Plan for a bill entitled an act making further provision for the Military Academy at West Point, State of New York, approximately 1815-1817
Manuscript of a plan for a bill entitled "An act making further provision for the Military Academy at West Point, State of New York," proposed by Alden Partridge. The following is paraphrased from the original. It is not a complete transcription. 1st: Admit 400 cadets rather than 250 2nd: Admit cadets not less than 14 nor more than 18 years of age. Each prospective cadet will be examined by the academic staff and must be found to possess ability to read distinctly, pronounce correctly and write legibly; parse sentences; perform with facility and accuracy the rules of arithmetic simple and compound, rules of reduction, simple and compound proportion, vulgar and decimal fractions. Cadets must engage, with parents' consent to remain until completion of their course of study and receive their diploma. Cadets will agree to stay in service at least three years after graduation unless discharged by the proper authority. Cadets may leave upon receiving their diploma but must pay for their education, the cost to be determined by the President and regulation. 3rd: The Academy will be under the supervision of an officer of the Corps of Engineers and will report directly to the President for the correct management of the Academy 4th: The Commandant of the Corps of Engineers will be the Inspector, visiting as often as directed by the Secretary of War, and will report on the progress and management of the Academy to the Secretary of War 5th: The President will constitute a Board of Visitors of five men who are versed in military science. The inspector will be president of the Board. The president and the Board will be present at general examinations, twice a year, and will be compensated per diem and for travel 6th: The Inspector and Board will submit two reports a year after each general examination on the state and progress of the Academy and will make recommendations for its advancement and improvement. The reports will be delivered to the Secretary of War to lay before Congress 7th: Staffed by professors and teachers; a chaplain who will also be a professor of history, geography and ethics; a professor of Latin, Greek and English languages; a teacher of practical astronomy, including navigation; and a sword master 8th: There will be allowed to each professor and teacher and to professor of natural and experimental philosophy, two assistants; to the professor of mathematics, five assistants; to the professors of engineering and of history, geography and ethics, two assistants each; to the teacher of drawing who will include in his department practical geometry and surveying, the teacher of French, the teacher of Latin, Greek and English, and to the sword master, two assistants each; to the teacher of practical astronomy and navigation, one assistant 9th: The Superintendent is the professor of tactics and is allowed one assistant who will be a military officer and who will be in charge in the absence of the Superintendent 10th: Salaries: professors, $1600.00; teachers, $1200.00; sword master and assistant professors, $800.00; assistant teachers, $600.00; assistant sword master, $500.00. All to include quarters and fare. 11th: Cadets will be organized into companies for military instruction. Encampments will take place no more than six weeks/year 12th: Academic courses: all branches of sciences and instruction to be pursued. Rules for the classification of cadets to be compiled by the Superintendent and academic staff = complete course of education 13th: Cadets who complete their course of study and receive their diploma are entitled to promotion into the Army/Navy; if no vacancies, they will be attached as supernumerary officers with brevet rank until there is a vacancy. 14th: Cadets will receive no pay or subsistence but will be provided with board, books, stationery, fuel, bedding, furniture, swords, and uniforms to be determined by regulation 15th: There will be a paymaster and treasurer to the Academy, duties of which are to pay persons belonging to the Academy and who is to be accountable for monies paid to the Academy, as well as for furnishings and supplies 16th: The Superintendent shall admit as many musicians as directed by the President. They will be entitled to the same compensation as allowed musicians in the Army. The superintendent may also employ attendants and waiters, not exceeding 24, as directed by the President 17th: The government of the Academy will be strictly military. All persons attached or belonging to the institution shall be amenable to the Rules and Article of War 18th: The President is authorized to establish rules and regulations necessary for the internal and external organization of the Academy 19th: The President is authorized to cause to be distributed medals as reward of merit 20th: The Academy will consist of the Inspector, the Superintendent and assistant, several professors, teachers and assistants and of the cadets attached
