American Union

Virginia Military Institute.

We have received a neatly printed pamphlet, containing a Register of the Officers and Cadets of the Virginia Military Institute for the year 1856, which represents that excellent collegiate establishment to be in a high state of efficiency and usefulness. The record is prefaced by the following "Remarks" which set forth so clearly the aims and operation of the Institute that we think it well to lay them before our readers:

The Virginia Military Institute was established, and is supported by the State of Virginia. An arsenal, containing 30,000 stand of arms, is located here, which was formerly guarded by a company of enlisted soldiers, at an annual expense of about $6,000. In 1839, this appropriation was transferred to the support of a company of cadets, who, in addition to their duties as a guard, should also be placed under a course of instruction, upon the basis of the United States Military Academy, at West Point. Upon this new system the Institute has been in successful operation for seventeen years.

The cadets admitted consist of two classes, State and Pay cadets. The Institute supplies to the State cadet his board and tuition; and in consideration thereof, he is required to teach two years after graduation. The Pay cadet is at his own expense, which averages $350 per year for every charge, including clothing. The State cadets are selected from those who are unable to bear their own expenses. The institution has always had as many pupils as its buildings would accommodate and numbers thirty-two State and one hundred and thirty Pay cadets. Applications are made, by letter, to the Superintendent prior to the 1st of July each year, and appointments are made for both classes of cadets, by the Board of Visitors, respect being had to their due appointment among the several districts of the State.

The Literary Fund of the State contributes $1500 per year to the institution, for the education of teachers, and the State has received tuition fees from the pay cadets, to the amount of $50,000 since its organization, which sum is applied to the increase of the number of State cadets, and to the enlargement of the accommodations of the institute, and to the support of a part of the corps of Professors.

It appears from the Cadet's Roll given in the pamphlet, that at this time there are 162 young men receiving the benefits of a scientific and military education at the Institute.

Too much importance we think can hardly be attached to the military features of this academy. There are no two lessons which the young men of our day so much need to learn as method and obedience, and at Lexington the first thing impressed upon them is to obey, and the next to regulate their studies according to system. The value of time, the beauty of order, and the capacity to govern others, that can only be properly acquired by being accustomed to respect authority, which the cadet has infused into him by a course of study there, he never forgets, and accordingly in after life we find him -- whatever may be the profession he has chosen -- foremost among the most useful and prominent men of the community. To a slaveholding State, such an institution is especially advantageous, since the rule of the academy, transferred to the plantation, ensures order at the same time that it prevents cruelty, and should the time ever come when it would be necessary for our protection to call a State army into the field, a corps of well disciplined and thoroughly qualified officers would be of the first importance.