Mr. SCHENCK. I move toadd the following at the end of the bill: The continuing the erection of memorial tablets and mural monuments to deceasedofficers of the regular Armyfand of volunteers; arranging and proservi ng tropies of war; and markin with properinscriptions guns captured during the rebellion, 85.000 Mr. Chairman, I will explain my object in moving the amendment. Iwill premise my information arises from the fact that I happened to be selected as one of the Board of isitors at the last annual examination of the Academy; and as president of that board, I will say, in conjunction with the other members of the board, a most thorough examination was made of the institution and all that pertains to it. The amendment which I offer now, as well as some others I will propose hereafter, embody the conclusions in reference to some appropriations at which that Board of Visitors arrived after that examination. I proposenow an appropriation of $5,000 for continuing the memorial tablets at the chapel of the Academy, and also for marking guns cap tured during the rebellion with the name of the battles in which they were taken. anyone who has visited WestPoint will remember that among the objects of greatest interest there are the tab lets ofblack marble on the walls of the cha el, giving a brief military history, at least the late of the death, of the officers who have fallen or died at any time in the service of the country, from the earliest revolutionary period down through the Mexican war. lt was thought properthat this sort of memorial should be continued, to embrace the officers in the service of the U.S., both of the regular Army and volunteers, there being no distinction made between them. A small appropriation is necessary for this, and in addition to this, for the purpose of marking the guns captured during the rebellion. This is embodied in the recommendation of the Board of Visitors. The Superintendent at WestPoint desired to marl; these guns, and he sent to the chief of the Engineer corps, now on duty in this city, having general supervision of the Academy and its interests, and who perhaps may have for a little time longer, to get the necessary authority or means for that purpose. The rely was, in substance, that the guns could not O marked because it might hurt the feelingsof some southern students who might hereafter come to that institution. I will read the correspondence on this subject, sent to us by the SecyWar in answer to a call of this House: Wnsr Poiivr, NewYorku. May 27, 1865. Sin: There are now at this post, for which I am accountable, upward of 30 cannon of various descriptions and calibers. taken from the rebels in the presentwar. Many of themareof historic value and not a.few, of foreign manufacture, have also a most interesting history. All thesegunsshould have out upon them. after the manner of those taken in the li crican war, such data as will alwa sservo to imdeyndtiisfypotshaelm, but there are no meanswliatever at at present to accomplish the work. I have no man in my detachmentssufficiently skilled to perform it, and I know of no appropriation to cover the necessaryexpenditure. I understand that all the Mexican trophies referred to were marked at Geicrnors Island, under the direction of the commandin officer of the arsenal there. I won d. therefore, respectfully recommend that the matter may be referred to the chief of Ordnance at Washington for his COHSlLlOlllllOn and that these guns be suitably marked by the sameworkmen, if possible, who did the Monican gunsI at the expense of that Dept. I remlllll. VLTY respectfully. ]{fplll obedient servant, GEO GE T. BALCH, Captain Ordnance(, brps, and Instructor Ordnanceand German]. Captain E. C. Borsros, Adjutant U.S. Illililarz/ Academy. Esoiunsa Damn run", June 3. 1865. GENERAL: Thelctter of Captain Balch, of27th May. referred by you to this dept (in relation to ccrtain captured guns)has been received. It is not desirable to inscribe on any of theseguns evidencesof capture astrophies ofwar, to remain at an institution where young men from all partsof our united and once he py country are to meet and contract friendships. t should be our study with these gounggentlemen to present nothing of an irritable or oastful spirit to be placed constantly beforethesight of those whose section of country suffered by who] on. Let history tell the evils this rebellion hasproduced, and let us. through the instrumentality of the Military Academy, renewits powerful influence in establishing national feelingsthrough the friendships that are sure to flowfrom scholasticfriendship under military training for years. These guns should be preserved only as historical of the artillery arm of service. indicating the period and place of manufacture of oach caliber, and description of gun, oinitting everythingeonnce ted with cap ture or use. ILHARD DELAFIELD, General, and Chief Engineer U.S. Army. Brigadier General Gannon W. CULLUM. Sn enntmd ent U.S. Military Academy, West oinl, NewYork. The Board of Visitors concluded that it was not possible and just as little advisable to undertake to blot out the history of the war of the rebellion; but on the contrary it was better to perpetuate it and the committee were likewise of opinion that no southern outh was fit to be educated at WestPoint until his patriotism should arise to that level when he would feel glad to see the evidence there that even his own people had been put down when in their madness they attempted to destroy this Government. But, sir, to explain the matter more fully and clearly I will read on this subject the concluding paragraphs of the report which I had the honor to make, as president of the Board of Visitors, to the SecyWar in June ast: “Among inany improvements made during the administration of the present Superintendent is one of peculiar and touching interest. It is the devioo of placing on the walls of the chapel neat marble tabletsor mural monumentsinscribed with the names of thosedead Army officerswho havein the pastbeen made illustrious by rank, or gallant deedsof arms, or have fallen in battle. It was a happy thought to be oxccuted at this particular place. It is fitting most that the U.S. Military Academy, the nations great school of arms. should be made to perpetuatesuch names and histories: thus keeping clore the e es and in the memories of the ynun men here educated the noble example of faithfu service and devotion to our commoncountry. During the rbeocaorrddrtelicuosm bmeegniindtshhaatllthbee tcaosntteinful eadn;d aennd that means be furnished to extend the same marks of respect to all the officers of our Army, regulars and volunteers alike. who have suffered and fallen in the war just closed in a glorious and successful struggle to vindicate the honor and rnaintain the life of the nation. “Happy for the recreants who fought to destroy their Government, if in the light shed from such a brilliant roll of the faithful their namesand treason able career could be thrown into deepershadow of oblivion! For continuing the erection of these memorial tablets, including a.mural monument to Washington, for which an appropriate design has been made, the board earnestly recommend an appropriation by Congress of 55,000. such a sum will also enable the Superintendent to finish a now incomplete arrangement for the preservation of many of the most interesting trophies ofwar which have accumulatedhere: and especially to inscribe suitably. with the names of battles in which they were taken, some of the finest pieces of ordnance that have been captured during the rebellion, and sent here for kccpin. Let these lasting lessonsen graved on stone an bronze and iron till and stim ulate the hearts and minds of those whose special task it must be hereafterto aid in upholdin and de fending our flag and all that it represents. atthose who may come here in the future to preparefor such dut, from States oncein insurrection, hail the sight of t cseproofs that the parricidal attempt of their fatherswasafailuro and let all unite in cultivating, by every lie] and influence, that which now more than ever be oresccmstobe the growing and strength ening sentiment of this national school of military and general science, that the truest and most precious interests, duties and inheritance of the soldier and the citizen are one. the same, and can never be separated."