buildings, and the outlay that has been necessary to keep the whole in habitable repair, has been met by the funds of the Institute, without one dollar by the State. The thorough repair of the various buildings has become a matter of necessity, and it is submitted whether the truest considerations of public economy will direct a permanent and substantial repair, or the erection of new buildings, adapted to the wants of the institution, and its system of education. ”

“ The Board of Visitors did not fail to see and fully realize the crisis which the institution was passing. To supplement the deficiency in income, and the losses sustained, loans were authorized by them in bank, hypothecating the revenues of the school for payment; still, in the midst of all the trials of these trying years, the school has never suffered the dishonor of a protest. ”

“ As a place of residence, I should hope you would find Lexington agreeable, as the population is moral, intelligent, and religious. Our college is supplied with able professors. We are just reviving our Female Academy under favorable auspices, and if our Military Institute shall sustain the character which we hope to give to it, we will as regards education be the most favored spot in the State. ”

“ If it was singular that the original advocate of the proposed school seemed not to have looked at all to the United States Academy at West Point, it was altogether natural that those upon whom devolved the difficulty of organizing the second governmental military school in the country should take for its model, as closely as differing conditions would allow, the military school of the United States, which had already taken rank with the best military schools of the old world. ”

“ Under the operation of these laws, and the concurrent labors of the other Colleges of Virginia, a work was accomplished in elevating the grade of scholarship in the schools of the State, and in stimulating young men to seek college education, that the number of College students in Virginia had risen from 500 in 1845 to 2,500 in 1860, thus giving to Virginia the proud preeminence of having a larger number of young men attending college in 1860, in proportion to white population, than any other state of this country. ”

“ Regarding a preparatory course of liberal general education as an essential condition for the successful prosecution of the studies in either of these special schools, I propose that no student be admitted into either of them, unless he shall have passed through the entire course of studies embraced in the fourth and third classes of the Institute, or stood such an examination before the Academic Board as shall demonstrate his proficiency in all the branches of study embraced in the courses of the first two years of the Institute. ”

“ Besides the discipline as affected by demerits there have been crises in the school, the result sometimes of a spirit of lawlessness; at others, a refusal of what seemed to cadets, at the time, reasonable privileges, when the powers of combination would be resorted to, to overawe the authorities, and to compel a resort to a breaking up of the school for the time, or a forced yielding to their demands. ”

“ I may here add that it seems indispensable in an institution like this, which is designed to provide an education for the poorest of our citizens, that provision be made to suit the character of the instruction to the previous preparation of the candidates. Many cadets are now admitted, of both classes, who are very imperfectly taught in the elements of a common English education. Our regulations suppose an amount of previous preparation, which is often wanting in youths possessing good natural abilities. ”

“ The discipline was strict. All cadets who were deficient in their studies, or neglectful of duty, were promptly discharged, and, if eighteen years of age, were ordered to report for duty in the Army; and under this rule, some seventy cadets were discharged, by reason of deficiency at one of the regular examinations. It was indeed the wish and purpose of the cadets to go into the Army, and their neglect in studies was due, in a great measure, to this cause.
Still, under the orders of the Governor, the cadets were kept at all times ready for active service in defense of the Institute. ”

“ The College does not teach the Modern Languages, and, therefore, this Professor in the Institute would doubtless be attended by many of the students from College. It is expected that the State will pay fees of the cadets who will attend the classes at College.
The minimum and maximum number of cadets is fixed by law at twenty and forty, and we expect to commence with the minimum. To each of the cadets will be allowed enough to pay his board, washing, fuel, etc., perhaps from $100 to $120 per annum; leaving his clothing as the only expense of his course. ”

“ Let us say that the number of young men should be that of our Senatorial Districts, and that each Senator have the privilege of nominating a candidate for admission, subject, of course, to the decision of the Faculty when he should present himself. A Board of Examination should likewise be appointed, whose duty it should be to visit and examine the Institution, and to report annually upon its condition to the Governor. ”

“ We could not expect many cadets at first — the income would be too small to support the full faculty — and the section could be enlarged as the necessity required.
“This substitute I earnestly opposed. To offer to our patrons a part of a loaf would so weaken our claims to public support that we should fail. Let every one know that however much we were overwhelmed by untoward calamity, the full educational loaf would be meted out to those who would rally around our board; and our professors must rely upon their work as the surest means of success. ”

“ So much of the course of Mechanics as now taught might be legitimately embraced in the Department of Natural Philosophy, and, constituting what might be called the Mechanics of Engineering, would be embraced in the new chair proposed to be arranged. ”