I did regret and do
still regret that under the circumstances you thought it your duty to your own
feelings to vacate the position of vice-president and I will further venture the
expression of my earnest hope that you will do nothing to show the public that
you have lost confidence in the government of the Seminary. Your acts and your
power have never been contravened, but I admit that at the last session the
opponents to the military feature of our institution made a home thrust, more
at my power than anything else. You know that many of my acts have been
virtually reversed and now I am made to fill an office requiring me to carry
out the resolves of the Board of Supervisors and of an Academic Board.
I certainly do not
covet power, but if the public and my friends look to me personally to do
certain things, they will misjudge me when my acts must be a zigzag course
between the indefinite opinions of two deliberative bodies. Were you
vice-president, I would still [act on my own responsibility] whenever occasion
arose, but it may be different in case a less reliable occupies that vacant
place. The Board of Supervisors mistake much in supposing that cadets will be
safer under the Academic Board than under a Board ordered by me, whose acts I
could revise, restrain, and even veto. The more I reflect the more convinced am
I that the Academic Board should not be trusted exclusively with the
enforcement of discipline, but it is now done and the next session must pass
under the new system, and I must needs try the experiment, only I want it to be
universally known that I will not compromise my military reputation by a seeming
assent to a system of government that has ever failed, and must fail in this
instance.
I wish to be
distinctly understood as not complaining at the personal application of
reducing my power to a mere “supervisory” power—a right to complain to the
Board of Supervisors—instead of what ought to be a right to control. If the
cadets find out that my wings are clipped won't they make it rather uncomfortable
to me? Still I have had little experience in these matters and may be mistaken,
and will try another session. I will leave my family where they are and come to
Alexandria by way of New Orleans.
I feel uneasy about
Jarreau. Still as my power is now merely "supervisory,” if he utterly fail
in his contract I am in no wise responsible. I never mentioned to you that last
November I introduced Jarreau to my friends Kennett and Co. of New Orleans,
enjoining the latter in all cases to supply good articles of groceries. Jarreau
bought of them to the extent of some $1,300 without paying one cent. They wrote
to me and at my instance he sent down one of his monthly payments of $800,
leaving still $500 due. I feel that Kennett looks to me for that and I don't know
but I am liable. Jarreau is too careless about such things and it may be said
too that I was too careless in incurring such a liability, after my recent
business experience.
I have several
letters from Mr. Boyd, giving me reasonable assurance that the items of work
devised for the summer will be substantially done. Frank's desertion did not
much surprise me – you mistake in saying my “favorite Frank.” I got out of him
all sorts of work for which we could not afford to employ help—clerical or
other—he never had charge of anything subject to larceny, except may be some
blankets and I could readily have detected that. I employed Wright. In my
absence Smith discharged him and Frank fell in because no body else was at hand
and as the boy was willing we used him for “all work." I think if he has
stolen nothing more than Mr. Boyd reports his account is not much over. When I
left he had $3 due him and had in his room (paid for) some $20 of merchandise.
I could get hundreds
of intelligent young men here who would go with me for moderate wages; but a
drummer or clerk, the only posts I ought to fill, must from the necessity of
the case be subject to the command of others, who would order them about in a
style and manner to which Ohio boys are not used to, and the result would be
"off.” So I discourage all who apply. One young fellow—a good musician but
neither drummer or bugler, says, he is going south anyways, but he must go at
his own cost and risk. Smith at my suggestion applied at Old Point Comfort to
my personal friend Captain Ord who says he can supply us. Smith writes about
road expenses, and wages and I feel a little doubtful now, whether I have a
right to make a bargain without the ratification of the Board. There is a
resolution to “furnish” the building and to provide in advance the stores, but
nothing about drummer and fifer. An army drummer and fifer would suit us better
than boys picked up as we picked up Wright and Frank. Still I can not afford
pecuniarily to run the risk of these private bargains of hire. Still I think I
will write to Smith that if Ord will recommend a drummer and fifer, both
willing to work either as clerks, storekeepers, and sweepers of halls, lighters
of lamps, etc., that I will agree to employ—expenses up from New Orleans to be
paid by Seminary, to New Orleans by himself and myself jointly until the Board
ratify. The family recommended to you by Captain Maynadier were of too
delicate health to suit the present period of our establishment. All must work
in some sphere or other.
Mr. Boyd says that
the drought prevented the delivery of lumber, so that the roofs are not yet on
– still even if done I would not bring my family now. I have written to finish
Mr. Vallas' house first.
To a mere looker on
the political game of our country is funny. In the South you are struggling
between Bell and Breckenridge. Here their names are hardly mentioned, and the
orators are noisy only for Douglas and Lincoln. Political majority has passed
to the North and power must follow. Sooner or later the North will control, and
the only question in my mind is, will she abuse it? Nobody now can say she will
or she will not. I know some Southrons say they won't await the chance. I think
they will and should. Even the wide-awake Republicans here say they don't mean
interference with slavery. They opposed the repeal of Missouri Compromise and
the events connected with Kansas, but of course I don't look to word for
meaning. I am satisfied no president in power will weaken the country over
which he presides.
Of course I keep
aloof from all political cliques and knots, and only express an opinion
occasionally to the effect, that there are many men of action and ability at
the South, who will act with prudence and decision when the time comes, but
that danger does exist from the growing suspicion and distrust, between the two
general sections of one country. My wife and family are well. Mrs. S. begs that
I will thank you for your repeated offers of hospitality—but she ought not to
budge from here till she can move straight into a house of her
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