New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-12-05
poss-oasce Reform.

office OF the Alliance Insurance Co. In Wall st
yesterday. Various Sub. Committees were ap
pointed TO urge forward the subject of cheap
anti uniform System of Postage; arneng the most
important of which were Finance Committee,
Corresponding Committee, and Committee on
Treasurer, and BARNABAs BATES, Esq. Secretary ;
CALVIN BoLToS, Esq. the Chairman Of the large
meeting, being Chairman. A brief Address to
the people of the United States written, VIC are
informed, by PARK BENJAMIN, Esq. was adopted
by the Committee. 1t IS as follows; and we
hope to see it transferred to the columns of every
newspaper in the United States:
To the People Of the United States
FELLOW CITIZENS On the 25th of Noyem-
Der last, meeting OF citizens in favor of d cheap
and uniform system of Postage, was held at the
Merchants Exchange in the city of New DIRK
b. that meeting Resolutions were passed, and
Petition to the National Legislature adopted, the
purport of which was that the present Post Oh
fec system was burdenso,ne, UNEQUAL and unjust,
ill. ADAPTED TO the wants Of the community map
plicabe to the cZgencies of the times thattheFe
fore i. should be abandoned, and new, cheap,
and uniform system established, from which the
Franking Privilege should be excluded. BY that
meeting, also, twenty-one gentlemen were appoint
ed Committee, for the purpose OF advancing the
cause Of Post. Office Reform by such acton and
such means as, in their Judgement should be pro-
per aud expedient. That Committee, having met
and deliberated, have entered upon discharge OF
their duties and as first step toward eitectlng
the objects in vicw and to lnclte movements IKE
that, which has taken place IN New YORK, IN
every CITY. town and village in the United States
that Committee now address you, Fellow Citl-
gems, with brcvity, which WILL we trust insure
for their remarks an admission into each journal
| friendly to the cause we advocate.
During the last five years the experiment OF a
cheap postage has been tried in Great Britain r.
1t has fulfilled the prophecies and vlndlcated the
assertions Of its distinguished protector, SIR Row
land HILL Its opponents are slenced, and Its
blessings are on all sides acknowledged Every
letter, not more than half an ounce IN weight
whether consisting Of one or several pieces, is
charged but one penny sterling. 30 exorolsant
were the charges previous to the establishment OF
the Penny System that there was consequent
diminution Of the Post Office Revenue. But, at
the same tune, correspondence increased IN Ten
fold ratio, and the Revenue at this day Is much
more than adequate to the expenses OF the depart
ment. In view of these facts, 1t Is PLAIN that
similar system may be introduced with equally
satisfactory results in the United States. On &C
count, however, of the vast distances to be ira
versed by the ma-carriers, and the great Difficult
ties Of travel IN the unsettled portions OF our
country, our petition asks that the rate be reduced
to FIVE cents for each letter, not more than halt
an ounce in weight, which is more than double
the uniform postage in Great Britain. It'll rate
which would not only secure TO the Post-Ofilce
the transport of nearly all the letters which are
now forwarded through private channels, but 1t
would largely increase correspondence, both OF
| business and affection. 1t is rate, moreover,
payable in the lowest Federal coin, which would
be an argument in its favor, were 1t not that any
higher charge would not be attended by the re-
suits that have just been stated
The petition asks, moreover, that one hall cent
a sheet shall be the rate for the conveyance by
mail Of every Newspaper, periodical or printed
book SO that no absurd distinction shall be made
between various kinds Of printed matter, SO that
the farthest settler in the Western wildS may re-
ceive the treasures of Science and Literature as
cheapiy as he may the news Of the day. 1t is
presumed that the meaning of words cannot affect
the burden Of the mails, and it is hard to COM
prehend why printed packages of equal we ght
and bulk should net be equally charged, rrespcc-
tive of the character of their contents.
The reform, which we claim, to be efiectual
must be complete. No partial reduction of the
present Postotice rates will be of any avail fla
new system be adopted, 1t must be one, fellow
citizens, which can be permanent and will not re-
qrirc every successive year, new notifications.
Above all, the framing PRIVILEGE should be
abolished. Unless this is DONE nothing can be
done 1t will be impossible, without drawing
largely upon the legitimate source OF the National
Revenue, to sustain the Post Office by any rates
whatsoever, II this Franking Privilege shall con-
tinuo to load the mails with private letters which
everybody whites and public documents which
nobody reads.
Private Expresses, you well know, have been
established between the cities of the Atlantic bor-
der and the cities of the interior They have ex-
tended to Canada and to British America as well
as to our North Eastern, Western, South Western
and Southern States They have been proved to
be more safe, more expeditions, far cheaper, ana
in all respects superior to the Government car.
riers. Attempts have been made IN Congress
and in the courts OF law to break them down, but
without success They have the appreciation Of
the people, and will be sustained IN opposition to
the Government radical changes be not wrought
in the Post Office Department.
Fellow.citizens, we believe that YOU are duly
impressed with the Importance OF this topic
Nothing however, Is to be effected without &C
ton-energe:ic, united, prompt action. Wehope,
therefore, that you viii everywhere call meetings,
pass resolutions, adopt petitions, and SO speak to
your Representatives III Congress that your wish
es shall be obeycd, as they should whenever they
are entertained SO unanimously as on this inter
esting and important question OF the Post Office
Reform.
In behalf of the Committee Of twenty-one,
G. BOLTON, Chairman.
BATES, Secretary.