Mr. Stanton. Mr. Secretary of the Interior, what is the average circulation of newspapers in the loyal section?
Mr. Smith. A thousand million.
Mr. Chase (rapidly computing). Which on Mr. Blair's proposition would yield a million dollars revenue.
Mr. Welles. And support the government at our present rate of expenditure for one day!
Mr. Seward. The public would bear half a cent on each paper. The publisher could make his readers insensibly pay the tax, and improve both paper and issue by receiving another half cent: and so add one cent of charge per copy.
Mr. Chase. Which would yield a revenue of five millions per year.
Mr. Lincoln. Would the people stand such a charge?
Mr. Stanton (good humoredly). Will our friend the Secretary of State smoke fewer cigars when you come to tax tobacco?
Mr. Welles (naïvely). But newspaper reading is not a vice.
Mr. Bates. Be not so sure of that. The passion for newspapers excites the minds of the whole republic. Now-a-days your servant reads the news as he works. The clergy peruse the Sunday extras, and the crossing-sweeper begs your worn-out copy instead of a cigar-stump.