The Portland daily press., 1864-03-10

Mr. Editor.--I see the receipts OF the "In-
dependent Course" stated at $1,000. 20-ex-
penses 81 ,30679. Was il not stated at the
outset that the lecturers were to giDe their
services? Was not the Hall free? What
then has become of over thirteen hundred dol
lars for expenses? 1t seems to me that when
considerable over half of the gross receipts
are used up under such circumstances the
people should know where it has gone.
CHARITY AND JUSTICE.
The above was clipped from the Argus. Its
object is as unmistakable as its authorship.
Beyond doubt it was prompted not by
sense OF "Charity and Justice" but by oppo-
sition to the objects and purposes of the In
dependent Course. The writer probably new
err paid one cent of the money for the expen-
diture of which he shows so much anxiety.
1t is none of our business to defend the Inde-
pendent Lectures, for they need no defense.
They were started with view to meet the
wants of a class of lecture-going people who
could not obtain tickets to the Mercantile
Course. They were got up under dsadvan-
tages, because the season was late and The
popular lecturers were generally engaged
As no parties wished to make speculation
out of the enterprise, it was proposed in the
start that whatever should remain, after de-
fraying the unavoidable expenses ofthe Course,
should be devoted to the aid of the Sanitary
Commission. This purpose has been faithful
ly adhered to.
One word in relation to the above from the
Argus. 1t was not stated in the outset, by
any one authorized to make such state
ment, that the lecturers were TO gire their
services. We did so intimate, editorally, in
the Press, under mistaken apprehension of
the facts, but were requested by the Commit
tee not TO repeat the suggestion as it was
utterly impossible to find qualified lee
tuers who could or would afford the sacrifice.
We will here say that the ten lecturers re-
ceived, for services aud expenses, sS45. The
second lecture, which was expected from Gen.
Sickles, without compensation beyond his
expenses, failed through his being perempto-
riy ordered to report at Washington and the
Committee were obliged, on the spur OF the
moment, to procure a lecturer at almost any
cost or allow the Course 10 break down at
that early stage. They succeeded after much
effort, at the highest cost paid during the
Course. Mr. Douglass man entirely de-
pendent upon his lectures, was engaged for
two evenings, at 500 each, expenses inclu-
ded, and the sales of evening tickets for his
lectures were, for the first SIS, and for the
second 900, at % cents each, while the largest
number of evening tickets sold at any other lee
ture was 400 at Geo. Thompson's and 800 at
Mr.. Phillips. This shows that the lectures cost
ing the most money were not necessarily the
least profitable for the cause TO whose aid all
surplus was to accrue.
The expense of the Hall was Slo0-ior
lighting and putting ia order. 1t may not be
improper to say that 500 was paid to Col.
Taylor for the last lecture, who was person
ally one OF the greatest suffers in East Tennes-
see. This leaves some over $500 expended in
printing, hotel bills, travelling expenses in
procuring lecturers, telegraphing, hack hire,
etc., vouches for which were all forthcoming.
But after all, those who attended the lectures
and contributed TO their success, we dare say
are perfectly satisfied No Course OF equal
merit was ever made cheaper to the people,
Every ticket-holder received his moneys
worth and while doing so became a contribu-
tor TO a fund of nearly $1,000 for the benefit
of the Sanitary Commission. 1t is safe to say
that, in view of all the facts, the spirit that
prompts fault finding in this matter is not
that of"charity and justice" but of some quail
ity far less creditable TO the human heart