Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-08-21
FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUST 81, 1868.
orARTERM.AsTER GENERAL.

Ths Richmond newspapers are a%sitatine
Themselves concerning. the late appointment
of Brir,d;er General Lawton TO the office OF
Quarternns:c. General It seems that TIE
Congress, in passing the law making therank
and emolunent of a Brigadier General at
.ach - that Office, meant q particular brisa-
i;c--ncant. in short, that the said rank and
emolumcnes should attach to Col. Myers; anc'
moreover. tina; the member, of Congress III
formed The President Of that meaning and in.
~tea,ion. But it naturally occurred to the
President that Congress had no right to any
meaning or intention Of the kind, aud SO when
he, inthe course Of human events, deemed 1t
righ. to make n change in TINT department Of
tho military service, he simply ignored the
presumed meaning and Intention Of Congress
and exercised his own discretion by suppressed
ing Col. Myers, and appointing (snbiect to thu
approval ofthe Senate,) another officer Win
was already a Brisadier General: This If
Just what he had the legal right to do.
: We may be simple and credulous. but VIC
a7c inclined to give credit to a public officer
for n desire 10 10 his duty in his Office. We
arc not INCLINED tn search for some mean mo-;
tive in every public acs. We do believe that
Col. Myers did his duty, or used his best en-
beavers 20 do il rs well ssthc difficulties OF his
position admitted. l. may not he unreasonable
also 70 give thu President The benefit of that
s,:ne pr.su:np tion in his favor. At all events.
there is but l;,-lo reason to regret that ne de.
clines 70 rcriHit Congress to encrcach any
further upon his business. That body, as We
have before had occasion to point out. inter
fcrcs rather too much With the details Of or!
military organization and is action, even
within lis OWL. legitimate sphere, has some
times appeared intended more 70 en5arra>e
and restrict the Executive than to strengthen
il in that most essential Of all our Confede
rate conccrns-the efficient organization and
government of the army. This ia only an
other illustration Of the propensity Of politi
clans to have a hand in the distribution ofmili-
tary patronage. which has given to our army
too mach of the aspect Of q body Of place
holders.
Taking the late action Of the President, thon.
as a thius which he had the strict right Il
do. and quitting thar whole controversy con
cerning his reasons and motives tf all which
ne will. doubtless. render an account 10 the
Senate we prefer boxing TO the future; and
thareupon would take the liberty of exhorting
General Lawton TO inquire out and remedy
s~uch-ahnse. as have hitherto been compliance
of in the Quarsermaster Generals Department.
Without impcaching Col. Myers, it may SAFE
" be affirmed that those abuses have bee,
neither few nor slight. Quartermastnrs scm'-
times get ~rich-they ought never to get rich
Somebody is hurt, when Quartermasters ge'
rich; aud it is very needful to search out, anf
to dry up, those channels whereby the sale
Quar,ermasters get rich.
Gen. Lawtor, perhaps, knows-or if not, we
now inform him-that many Quartermaster'
issue pay to officers not assigned to any duty
and not doing any service whatsoever, and
this il defiance OF IN express General Order"
prohibiting such payment. 1t is true, Quar-
termastors arc responsible, and are unde,
bonds; but W to this time, if we are rightly
informed, no Qt4rterm aster has ever bee'
practically male responsible under his bond.
go thai il is no wonder il there he a certain
looseness both in the payment IF money ant
in the rendering % accounts. To whatevc'
amount such irregularities occur, til So mucl
fraudulen,ly taken cut of the public pocket,
aud in this, az in oil such cases, impunity ha
increased the evil, until it is now probably diff
fcult TO cure.
The people are far more interested in q,
honest and diligcnt administration Of the bust
nes- nf tina. off e, than in the question whethe,
Col. Mye"s or General Lawton shall occupy it
II tn" new in"umhen', being a new broom
should make q cloan sweep-that is SHOULD
.trinc TO strict account a few of the worst sui,
ordinates in his department by proceeding t.
forfeit their bonds; if he should order dilicen
investigation into the issues of pay to officer
not in service, and compel the too liberal quar-.
te7mas:ers to make good the whole of such pay
and if by tAese menus he should save the coun
try large sums Of money, and ensure q more
faithful discharge Of business in his Depart
ment-,hen we apprehend that tho Confcdera E
re, pile wonld almost he induced to forgive the
President for appointing him, even over the
head of Col. Myers.