The Louisiana State Seminary

We would respectfully ask it as a special favor from our contemporaries in other parishes and in the city that they would notice the fact that the Louisiana State Seminary will go into operation on the first day of the incoming new year. The magnificent building, large enough to accommodate a fine company of cadets, is now nearly ready for their reception. One of the professors, Dr. Anthony Vallas, the distinguished author of valuable mathematical works, arrived some days ago. Major Sherman, the superintendent, is on his way hither and all the accomplished corps will be on the ground in ample season to aid in organizing this new institution. A Committee, consisting of three members of the Board of Supervisors was appointed at the last meeting of that body of the second day of August, to frame a Code of By-Laws and Regulations for the Seminary in conjunction with the faculty.  That Committee will be ready to report at an early day. The institution will in all probability be completely organized before the day fixed for the initiation of its active career of usefulness.

Applications for cadetships or admission as pupils must be addressed to the Board of Supervisors through its president and directed to this place, and not to individual members of the Board. Applicants must be fifteen years of age, and residents of Louisiana. Cadets are to be appointed by the Board in equal numbers from the several senatorial districts. There being thirty-two senatorial districts and the Seminary building being capable of accommodating one hundred and sixty cadets the proportion will be about five appointments from each District. But by a resolution of the Board, when there is less than the proportional number of applications from one Senatorial District and a greater number from another, the vacancies from one District may be filled by appointments from others.  In default of timely applications, therefore, it will be seen that the Seminary might be filled from a few Senatorial Districts, leaving the balance of the State unrepresented.  In order to promote the equitable and general distribution of appointments we make this statement with the hope that journals of wider circulation will briefly mention the facts.

The unrivalled salubrity of its location, the convenience and elegance of its chief building, the munificent donation from the federal government which secures its independent support, and a full corps of teachers of eminent attainments and superior capacity for instruction, will combine to place the Military Seminary of Louisiana among the first seats of learning in the South.

We note with pleasure that a distinguished officer of the U.S. Army, a graduate of West Point and a Creole of Louisiana, Major Beauregard, of New Orleans, has already made application to the Board for the appointment of two sons as cadets. This appreciation of our new state institution on the part of this worthy officer is significant.

Since writing the foregoing we learn that Major SHERMAN, the Superintendent, is expected here to-day or to-morrow.  He has visited Governor WICKLIFFE, who is ex-officio President of the Board of Supervisors.

SOURCES: The Louisiana Democrat, Alexandria, Louisiana, Thursday, November 10, 1859, p. 2; The article is abstracted in Walter L. Fleming’s, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 54-5