Rhode Island American And Providence Gazette

West-Point Academy. In the recent debate in the House of Representatives on the subjects of reform, retrenchment, and economy, Mr. Randolph said—

Sir, I will not enter upon one of the subjects referred to in the resolution, farther than to say one word in respect to the school at West Point. Sir, that school is a contrivance to educate the sons of the rich at the expense of the poor. But I will not, by farther entering into this subject, bring all that force to operate against me, which I know to be enlisted in defence of that Institution. I am of doing one thing at a time—but it is nevertheless true, that every poor man in this country, who buys a pound of sugar, a peck of salt or as much iron as will point his ploughshare, can proudly say to one of the cadets from West-Point, "you were educated at my expense Yes, sir, he can say this, and how would the young man feel under such circumstances Certainly as I would not feel for any consideration that can be named. I had rather that a son of mine should be obliged to make his mark, for want of knowing how to write, than that, while his father was capable of bearing all the necessary charges, he should be educated at the public expense. Sir, I make no reflections: for the only man I ever knew, who was educated under such circumstances, is as estimable, as worthy, and as true a man as any that lives. I never knew but one.