Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-08-26
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. RIGHTS.
RICHMOND WING.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUGUST &c, IsGs.
The Presiient, Col Myers, and the Sentinel

Richmond Wig and Col. Myers hSru'! '"'''
for .er.ons refutation Nearly two thirds OF 1t
i an eyasive, diseursiye, guerllla-Sort oil SNlr-
,n;,b;ny AGAINST the BBiq's consistency. The
Se,t;a,I cannot draw Us of from the business IN
hand by so simple forensic feiut as that We
will n, I waste ammunition 10 defending our
consistency. or scaling the Sentinel. There Is
bigger game afoot than that. II the Sentinel
thinks we have been Inconsistent the expression
Of such an opinion neither ofeuds nor dlstreSSes
4 II NAV conclude that We change opinions
and positions every day, and We are willing to
con EIDE to it the indulgence Of such belief
Nav, it m demonstrate this by argument and
proof conclusive and it will accomplish nothi
pertinent TO the only issue We are discussing
aud that is, whcthee the removal of Col Myers
was under The acc Of Congress- From this
me Sentinel shall not get away nor draw Us
away, though 1t rally a ] the resources o. con
trov,rsial dexterity and liuesse.
But before coming to that portion OF the
Seetiaers mtcle ia which this question 5
touched. and having already said all We think
worth saying in response 10 the hrSt column OF
its article, We will notice one or two Of It's
concluding suggestions, for the purpose of first
getting rid OF all the light matter. The Se"i-
mel says:
"H the W1ig had simply said that the Con-
grsssmen had a very favorab opinion OF Co..
MYERS merits and good services. and desired to
see him complimen ed and rewarded by promo
lion, and 4, therefore, provided an oPPortum
" which they hoped the President would &c
cept and had specia " made known to him this,
thei. wish, by a written paper, then It might
have argued, that the President should have
Welded 10 this expression Of the desire OF Con
gress. as matter of courtesy and respect.
Now this is the very mildest view that could
possibly be taken Of the Presidents action. Con
gress did have favorable opinion Of Col. Ny
ers' merits and cool services, and desired - see
him compImented and rewarded. They did IA
number of t.em) specially make known to him
this their desire by written paper not be-
cause they deemed their own legislation made
ouate TO the object, buteecause they had learned
from the Presidents action, when other billShad
been passed for the purpose, that there was 3
crotchetty iudispost:on 70 allow the object Of
the bill TO be attained. The President did not
Weld to this expression Of the desire Of Con
gress. Resting the matter Their, upon this most
charitable Interpretation Of it-what are we 10
think of the Presidents courtesy and respect
for Congress, What are We 10 think Of the
spirit that prompts such discourtesy and disre-
: ,ect towards coordinate Department Of the
Government A body that had been singularly
respectful and courteous, if not even subServlent
TO him-that had passed every measure he had
ever Recommendations had consulted him
in advance through the chairmen Of lis com
mittees in regard to all important bills! Was
il nothing in the Presidents estimation to pre-
serve kindly relations with such body Did
it become the leader OF great people, strug
Cling with a hero;sm which was the admiration
of the world amidst the most cruel suffering,
against gigantic and remorseless foe, 10 DO an
act calculated to produce alienation aud embit
terment. discord and diStrust between the Chief
Executive and the Chief legislature, to whom
that people were looking. for the union of all
their wisdom and all their patriotism. What it
the Pre- ident did think the office with its new
conditions required Brigadier Genera"
Did he not know that Congress desired that Col.
Myers should be that Brigadierf Did he not
know that he could send in his name in half an
hour TO the Senate for that grade: Did he not
believe that he had we'll and faithfully performed
the duties of his Office ii not why had he
kent him there two yea 5, and until his removal
had become necessary "under act OF Congress:
Did he not know that Col. Myers was one Of the
oldest officers ofthe army one OF the most respect
ed one of the first to offer his sword to the South
one who had made the largest sacrifices Of pro
pertyl Did he not know that hundreds Of his
juniors had been promoted over him And,
Knowing all these things-knowing how Con
oress would regard his deliberate and cOntemp
tuous thwarting of their desires-hOw the peO-
pie would look upon such an evidence Of lack
Of harmony and cooperation between the two
great branches of the GOvernment-what, we
egsin ask. are we to think of the spirit that
prompted his action
Again The Sentiasl says;
But if the Wigs view of the law and its
operation is correct, there is, practically no oe'
casion for all this uproar for the alleged design
of Congress has not been defeated. By that
theory Col Myers IS Quartermaster General,
and has been lifted up with the Office to the
rank and pay of Brigadier."
That is exactly our opinion-and that is ex-
actly what we are sure will be ascertained, when
ever Gen. Iawton goes before the Senate for con-
6rmation, or Gen. Myers goes into Court for his