Francis H. Smith

“ Indeed, the contemporaneous expositions of the Legislature clearly established the interpretation of the law as given by the Board. When the law is examined apart from the cloud of difficulty which has been lately thrown upon it, no reasonable mind can doubt that two classes of students are included tinder it; and that the limit referred to has respect to the ‘regular cadets’ alone. ”

“ The ability of William and Mary College to accommodate and educate every student in Virginia who goes to college would, under such conditions as Washington College holds, deprive every other College in Virginia of its charter ”

“ In every communication from the Board of Visitors to the Legislature, a distinct reference has been made to their action upon the law, as thus interpreted, and especially is this question presented in the first communication made by them after the organization of the Institute. They ask for additional means to erect a new house, and they argue that this will enable them to increase the number of pay cadets, thus adding to the security of the property, and diminishing the guard duty then discharged by the State cadets. ”

“ 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. ”

“ At all events, until a better interpretation is given, the decision of the legislative committee last winter is final.
“Upon the second point, the clause which reads: ‘The Visitors shall have power to appoint one or more professors, qualified to give instruction in military science, and in other brancies of knowledge, which they, the said managers, shall deem essential gives the fullest power over the subject. The power is also distinctly admitted by the Trustees of Washington College, in the 6th Section of the terms of cooperation entered into between the two institutions in 1839. ”

“ The peculiar system of government and discipline was urged as a reason why it could not be regarded as a rival by the existing institutions, only so far as this peculiar system was preferable to those now adopted; and so far from Washington College having cause of complaint, the records of the institution would show that the number of students in Washington College had doubled, during the period of the connection with the Institute, the average number of any former period ”

“ The Staff will always attend one of the churches attended by the companies.
Article 324.—As no preference is given to any religious sect or denomination in the Institute, officers commanding companies will be held accountable for their faithful compliance with the order in Paragraph 323, that the principle of the institution may not be violated by their neglect or caprice.
Cadets, who are communicants of any church, are exempted from the duty of marching to church with their companies, as prescribed in Article 323, and are permitted to attend their own churches every Sunday. ”

“ This suggests the propriety of forming a fourth class which shall embrace the least advanced scholars, the instruction in which shall be confined to the elements of an English education, including Grammar, Geography, History, and Arithmetic, as the principal subjects ”

“ Parents know that here laws are not to be dead letters, that obedience is to be enforced, and the unruly wills of the youths are to be kept in subjection. We also aim to teach thoroughly whatever we undertake. Our course of instruction covers a limited field, but only that we may more faithfully plant and nurture it With these two distinguishing characteristics governing this institution, we can expect nothing but increased confidence and strength. ”

“ Of these Colonel Strange, after a distinguished career as Principal of the Norfolk Academy, was killed at Boonesboro, Md., while in command of a Virginia Regiment. Colonel Forbes, with a like distinction as a teacher and professor in a College in Texas, was killed while commanding a Tennessee Regiment at the Battle of Second Manassas. ”

“ During the two days which intervened before the meeting of the committee, a reply marked K was prepared by Major Preston and myself. In this reply it was maintained that the Virginia Military Institute was an ‘independent public military school, responsible to the State, and designed to provide a military education for the youth of the State’; that it was not only peculiar as to its organization and government, but so peculiar as to be altogether unlike any other institution in the State. These points were severalty enforced and established:
“1. ”

“ What will be the result of the controversy which has been unexpectedly brought upon us by Washington College, it is impossible to say. The grounds of the controversy have been materialy altered since it was commenced, and may now be considered as covering only two points:
“1. ”