Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1868 [PAGE 94]

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the government, and diffused throughout the nation, so that citizens of all the states and graduates from all the schools may fall into line, and prove it true that " i n union there is s t r e n g t h . " The donation of lands made by Congress was in furtherance of this general design. Attention is now called to a plan, set on foot under orders from the W a r Department, and about to be submitted for the action of Congress, so grandly national in design, so comprehensive in scope, so minute in detail, as to invite at once the approval and the co-operation of this institution in carrying it into effect. ^ n d e r special orders of the War Department, No. 167, issued April 4, 18fi7, Major J. H. Whittlesey, of the United States army, (retired from active service,) an officer of great merit and ability, was detailed to proceed to West Point, New York, and to such of the principal colleges of the United States, as will enable him, after consultation with the college authorities, to report a method of introducing a suitable system of military instruction into such of the colleges of the United States as shall desire it. In a personal interview with the Acting Secretary of War, in October, the chairman of your committee found that officer deeply interested in the subject of popular military education, and was, by him, referred to Major Whittlesey, for consultation. Correspondence with him has brought to the hands of the committee full reports and explanations, accompanied by a draft of a bill to be submitted by Gen. Grant for the action of Congress. Under such auspices, and urged by a public sentiment so fully instructed by recent events, it cannot be doubted that the National Legislature, at its approaching session, will adopt this plan substantially as presented, as the basis of an enlarged and truly national military establishment. The Illinois Industrial University, having been created and designated by the Legislature for the purpose of applying the land grant to a course of education, of which military science and practice shall form a part, comes within the provisions of the bill. It is proposed— 1. To establish a bureau of the War Department, in charge of a director-general of military education, whose duty shall be to inspect and supervise military academies, secure uniformity of instruction, and^enforce faithful compliance with the laws and regulations on those subjects. 2. That when any institution designated shall have capacity sufficient to educate, at one time, one hundred male students in a complete course of liberal studies, with grounds for military exercises, there shall be detailed a competent officer of the army, to act as military professor, with an assistant; the military professor to supervise the prescribed course of military studies and exercises to be taught, and enforce general regulations for the government of the officers so detailed, but without infringement of the rights of self government of the institution. 3. That each college which shall have established a course of instruction in military studies and exercises, in conformity to the act, shall receive the necessary text books, ordnance and ordnance stores, and camp and garrison equipage, with a detail of one ordnance sergeant and two musicians, at the expense of the United States. 4. That the Faculty of Arts of such college may, each year, recommend to the President of the United States a list of one-tenth of the graduates distinguished for general proficiency in the collegiate course, special attainments in military science, and skill in military exercises, of good moral character, and sound health, whose names shall be p u b . lished in the army register, and of whom one from each college shall be commissioned in the army, as in the case of graduates from West Point. 5. That each college thus comprising military studies and exercises in its course of instruction, shall receive from the U. S. treasury two thousand dollars, to be expended under the charge of the Director of Military Education in the purchase of the necessary books of reference, maps, models and text books; also, ten thousand dollars, to be expended in constructing a suitable building for the purpose of an armory, and for use as a drill hall, in inclement weather.