Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-08-18
An EvtraoTdinary Transaction.

At its last session. Congress undertook to promote
Col Myers, the Qaartsrmaster General by corferlr 9
! On him the rank, pay aud allowsnces Of Brgadier
General The language of the Act as follows;
The Congress Of tie Confederate States Of America
90 enact That from and alter the passage Of this act
the rank pay and allowances attached TO the oce OF
QuarSermaster General Of the Army OF the Conede-
rate States shall be those OF Bcgader General In the
" Provisional Army
"ApproVel Amch 20, 1883"
There can be no doubt thA. It the expectation
and intention Of Congress that Col Myers Individually
houd be the recipient Of this increased rank and pay
ir because he was then he had been from the be
oicnipe. the Quartermaster General and no ina
gined tina. any change would DO made and second be-
cause the debate upon the bill turned mainly upon the
De,sona and official merits of Col Myers, the arduous
ness Of his la5ors and tie fidelity and ability with which
he discharged them. The writer Is himself witness
on this point having been present in the House when
the bill mas under consideration. Wha. will BE- the
surprise of the country aud OF Cong when 1t is
kuoSn shat the intention OF Congress in regard to Col
Myers has been 50 perverted BY the President, that
what was designed as reward for good conduct has
beea made the 'sOl OF punishment AID disgracef
Il IS hardly be expected that Congress will submit to
be baitled aad trided with in such a manner.
The ErpAirsr has the folio wing remarks the SUBJ
jsc::
A change In the head Of the Quartermaster's Depart
ment during the pas. week. has attracted much public
attention. because Of the strange and unnecessary de-
fauce of the opinion and will of the Confederate Congress
involved in that se,. Until this time the
q neral has been Colonel Myers. lie highly me-
ritorious officer of the old army, who had muon e1pe
encs in that department Of military administration
having been believe, SCOTS QIartermasterinC Chief
dgilg the Mexican war. HO the first of all the
Uted States officers, TO re ign having rendered up bis
commission on the morning after the secession his
native State South Carolina. In the schargoof his
duty here he bas confirmed the reputation Of most
d gent con. c;entious and honest officer. Much com
plant true has been made against the gulrermas
lers in the country but the QuIrtermaster General IL
not responsible for them they being under the control
Uf the Generals 10 whose commands they are ATTACHED
Agairsi the management Of the Department here a.
Richmond, we never beard sny complaint at all; and
the committee o. Con gress Who inspected it, expressed
much satisfaction at the good order aud promptiude
uty found there In testimony Of their good opinion,
the Congress raised as it beleyed the rank Of Quarter
master General Myers lIon that of Colo el to Brigs
uisr LODGED, Congtess passed such law four times
First il withdraWn the usgation OF the Presi-
dent; thea il vetoed; next it Poeketed: at the
t session only tie will OF Congress forced itself into
I the l4s.
Il would appear to be impossible to put two construc-
tons on his supe Law. Tue law does not create anew
office Il declares only tina, the incumbent CT mill
Ary bureau already iu existence who has heretofore
borne the Ii l. colonel, shall hereafter bear the Tile
OF Brigadier ll IS laH which executes itself. Not
Only is the intention o, Congress apparent from its
words but il was quite notorious the time of s pas
sage that it specially Intended 10 raise the rank Of
CoL N, els
Hence, great surprise has been felt by all cognzan
Of facts md among the General Orders OF the day
the following:
"ADJT AND INsP' UTR GEMS OFFICE,
RICHMOND, August 7, 1858.