LOUISIANA STATE
SEMINARY, Alexandria, April 12, 1860.
DEAR GENERAL: I have
been pretty busy in obeying the orders of the Board of Supervisors and of the
Academic Board in writing constantly according to their dictation, and last
night learned with some surprise that I was to continue to act as treasurer,
bookkeeper, etc., whilst Henarie was to hold the money. I have been in town all
day to find out what is meant. I can't see the system, though Dr. Smith insists
on its being carried out and expects me to try the system. I can see very well
that all moneys appropriated by the legislature and that arising from the
tuition fees of cadets, should be appropriated by the Board of Supervisors,
and, as it will be paid in large amounts [it] could be held in the bank at New
Orleans without risk and without cost, whereas as I now look at it you are to
pay Henarie six hundred dollars for that whilst I am as heretofore to ask for
money to pay the cadets' wants, supply them and keep the accounts.
Here is a work that
employs about a dozen at West Point, at least three at Lexington, Va., and yet
I must do it all. I can do it all, not thoroughly but good enough, if the
treasurer resides here and relieves me of the necessity of taking care of so
many little items of books, clothing, and every species of things needed by
cadets. If the institution be pressed by want all of us can do extra work, but
this six hundred dollars now is absolute wastage, and negatives the idea of
poverty. Still that is none of my business and from present appearances I see I
will have my hands full.
The atmosphere has
changed since I went north, and I will find out its drift. I think I see where
it lies, and I think I divine your plan of defence. Judging from the personal
nature of your colleagues and their fondness of disputation I only say that if
their intention be to submine our regulations, you can by encouraging
discussion on the earlier passages cause them to desist from a close
examination of clause by clause, and have them generally adopted as originally
agreed on by the committee appointed to draft them.
If you can get the
regulations substantially adopted, and adjourn with an order for their
publication, and an agreement as to the arrangements of the terms, I will be
willing to go on keeping the individual accounts of cadets through this term,
but if my powers are substantially curtailed, or any overt disposition made to
complicate matters too much I may have cause to regret my sudden refusal of the
Roelofson proposal. I have abiding faith in you — and knowing that you can
prevent their meeting for mischief now, that without you they cannot act
at all, and that you can command a quorum always, I will continue to have
faith.
I do think the new
fence ought to be built to keep out hogs and cattle, and because I made a
distinct point before the committee at Baton Rouge. Were you to make the want
of fences next year a cause of application for more money it would be detected.
Still if you have postponed it till after June, I will give Ledoux notice that
at the close of April, I will discharge one and maybe two of his negroes, as
all wood-cutting and carrying has ceased, and Henry with occasional assistance
can sweep the galleries and empty the water. I will await the result of your
Saturday meeting, and conform thereto.
Smith tells me you
are down on him for gallanting. I ought to take the blame. At the wedding he
appointed a revisit to the party, and on Sunday at church he asked my leave to
accompany them to Mrs. Flower and Dr. Bailey. Miss Patterson is the daughter of
a particular friend of mine in St. Louis. I gave Smith permission because I was
glad to see him attentive to that party. Not an iota of duty was lost. Boyd
heard his class. I drilled and had evening parade and he was home by tattoo,
and if we must conform to every rumor we will lead a devil of a life here. If
we do our work the public ought to be well satisfied. I think had Miss
Patterson been of Rapides Parish, Smith would not have been complained of. . .
.
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