Letter to Lemuel Chenoweth

Scope and content:

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards cadet life.

Language:

English .

Other descriptive data:

V.M. Institute
Nov 21st 1858

Dear Father
Your long-looked-for letter came to hand yesterday (Saturday). I read it with great pleasure because I learned from it that you are getting along well with your work and that my friends at home are all well. Accept my thanks for the favor which you have conferred upon me, by paying D. Frown the $5, for me.

Your opinions with reference to the action of the authorities of the Virginia Military Institute, since my matriculation here as a State Cadet, are certainly just. The Board of Visitors have, during the last few years, -- acted -- perhaps unintentionally in direct violation of the sacred obligations of contracts. I can conceive of no circumstances which they could reasonably point us to in justification of their course, when they made State Cadets pay for certain articles which had been guaranteed to these Cadets, by the regulations of the Institute, -- at the time of their appointment. If they tell us that the prices of beef -- butter -- and corn has-have increased since these Cadets entered the Institute -- We ask -- Is that any reason why they should make these Cadets pay for their washing -- their fuel -- their lights? By no means!, All good men will answer. This is no reason. And moreover no sufficient reason can be found for the post facto law -- by which these Cadets are made to pay for these articles, after the Virginia Military Institute had contracted with them -- to furnish them -- these things free of cost. -- It is a melancholy thought that the State of Virginia is by the action of her officers, prevented from accomplishing the noble object she had in view from exercising that high kind of charity she contemplated when she established her Military Institute. How much good will accrue to young Virginians who are in moderate circumstances even, from an Institution, in which the State proposes to educate them for a mere trifle while the men charged with the government of this Institution make these Young Men pay almost as much as their education would cost them at other Institutions where they would have to pay for every item in the list of College expenses. These young men, evidently, will not reap half the advantages which the State intended them to have when she built the Institution. When I came here, I expected to find good-men placed by the State, in the highest offices of the Virginia Military Institute. In some respects in some cases, I have not been disappointed. In other cases I have been totally disappointed. For I see presiding over a fountain of learning the waters of which I have been told, were almost as free as the air we breathe, men who like auctioneers cry -- Education!! Education!! Come buy!! Come buy!! The Price is Gold! Gold! Gold! Those who have the most, are most welcome to the soothing waters we sell!!! to the Instruction we impart!!! This is a sad state of things truly -- still, however sad, I feel that I should not complain. For have I not received a blessing, an education which never would have been mine had the State refused to establish the Virginia Military Institute, or in other words, if this Institution did not exist at present. My only complaint, if I have any, is against those who are at the head of the Virginia Military Institute. Not against all of these, but some of them. I have been treated well enough by all of them yet I feel that they have not treated you as you should have been treated, that they have wronged you most seriously. It is with great satisfaction that I inform you that my little speech delivered on the 11th gave general satisfaction. I was highly complimented after I got through. I am progressing firmly in my studies -- and hope to take a pretty high diploma. I do not think -- now -- that I can stand first in my Class -- I am trying very hard though -- for that position. I will not stand below Third, I think, at the lowest. But time will tell. Our Society meets every Saturday night in our Hall (in the North Eastern Corner of Barracks) and I have come to the conclusion to speak at every meeting. We had quite an animated discussion last evening. I find that I improve much by engaging in the debates. The time will soon come when it will be my duty to select a profession or occupation. I wish when you write you would give me some advice on this subject. You know my nature, and can judge what would suit me best. Give my love to all the home-folks, and to all my other relatives. And to my other friends-- Remember me to Lilly, Dr Bosworth, Hughes &c. &c. Write soon.
Yours with great affection
J.H. Chenoweth

Subjects:

Virginia Military Institute—History—19th century
Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1850-1859
Virginia Military Institute—Cadet debating societies
Correspondence

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