Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1857-02-18
" Captions,'-.Tax ON Lecturers.

Our contemporary of the Register very gravely
informs US that do not understand that portion
of the tax bill which imposes tax on Lecturers,
for it is as true axiom that such lectures as
Mr. Baldwin delivered here soiu be tarcd, under the
revenue BILL" And the Register still speaking of
Mr. Baldwin's lectures, goes on to say:
Now, the Standard may not know or appreciate
the fact that these "lecures" delivered for ere
ward, but it is nevertheless fact that they
delivered. Take the last tease" of lecturing-that
of Mr.. Baldwin. He lectured for "reward;" he was
invited here by the Coax City Guards" who paid
his expenses and paid him reward" in addition
thereto, which was well earned, as We prove by
the Standard of this date"
Very WELL so be it. The law was no doubt in.
tended to apply to travelling Lecturers, We had
had them in the State previous to its passage. If
Mr.. Baldwin, or any other Lecturer of his class,
should come within the meaning Of the law, it will
be their own voluntary act. We were not aware,
when we penned our former article, that Mr.. Bald
win lectured for "rcward," but we know it now,
and we assure our contemporary that we "aPpre-
cate the fact" Mr. Badwins business then, is that
of a Lecturer, and we suppose he makes money by
it. This being the case, he ought to pay the tax,
and pay it cheerfuly; for, mark you, Mr.. Register,
the "captions" and the law both declare that the
tax is not imposed the lectures, but on the Lcc.
turer. 1t is no "reward" to pay the expenses of
Lecturers and, therefore, it is not probable that the
law will embrace such gentlemen as Dr. Hawks,
Gov. Swain, and Prof Hubbard. The coax Ci-
ties paid Mr.. Baldwin's expenses says the Register
and also "reward." The inference, therefore, is
that he could have paid the $40 tax for Wake Coun-
~, and still have made snug little sum. Gentle
men who lecture for pay, cannot complain if they
arc taxed. Those who listen to the lectures of
Phrenologsts, of Mesmerists, and of Prof McGrath,
and the like, are just much pleased in their ,oa
as arc those who have the privilege of hearing Mr..
Baldwin; and in country like this, the law must
operate alike upon all classes
The Rev. John E. Edwards, for example, is in
Vlted here to lecture; We merely put case-we do
not know that he is, will be invited, but we
think he should be. He has recently made the tour
Of Europe, and has prepared series of lectures de-
voted to what he saw and heard and felt in the old
world. We undertake to say, that if he should
come, he will fill the Commons Hall for several
nights in succession, and that he will produce a
profound impression, few men possess a more
versatile genius than he does, or can surpass him
as An orator. His lectures would be profitable to
the " Oak Cities" as we'll as to himself; and our
word for it, he would never think of the $40 tax
after he had paid it-that is provided he accepted
reward" for his lectures. Nor do we suppose
that Mr.. Baldwin, or any one else who received q
"reward" for lecturing, would complain of the tax
Our youthful contemporary of the Register is
duly grateful" to us for certain information which
it was our pleasure to mpart to him in relation to
Captions" We are glad 70 find him teachable
and not captious on the subject of "Captions.
This is a good beginning. We know he is opposed
to high taxes erer having been accustomed to them
in old Virginia. He reminds US in this respect O.
fclow.being" who published card in one O.
the religious newspapers, returning his thanks tc
the pastor and the authorities of certain Church
for the privilege which he had enjoyed, withou
molestaton, of walking up and down through tha
Church, during SERVICE looking for seat and find
ing none. Our contemporary has enjoyed life fo
so long time in Virginia, snolested by the targa
therer, that he is troubled by the tax-bi which i
was the duty of our last Assembly to pass. As tn,
" fellow-being" referred to thanked the pastor fo
the privilege which he had enjoyed in that Church
so may our contemporary have cause, before he il
with US many years, to thank his stals that tn
taxes are no higher.