Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-01-27
Modern Legislntion-.-Double Tax on Edi-
tors---Whiskey Exempt.

In the synopsis of proceedings furnished by our
House reporter of Tuesdays session, the Revenue
Bill being under consideration, the following re-
markable passage occurs:
The clause taxing all incomes over FIVE hundred
dollars, one per cent. was attempted to be amend
ed by including Editors, but it was rejected on
the ground that they were already included in the
term ''every other person." and besides that press
es were already taxed as ''machinery." So Eli-
tors nre to be taxed on their income and on their
machinery. The House refused to exempt the
income of ministers of the Gospel from the law.
A discussion upon taxing liquor distiiers four
ceuts per gallon, occupied the attention of the
House for some time, hut the clause was finally
stricken out. The House was engaged on the bill
until the hour of three O'Clock when il adjourn ned.
So we CO. Publishers who give light and joy to
the world are to be taxed on their machinery and
on their income which latter with most of rs is
precious little. while dstilers who spread disease,
VOC, death and destruction through the land are not
to be taxed four cents per gallon on each gallon
of poison sent forth on its mission of bgbting,
witlering destruction "The House refused to
exempt the income of ministers of the Gospel from
the law" See the beauty Of the modern egisla-
tien; the House refuses to tax the distiller four
cents on the gallon, which by the way he would
more than make up with wafer, but they tax the
income of ministers. Tell it not in Buncombe, pub
sh it not in the streets of the Metropolis that the
present House of Commons Of the North Carolina
LEGISLATURE tax the press twice, once on their ma
chiuery aud once on their income, and that they
tax the income Of Methodist circuit riders who
receive the enormous sum of $3.50 year, and re-
fuse to tax distllers four cents per gallon on their
manufactures.
OF course it could have been on account of no
love for the ardent that induced the Huuse to
'strike out" the clause taxing distiers four cents
on the gallon oh no, they are most exemplary
set of gentlemen. Nor could it have been for any
selfish motive that they made the discrimination in
favor of the distilers and against the press in the
matter of taxes True, whiskey is the most potent
agent in the hands of demagogues nj the hustings
and it is also true that the '.judicious" use Of
yhiskey has a great deal to do in turning the
scales at many of our election precincts, through
out the State in an excited contest, hut our le-
gfslators being very immaculate never thought of
these things. Oh no, not they-too patriotic. It
is furthermore true that some Of these patriots.
who are supposed to be somewhat tnctured with
the demagogue, are often wont to ascend the
stump with a copy of some We (a) kly, paper in
one hand and glass of grog in the other, and to
heap abuse on the filthy" or "libellous" sheet,
as they are apt to call it, and thus impress por
tion of the soveregns, who have no use for papers
or anything else that will elevate them above the
service of the demagogues, that all newspapers
are trash and that all newspaper editors are vii
ans: while at the same time grog comes in for a
small amount of laudation, and is held in great
reverence as is evidenced by the patriot asking
the sorcreigns to "gine" him in 90 drop of some
thing" Mt the conclusion of his patriotic denuncia
ton of newspapers. That these pictures have and
do exist, here and there, we were well aware. but
that there were enough such patriots in North Ca
rolina TO carry q majority in the House of Com
mons to tax the income Of ministers of the Gospel
and exempt distillers. we would not have believed
but for the evidence before US. 1t may be said
that distillers are taxed their income that is
no satisfactory answer. We must necessarily in
crease the taxes to meet the wants of the treasury
but instead of increasing the tax on distillers you
place double tax on the press and, not satisfied
with that, must tax the one hundred and fifty dol
lar income of one hundred and fifty ministers OF
the Gospel in North Carolina.
Should the Revenue bill 60 out with these
provisions we pity those voting for it, when they
agaiu ascend the stump. Ignorant MS they may
suppose the people to be, they will hardly find
them stupid enough to swallow these things
Newbcrn (N. C.) Progress.