Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-03-22

| iorHLOicn E.cpendttirc-Jhe witer OF the iol.
rowing communication takes manly and judicous
view OF the question of the Yorktown expenditure
he asks what was the principle really involved
tor our parts we have never been able to discover
IT, 'houSh unquestonably many members of the
General Assembly saw, or thought they saw, a
violation of the constitution, or danger from thu,
precedent. Had the Executive directly appropri-
a,eu inc pubic treasure this, any other object,
"ithout a previous legislative sanction there would
nave oeeh no dispute about the ilIcgitimacy of the
proceeding They did not do so, but on the other
nand, scrupulously avoided it, So Ear from copsi-
"e'i"g 'he precedent dangerous, hesitate not to
say, at the disposition lend their own RESPONSE
o"''y 10 sustain the credit and character of the
'"e, !" >"tical moments, and in the recess of the
-eSisia'uie, Is Que which ought to be encouraged
ana decidedly approved. Exigencies may arise,
m"eh wi'ho"t such Willingness the part of the
executive, to exert their individual responsibitv
'he Puonc would receive material injury. When
'he pehlteutiary was burnt down. the Executive
au'd"ceu money, obtained on the responsibility of
=" e "'e"oefs, Tor temporary repairs, and To guard
inc c"hVlcts from escaping. Why did we not hear
'ne cry oil danger to the constitutions on that occa-
s'o" Ana yet we defy the most subtle casuisi to
point out the smallest distinction between the two
cases. Where rs the danger of the precedent
Are men so prone to lend their money! without emo
lunent direct or indirect, that they must be re-
STRAINED from doing it by Legislative discourage
"'e"': NOT the smallest pecunary advantage ac-
c'ueo 70 the Executive, by the advance thus made
W sustain the character of the State. The only
reward they received, to have their conduct
approved by majority of their fellow citizens but
naiShly and ungenerously censured by those who
Tor their own selfish ends, or from dizziness of
intellect, saw or pretended to see in it, violation
OF principle. To imagine that they, or any other
set Of men, will volunteer improperly to lend their
money or credit TO the State, without emolument IN
themselves and with the possible rsque of never
being repaid, shows the most absurd ignorance of
human nature The danger lies i'll the other ex-
IRENE, and the experience of the last winter will
prove, III future exigencies preudcial to the State
unless patriotism wholly ma sters individual pru-
dence- Whether consider the object of the
expenditure, or the safety of the State in future
times, the conduct of the Executive merited the
warm appreciation aid prompt relief of the State
ana the Legislature. Demagogues have used, aud
VIII use the subject TO cajoe the ignorant and adj
vance their clectioneering views; but they only
deceive the ignorant, aud will find a response only
in the baseSt feelings of human nature
Oar correspondent indirectly COMPLAINS of th,
suppression of the Debate on the Yorktown expen
diture. 1t was indeed the most animated and elo
quent we ever heard in any Assembly Ii was
not published for obvious reason Gen La
fayette arrived in this city Immediately after il
occurred, and delicacy his feelings restrained us
from publishing it. This course was likewise re-
commended by many who had participated in thu,
peoate The sarae reasons no doubt influenced
the conduct of the other paper in this city The
communication follows: