Mr. GRIMES. Ever since the foundation of the Government, the Military Academy has been under the superintendeuce of the longi neer cors. I believe that the 1st time in my life that ever heard special objection urged to it. has been here today, although I think on some former occasion some member of this body did propose such an amendment as is now offered by the Senfrom Oregon. There are several reasons why the rule was established and enacted into a law that the Engineer cors should have the charge of the Academy. ne was and it is a principal reason with me now that the moment you open it to the whole Army you make it much nearer a political Office than it is now. There will be a constant se ramble among the 5,000 officers in the infantry, the artillery, the cav airy, the ordnance, and the engineers, to secure I the superintendency of the Academy; and it will go, not on account of the merits of the J particular person who may seek it, but because of the political influence that may be brought I to bear in his behalf., I am as much opposed, I believe, to any kind of exelusiveness as anybody ought to be; but it seems to me that the reason I have just given is a very substantial reason why the old system i should be adhered to, especially when we know that it has thus far Worked well. The reason I why an engineer has been hitherto selected for this purpose and why the law requires him to be selected is that the Engineer corps is composed of what properly, I think, may be called the eltte of the men who graduate at the Military Academy. They are the best educated men; they are the 1st 2 or 3 men in each class who graduate at the head of the class, the most. accomplished men. Now, air, if you owned the Military Academy yourself, and were going to educate your boys there, would vou select a man who graduated at.the foot. of his class, or would you select a man who was confessedly the best scholar or one of the best scholars of the class? Taking the Superintendent from the Engineer corps leaves a range, it seems to me, sutfieiently large. I think there are above the rank of 1st. lieutenant some 35 or 40 officers, the most accomplished men in the Army in point of education and accomplishments of every description; and without any substantial reason being 0iven for it, except the mere recommendation of a board of civilians who went there, apart of them, I believe, at that time in the volunteer service, and each of whom thought he was perfectl competent. to take charge of the Military Aeaemy himself, and perhaps looked forward to the time when he would be Superintendent of the Militar Academy, I do not think it is wise for us, without any further consideration than we have been able to give the subject. here in this morning hour, to change the rule thathas existed ever since the Academy was established in 1801.