The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-19

MON, be influenced in the slightest degree, pro or con-
whether the exaction of the legal postage of 70 cents
shall increase or diminish the income of the Depart
ment Nor does the threat that the people of Lock
port will seek other ch annels of communication than
the United States mail, in the least deter me from
looking this question full in the face. Still less am
affected by the threat to the postmaster at Lock
port to recover back the postage which may have been
collected. 1t is more than probable that "the legal
profession in the city of Lockport have unanimously
agreed that the rate of postage as demanded, is In
violation of the law, and in this opinion public sem
timent concurs." 1t is this last statement in your
communication which has induced me again to exa-
mine this subject.
rate of postage letters. Among other provisions,
it declares that every letter, consisting of single
sheet of paper Conveyed cover 400 miles, shall be
charged with Is cents postage. This provision OF
the act must mean that conveyance which is usAdl
necessary, and proper, that route between the two
points whichis most certain, direct, and speedy
The postmaster would not be permitted in order
to increase the postage to send the i tiers in mai
circuitous and requiring time, neither should he
required to send the letter over the most usual GER
ain and as to me the shortest route and charge the
rate of postage applicable to shorter route as to dis
lance, but longer as to time In other words if The
business community use the route greater in distance
and shorter in time, they must expect to pay thepos
age according to the distance
The 10th article of the regulations, is as follows
"When letters may be sent by several routes from
your Office to another, you will late the postage on
them according to the distance the shortest of the
routes, if they conveyed that route, or if the
mail goes most frequently upon it. But if the mail
is carried frequently, certainly and expediousy
upon longer route, and tue letters are sent on such
route, you will be governed by the distance thereon
1t is believed by this regulation, the distinguished
gentleman Judge M Lean, who drafted it and whose
practice under it up to 1922 is now adopted by the
Department, fully met the requirements of the law
This rule was adopted to regulate the discretion Of
deputy postmasters where two post roads are estab
shed between the same points, the one greater in
distance than the other yet the mail passed over both
daily or tri-weeky in the time. 1t requires him
in the imposition of postage in such cases to be gov
erned by the most direct route. 1t could not be under
stood to mean, and was not construed by Judge
M'Lean that if the mail passed daily in 80 hours be-
tween Lockpor and New York, by way of Albany,
and three times per week between the places
over shorter route Established not the route to
connect Lockport with New York, but to connect
them with other unimportant intermediate points,
that the postage should be rated this short route
and the letters sent upon the longer one in point Of
distance, but the shortest one in point of time.
By the shortest route from Lockport to
New York by Geneva, Bath, Owego, &c, it
is 349 miles. Upon this route the mails be-
tween the two places are never SENT because
it is only tri-weekly mail, and the whole time ne
cessary to make the trip ia hours. The route by
Albany is 453 miles, is daily mall and the trip is
performed in SO hours, little than one half the
time If there was daily mail between the two
places upon the Owego route and the trip performed
in the same time, then it is conceded the Postmaster
could not by sending the letters by the Albany route,
increase the postage. What would the commercial
cities of New York and Lockport say of the Postmas
tiers at these two points were they to send the mail
between the two places along this shorter route three
times per week at the rate of ia hours the trip, in
stead of the daily mail by Albany requiring only 80
hours the trip? Would they be satisfied when told
that this was the shorter the direct route That the
postage on this route only 1877 cents and the mail
was sent on this route to save the difference between
1872 and IS cents Would they not complain of the
hardness of the mail' Would they not require that
the Postmasters send their mail upon that route which
would give them daily communication, and in 80
hours of time? If then this route be used and kept
up in part for their accommodation, at great expense,
do require of the citizens of the two cities too much
when require them to pay the postage fixed by law
upon this route over which their letters sent.
l send, herewith, diagram of the two routes and
statement of the time required to transmit the mail
upon each, which hope you will be good enough to
submit and explain to the gentlemen who think them
selves aggrieved.
You say, sir, in your communication that the rule
is not made uniform If there is any departure from
it upon any route, it is unknown to the Department
fancy it will be found the citizens of Batavia pay
the rate of postage that is paid by the citizens
of Lockport, though they live 80 miles nearer New
York. 1t may be, you seem to suppose, that the
rate of letter postage is too great and should be re-
duced then pray you memorabilia Congress TO reduce
it but while the present law stands, do not condemn
with severity, the acts of those whose sworn duty it
to execute the acts of Congress they are not
they are desired to be. have thus, my dear sir
given you the views which present themselves to my
mind as conclusive of this question, and hope that
whatever may be the opinion entertained of their cor
recness by YOURSELF and by the citizens of Lockpor
in whose behalf you have interposed that you will do
me the justice to believe that have motive to in
fct upon you, or upon them, injustice.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant
G. A. WICKLIFFE.
PEACE OR WAR.
There appears to be a great difference of